We are welcoming Paul O'Neill as Data Scientist at SkyFi. With a background in AI/ML solutions and project management, Paul brings a wealth of passion and expertise for driving innovation in data-driven decision-making to the table. Previous to SkyFi, Paul was a Technical Project Manager at Beam Data where he collaborated with esteemed clients like MaRS Discovery District, Scale AI, and Sportsnet, delivering cutting-edge AI/ML solutions across various domains, and achieving great success.
Armed with a Bachelor's degree in Commerce and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Queen's University, Paul possesses a well-rounded skill set that blends business acumen, data analysis, and machine learning that will continue to shine at SkyFi as he propels the journey of leveraging data to fuel growth and drive innovation forward.
Paul sat down with us to openly discuss joining SkyFi and changing the world through easifying satellite data access.
Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, my name is Paul, I grew up in a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada. It’s the kind of place where if your dog ran away you would be able to see him for days. After graduating high school, I studied Commerce and Psychology at Queen’s University. I really enjoyed learning about the different ways our psychological biases can affect our behavior without even realizing it. Over the past couple of years, I started to learn more about the world of machine learning and AI and became fascinated with it. In general, I would say I’m a pretty relaxed, happy, and sociable person. I’m an animal lover and humane society supporter that has fostered cats and dogs of all shapes and sizes throughout the years. In my spare time, I like to cook, paint, read (science fiction, classics, biographies), travel, explore the outdoors, and visit as many different art galleries and museums as I can.
Tell us about your background before SkyFi.
Before SkyFi I worked as a Technical Project Manager for a data consulting company. My role involved helping clients integrate the latest advancements in machine learning and AI across a variety of different industries including clean tech, supply chain management, autonomous driving, sports analytics, web3, robotics, e-commerce, fashion, and real estate.
Why did you choose SkyFi?
I really love SkyFi’s mission in easifying access to earth observation data for anyone in the world. With a background in machine learning, I know how important it is to have access to quality data and there are so many interesting use cases for how satellite imagery can be used to discover unique insights. Also, as cliche as it may sound, there’s something to be said for seeing the earth from an outside perspective. I think SkyFi can help encourage cohesiveness and give people the tools to help solve some of the world’s most pressing issues.
What will your role in SkyFi be?
My role at SkyFi will be that of a Data Scientist. My main responsibilities will be collaborating with multiple departments to collect, analyze, and interpret large sets of data using statistical methods and tools to identify trends and patterns in business operations. I will be creating visualizations and dashboards that will help foster creativity and improve visibility into our competitive advantages. I aim to give everyone the tools they need to slice and dice the data critical to their roles. I also really enjoy staying on top of the latest trends and applications for machine learning and AI. I’m always thinking about new ways how we can integrate LLMs, vector embeddings, computer vision algorithms, and generative AI to provide more value to our customers.
What are your goals for the next few months to a year?
My goals for the next few months/years are to continue to grow personally and professionally in areas that I’m passionate about.
Professionally, I would like to continue to expand my skill set. With new tools available like ChatGPT you can teach yourself almost anything. I want to push myself and learn how to apply the newest and best practices in data science, data engineering, and machine learning engineering to improve SkyFi’s offerings and expand our knowledge base.
Personally, I would like to continue to work on my physical and mental health through different activities like CrossFit, yoga, hiking, and meditation. I’m also interested in exploring some new courses in ink drawing and watercolors. My ultimate goal is to eventually own a small cottage with a fireplace, where I can wake up by jumping in the lake every morning and enjoy a coffee with a good book on the dock.
What would you say is your biggest drive for success?
My biggest driver for success is pursuing the overlap between topics that interest me and what I’m good at. Work doesn’t feel like work when you’re spending your free time on the weekends looking up new and cool ways how you can expand your skill set in useful areas. Once I find these niches, I feel an innate sense of purpose and motivation that is difficult to shut off.
What’s one thing that surprised you about SkyFi?
I was surprised by how international the team is! I think it’s so cool how we have team members from so many different cultures and countries. The diversity of skills and experiences makes working together so fun and interesting.
Can you share a fun fact you have learned only after joining SkyFi?
I would say just how many teammates have such impressive and varied backgrounds. There can't be too many other places with three different former helicopter pilots working there!
What would you say to someone who has never heard of SkyFi before reading this article?
I would tell them how much fun the app is to use. You can tell the team put in a ton of effort to make ordering your first image as frictionless and easy as possible. Let your mind wander… there are so many creative ways you can use the app. Explore the world - see the Pyramids of Giza, the Panama Canal, the Amazon jungle, sand dunes in Namibia, your childhood home, glaciers in the Antarctic, Central Park, all from a different perspective. The world is your oyster!
Last but not least - do you have a favorite satellite image or an area you are interested in purchasing a satellite image for? What will you be using it for?
I really like this image of different tankers and ships taken near the Port of Singapore. You can really sense the fluidity of the scene and how everything is connected. It makes you feel like you’re looking at the world from a 4th dimension. The colors are so vibrant and visually appealing as well - it’s almost like a painting from an abstract artist that you could hang on your wall.
