Why did you decide to become a mentor?
I decided to become a Mentor to share my extensive experience and expertise in AI, neuroscience, and data science. A diverse background as a Neuroscientist at top institutions like Oxford and UCL, combined with industry experience at companies like Amazon Alexa AI, positions me well to guide others in these fields. Mentoring allows me to impact careers beyond my immediate work, sharing insights from both academia and industry. It aligns with my passion for education and knowledge dissemination, as evidenced by my involvement in various educational initiatives and online courses. By mentoring, I can help shape the next generation of AI and data science professionals, contributing to the field's growth while also expanding my own network and staying connected to emerging trends and talents.
How did you get your career start?
I kickstarted my research career in Neuroscience as a Master's student at Oxford University. I enjoyed doing brain research that I decided to pursue a PhD and moved to London to UCL for the same. I published ~30 papers in the first 5 years of my PhD, paving the way for a prestigious Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship at Oxford. My PhD advisor was an exceptional mentor and provided me both the freedom, support and encouragement to hone my skills and thrive as a researcher in a highly competitive academic environment. Alongside research, I pursued my entrepreneurial ambitions to build EduChroma, a personalized career mentoring startup. I realized that I thoroughly enjoyed talking to mentees and helping them make the right career decisions through personalized advice, information and guidance. After transitioning to industry roles, working at major tech companies like Amazon Alexa AI and in startups like Swiggy and Docsumo, I continued mentoring software engineers and data scientists at the workplace. This diverse experience across academia, big tech, and startups has contributed to my current position as an independent AI consultant and coach.
What do mentees usually come to you for?
Mentees come to me for expert guidance in AI, neuroscience, and data science. My mentorship covers: * AI Consulting: Helping startups and companies develop AI strategies and use cases. * Corporate Training: Providing training on generative and traditional AI development for enterprises. * Professional Coaching: Offering upskilling and interview preparation in generative AI, NLP, and deep learning. * Career Guidance: Leveraging his experience across academia, big tech, and startups to advise on career paths. * Technical Expertise: Sharing insights from his extensive research background (40+ papers, ~3000 citations). Mentees can expect personalized support tailored to their specific needs, whether it's technical skill development, career advancement, or AI implementation strategies. My diverse, international experience allows me to provide comprehensive guidance, combining academic rigor with practical industry insights. My mentorship structure includes one-on-one sessions, tailored learning plans, and ongoing support to help mentees achieve their goals in AI and related fields.
What's been your favourite mentorship success story so far?
Every mentorship engagement is dear to me, and if I can help my mentees achieve clarity and guide them towards making the right career and professional decisions, it is a success to me. I've successfully mentored several candidates in data science and machine learning who have secured jobs at top AI companies like Meta, Apple, Amazon, LinkedIn, Twitter etc. You can view the testimonials for my coaching services here - https://sundeepteki.org/testimonials
What are you getting out of being a mentor?
Mentoring is a significant part of nmy professional activities and provides me with several benefits: 1 Knowledge sharing: As an expert in AI and neuroscience, mentoring allows mr to share my extensive knowledge and experience, reinforcing my own understanding and staying current in rapidly evolving fields. 2 Personal fulfillment: Helping others succeed in AI and related fields provides immense personal satisfaction. 3 Continuous learning: Interacting with mentees from various backgrounds and industries exposes me to new perspectives and challenges, contributing to my own ongoing learning and development. 4 Network expansion: Mentoring professionals and startups helps expand my professional network, leading to new opportunities and collaborations. 5 Leadership development: My role as a mentor enhances my leadership skills, as I guide others in their careers and professional development.