An interview with Chasya Saposh Feigelstein – Data Analyst, Lakewood, NJ
Tell us a little bit about your background and your life.
I founded Camp Nesiot and have led it for the past six years. I opened the camp while I was pursuing a B.S. in Mathematics. Camp Nesiot is a traveling summer camp for frum teenage girls that traverses the east coast of the U.S. down to Orlando, Florida. Camp Nesiot West travels through Seattle, Washington and continues along the Pacific Northwest Coast to the Canadian Rockies.
When I completed my B.S., I went on to get a master’s degree in Quantitative Methods & Modelling. The degree was a combination of technology (coding and information systems), statistics, and business.
At the start of my career, I worked full-time as a data analyst at Eastern Union and then opened my own data analytics business, Analytics Solutions.
Where do you live?
I live in Lakewood, NJ
What field of technology do you work in?
Data Analytics/Data Science
What got you interested in technology? Did you always want to work with computers?
No. I was always more interested in math and business. However, I wanted to study technology so that I could use it as a means to analyze data and then present the data in a visual way.
Were your family and friends supportive?
Extremely.
What made you choose your specific program college program?
I completed my undergraduate degree at Touro College. I wanted to be in a frum and kosher environment. (This is especially important when pursuing an undergraduate degree).
I then completed my graduate degree in QMM (Quantitative Methods & Modeling) at Baruch College. I chose this program because they offered what I was looking for, were flexible, and had a reputation for a good education at a low cost.
What were 3 things you were looking for in a study program?
In what way has your degree/study helped you in your life?
It gave me the background I needed to pursue the career I now have. I should add that I did not join the program knowing exactly what I was going to do with it. Rather I looked for a degree broad enough to open many new opportunities.
Do you think your degree was instrumental in finding a job and did it impact the level of your salary?
Yes and yes.
Where do you work?
I own and operate my own business.
Describe a day in your life.
Wake up, try to squeeze in some light work before my baby is up. Daven, breakfast, drop off baby at babysitter. Work as much as possible during my baby-free hours.
Here’s an idea of what a typical project looks like:
When my baby is with me, little to no work gets done unless he goes in for a nap. Then I try to squeeze in more work after dinner when my baby is sleeping.
How do you straddle the work/life balance?
It’s a constant balance, and there is no one way to strike it. Sometimes I feel as if I have found the balance, at other times it’s tougher. I try to do computer work that requires focus only when my baby is not around. This way I’m energized to work with a clear head while avoiding the frustration of trying to accomplish when I cannot.
What challenges did you face when you first entered the tech world?
Bridging the gap between class work which was more theoretical and applying it to the business world, was a real challenge.
What lessons have you learned?
Many, but I’d say the overall theme is- be open to new experiences and work your hardest every step of the way.
What advice & tips would you offer for those entering the tech field?
Get as hands -on as you can with technology. Coding is similar to math. That is – you have to work and practice with it as much as possible to truly acquire the skills.