At SoFi, we know our people are our greatest differentiator, and we are dedicated to empowering them to take ownership of their career journeys by pursuing internal opportunities, utilizing available resources, and embracing fresh challenges.
Shilpi is one of our employees who has taken the driver's seat of her career. She’s a Senior Staff Marketing Data Scientist on our Credit Card team. Her main focus is designing the data-driven acquisition strategy for Credit Card to optimize for profitability. She’s been at SoFi for over 5 years, and has had the opportunity to work on the Money and Member Products teams, too!
In this SoFi-ety spotlight, Shilpi shares how she stepped out of her comfort zone to achieve new career experiences at SoFi—and how she used those learnings to land a new role.
What inspired you to pursue your current career path?
Shilpi: Prior to SoFi, I worked at a number of large banks. In joining SoFi, I had the unique opportunity to build the analytics foundation of one of our product lines from the ground up! This was a dream role for me and gave me the chance to lead many “first'' initiatives for SoFi’s Money and Bank businesses through close collaboration with our engineering, product, finance and risk teams. This first data analytics role helped me gain exposure and learn about every aspect of the money business, and I’m proud to say I was able to make a quick impact on the business. I have always been interested in data-driven problem solving and data science offers a compelling combination of analytical challenges, creative problem-solving, and the opportunity to contribute to various aspects of the business by leveraging the power of data.
Can you share any experiences where you had to step out of your comfort zone to pursue new opportunities or tackle unfamiliar challenges?
Shilpi: I am always looking for opportunities that push me out of my comfort zone. When I oversaw Money/Bank product analytics for three years and the Credit Card product was launched, the team needed expertise to help scale the business. I stepped up and took additional responsibility for Credit Card and effectively managed analytics for two businesses. I also believe that by creating forums to present my work, I’ve been able to get the right visibility among senior management. I also believe it's important to have an open conversation with your manager and work with them on a plan to help you achieve your shared goals.
How do you approach professional development to continue growing in your career?
Shilpi: I believe in continuous learning. Data science is an ever-evolving field and it's important to embrace a growth mindset and commit to learning the latest technologies and best practices in the field, like acquiring new technical skills, improving soft skills or gaining domain-specific knowledge. I am always looking for new challenges and opportunities for growth that combine my long term career aspirations with short term goals. Embracing challenges has helped me develop resilience, problem-solving skills, and adaptability.
Additionally, networking has played a big role in my professional journey. Moving from India and establishing myself in a new environment was possible only through building and nurturing a professional network of colleagues, mentors, and industry contacts. My mentors have provided me with the right guidance, feedback and support to navigate my career journey.
How have you taken advantage of opportunities for advancement in your career?
Shilpi: I have always approached my work with a high level of ownership and commitment. I have sought to demonstrate leadership qualities within projects even if they were unofficial. I take initiative, problem-solve, and foster collaboration. This has helped showcase my readiness for advancement and growth. I have consistently maintained high standards in my personal performance and demonstrated our SoFi values in the workplace.
How do you continually challenge yourself to drive your career growth?
Shilpi: I challenge myself by setting specific goals and working toward them. The goals are a combination of short- and long-term aspirations like learning new skills, completing a challenging project or taking on a leadership role. I also actively seek feedback from peers and mentors to identify areas for improvement and growth.
Thank you for sharing your incredible experience, Shilpi. One final question to get to know you a little more; If you could only eat one cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Shilpi: I am a big fan of Indian cuisine as it is a unique combination of regional and traditional foods. It is so diverse that I can eat it daily without getting bored of it.
The individual featured is a SoFi employee. Their personal experiences, obviously, do not take into account your own specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. Results will vary.
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