From Dental Hygiene to Data: How Thais Cooke Built a Career on Curiosity (and SELECT *) cover art

From Dental Hygiene to Data: How Thais Cooke Built a Career on Curiosity (and SELECT *)

From Dental Hygiene to Data: How Thais Cooke Built a Career on Curiosity (and SELECT *)

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 In this episode of The Quietly Ambitious Analyst, I sit down with Thais Cooke, a senior healthcare data analyst who brings a decade of clinical experience into data and AI.

Thais shares her unconventional path from dental hygiene to analytics, how she got hooked the moment she wrote SELECT *, and why the analysts who stand out aren’t just “data-driven”—they’re context-driven.

You’ll hear a grounded conversation on:
  • Why multitasking feels productive (and why it backfires)

  • How to leverage your industry background when you’re breaking into analytics

  • What “trust” really looks like with stakeholders (and how fast it can collapse)

  • The underrated power of documentation and “building knowledge that lasts.”

  • Why communication makes or breaks data teams—especially when pipelines break

If you’re an aspiring/early-career analyst or career switcher who wants to communicate with clarity, build credibility, and do work that actually sticks, this one’s for you.Topics:
  • Transitioning from Dental Hygiene to Data Analytics
  • Leveraging Industry Experience in Data Analytics
  • Intuition and Context in Data Analysis
  • Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
  • Growth and Development in the Analytics Field
  • The Importance of Communication in Data Analytics
  • The Power of Observation in Communication
  • Building Knowledge That Lasts
  • Documenting Accomplishments for Career Growth
  • The Intersection of Engineering and Analytics
  • Embracing Change and Career Shifts
  • The Importance of Trust and Honesty
  • Effective Communication in Teams
Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@quietlyambitiousanalyst

Follow Thais Cooke
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaiscooke/
Substack: https://substack.com/@thaiscooke

Quietly Ambitious Analyst
Weekly emails for new analysts: https://bit.ly/4pjUoz9
8-Week Data Communication Course: https://bit.ly/4qJ3o2d
Free Resource - Top 10 Analyst Questions Before Touching Data: https://bit.ly/4sxbixl

The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication.

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