Diversity of Career Paths at Videns Analytics: Meeting with Tony Buffard

At Videns Analytics, we pride ourselves on the diversity of our team. Our team is made up of many people with different backgrounds. Musicians, engineers, astrophysicists... you name it! This diversity leads us to ask the following question to several team members: Why did you change your career path to data science? 

This article is the second in a series of blogs, highlighting our team members to understand what led them to pursue a career in data science and what impact it has had on their journey.

Tony is a software engineer with over 20 years of experience in programming, scientific research and statistics. Previously, he was the director of a major video game studio.

He is rigorous and analytical, and knows how to make data speak for itself to deliver value in complex contexts.

Hello Tony! What was your professional background before coming to Videns?
My career path has been quite eventful, I have been lucky enough to get involved in many different projects throughout my career. It all started in Brest, France, where I studied at the School of Engineering, with a specialization in software engineering. After my studies, I worked as a consultant for about 7 years in Paris. During this period, I was able to work on a wide variety of projects where I developed different skills (javascript, website and SQL application development, encryption and more...). I really enjoyed this experience which gave me the opportunity to acquire new skills.

In 2006, a friend of mine from school contacted me to join him in Montreal to work for a video game company. I was ready for a new challenge, so I packed my suitcase and headed to Quebec! I started working as a game producer for three years, then I moved up the ladder and became head producer for three years, and finally, studio manager for two years.

In 2014, I made a big shift. I was ready for something new, so I went into entrepreneurship. I took trainings and then worked with incubators, which allowed me to develop very different skills from my past experience (marketing, business development and other entrepreneurial skills). Eventually, I realized that entrepreneurship was not what I wanted to do with my life, so I decided to make another turn.

In 2016, I started reading about the progression of anti-aging research in recent years. I wanted to learn more, so I signed up to do a bachelor's degree in biochemistry at UQAM. I then went straight to my PhD, where I was selected to study in a lab at the University of Montreal that specializes in aging research.

Why did you change your field to data science?
In 2021, I realized I missed programming, so I left the lab behind and started doing bioinformatics. I started work on developing an app that models proteins in 3D. I loved it, and I wanted to learn more about artificial intelligence. In 2022, I decided to go into data science.

How did you go about training? Did you go back to school?
With my previous career path, I already had a good base in programming and I had also developed a good range of statistical skills during my undergraduate degree in biochemistry. So, to learn more about data science, I enrolled in several online courses.

What were the challenges you faced?
From my past experiences, change doesn't scare me too much, so when I made the shift to data science, I felt good about my decision. I wouldn't say I had to overcome any major difficulties in this change.

What has been the positive impact on your career?
I feel fulfilled in this new role. I am constantly learning new things, and I enjoy applying my new skills. Also, I like the stability that this job provides. I am able to work from home, which is a nice perk that I really appreciate.

What are the major differences between your initial career and your current role?
There are a lot of differences, but the biggest one is the technological advances. Since I started in consulting engineering in France, the field has progressed incredibly! We work in a very innovative industry, so the type of work we do evolves accordingly. Otherwise, I particularly appreciate that work-life balance is more valued nowadays. The dress code has also changed a lot, I used to work in a suit, now it's a more relaxed look.

How does your initial background help you in your role today?
The different stages of my career have allowed me to develop my programming skills, to improve my understanding of the project development cycle and of course, to refine my knowledge of project management. All these skills help me greatly in my role today.

How did you discover Videns?
Following my decision to leave the lab and focus on programming, I approached a professional coach to guide me to a job that would interest me. He told me about Videns and how it seemed like a perfect fit for me. However, at the time, there were no positions available that were aligned with my skills. Anyway, I really liked the company, so I decided to send my application regardless, without applying for a specific position. Shortly after, I had an interview and I immediately saw that Videns' values aligned with mine. I am very happy to be part of the team and look forward to growing with the company.

What an interesting journey! Thank you Tony for participating in this interview, we are proud to have you on our team!

The Videns Analytics team is made up of several other members with varied backgrounds. 

Stay tuned to meet other members of our team who have made the shift to data science

In this series of articles: 

Dany Labarre, Machine Learning Specialist