Thomas Speidel

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT THOMAS SPEIDEL

Thomas grew up in Milan, Italy, and in his early 20s, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts, before settling in Halifax, Nova Scotia. There, he discovered his passion for data through a statistics course and completed a degree in Statistics with a focus on Biostatistics. For a decade, Thomas served as an applied cancer Statistician. One of his memorable analyses was assessing whether the efficacy of stem cells transplants decreased if donor\' stem cells were not immediately frozen upon collection. The results were utilized to reduce costs in the transplantation unit without sacrificing patient safety. While the field has increasingly evolved towards a product-centric approach, Thomas believes that insight generation is a key component of the analytics continuum, and that the quality of insights is independent of their application. Whether they are utilized in a product that generates recommendations at scale or used directly as evidence to guide interventions and evaluate their effectiveness, insights are critical for informed decision-making. He emphasizes that the quality of models is paramount; a poor model, even within a robust data pipeline, can lead to misguided decisions at scale. In an era where data is treated as an asset, many organizations overlook the need for statistical literacy, which can be costly. The availability of vast amounts of data does not automatically create knowledge; it is through interpretation that knowledge is formed. Thomas focuses on bridging the gap between data and knowledge creation. He applies his expertise in explanatory and inferential modeling, particularly in understanding causality to identify outcome drivers. His work emphasizes assessing whether specific actions are likely to lead to improvements. To quote from Phil Rosenzweig:\"If I do this, what\'s likely to happen?\". Proficient in statistical computing with tools like R - a software package he has championed since - Thomas is also a strong supporter of open-source initiatives and a long-time Linux enthusiast. Outside of work, he is dedicated to cancer research and cherishes time with his three children, enjoying cooking, swimming, and listening to jazz.\"Statistics is not a toolbox but a way of thinking\"- Frank Harrell \"What has guided my career in both business and government is my fundamental view that nothing is provably certain. One corollary of this view is probabilistic decision making. Probabilistic thinking isn\'t just an intellectual construct for me, but a habit and a discipline deeply rooted in my psyche\"- Robert E Rubin