Team stories
"The continuous development of AI is something that excites us Data Professionals the most."
Ilija Trpovski has been the Head of the Data Team at Sample Solutions for over seven years, leading data-driven strategies and innovations with precision and expertise.
In the Team as
Head of Data
Joined Sample Solutions
May, 2017
Interests & Hobbies
Reading a good book – psychology/philosophy genre
Watching a sports event with a wine in my hand
Skill Set
Operations management
Analytical approach towards problem resolution
People Management
What’s the most rewarding part of being the Head of Data?
Having besides very interesting, a very dynamic job environment where there is never a dull moment. Working with people who have come from a variety of backgrounds and seeing them develop into data professionals is maybe the biggest reward.
What’s a recent innovation in data or analytics that excites you?
Think we all Data Professionals share the same answer here. The continuous development of AI is something that excites us the most.
Can you share an example of how Sample Solutions uses data to drive its business strategy?
An example can be the analytics that we do concerning the variety of projects. From those outcomes, we determine where the focus should lie for bettering the organizational approaches for project handling (eg. one type of project has brought x revenue with x working hours -> spending a larger amount of time developing some automation is the logical next step)
If you could have dinner with one data scientist or tech leader (past or present), who would it be and why?
Depending on the topic of interest, I can’t name only one. For example, for the ability to make a great product would certainly be Steve Jobs (and how not to treat family and friends), for the unparalleled dedication to realize an idea have to say Elon Musk, or for giving back to the community Linus Benedict Torvalds. From the Data field that would be Wes McKinney.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, professionally or personally?
There is no truth. There are only several different views on one subject.
Where do you see the role of data evolving in the next five years, both for Sample Solutions and the industry?
I see a continuity and an increase in the Data Engineering field, where the professionals will have an easier time doing those more repetitive, easier tasks and can focus their time much more on the bigger picture. The same of course goes for the AI/ML field where the need for those professionals will increase as more and more companies implement the new technologies in their organizations. I think for our company would be the same.
