In this episode Evan Wimpey sits down to chat with Nirmal Budhathoki. A seasoned data scientist at Microsoft, Nirmal has extensive experience in both cybersecurity and the tech industry.

During the conversation Nirmal discusses his unique career journey, from unexpected detours, including serving in the Army, to becoming a data scientist. He also talks about applications of machine learning in cloud security, emphasizing the need for proactive defense strategies. Additionally, Nirmal offers advice for aspiring data scientists and highlights the ongoing advancements in the field.

In this episode you will learn:

⛛ How individuals from diverse experiences can excel in data science

⛛ The importance of proactive defense strategies in cybersecurity

⛛ The need for community engagement and mentorship in the field of data science

⛛ How Large Language Models (LLMs) can be used to enhance cybersecurity measures

Quote
💬 “Security is never a compromise.”

Featured in This Episode

Nirmal Budhathoki, Senior Data Scientist, Microsoft
Nirmal Budhathoki is a Senior Data Scientist at Microsoft focused on cloud security. He has over 12 years of experience in the IT industry, including more than 5 years in data science. A dedicated learner, Nirmal holds master's degrees in information systems, business administration, and data science. He enjoys sharing his knowledge with others and has provided hundreds of free mentoring sessions to aspiring data scientists. He also conducts mentored learning for MIT’s Data Science and Machine Learning certification program in collaboration with Great Learning.

Nirmal also has experience working with the military—both as a security data analyst and through serving four years in the Army. He’s also passionate about solving data science problems aligned with product strategy and business outcomes. And in his free time, he enjoys applying his skills to sports analytics.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nirmal-budhathoki/

Evan Wimpey, Director of Analytics Strategy, Elder Research
Company website: elderresearch.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/evan-wimpey

Chapters
00:00 Evan introduces the show and Nirmal Budhathoki.
01:01 Nirmal talks about his unconventional path into data science.
04:48 Nirmal shares how data science supports security and mentions specific use cases.
11:00 Discussion on proactive approaches in security and the role of machine learning.
14:40 Nirmal emphasizes the need for a proactive defense strategy in cybersecurity.
15:11 Discussion about the use of large language models (LLMs) in Microsoft's work.
21:05 Nirmal talks about his active involvement in the community.
22:27 Nirmal reflects on the positive impact of mentoring.
24:24 Evan asks Nirmal about his ideas for the future.
28:17 Evan wraps up the show.

Find more show notes, transcripts, & more episodes at:
https://www.elderresearch.com/resource/podcasts/