From Geology to Data Analytics Lead: How "Moneyball" Inspired My Data Journey

I never imagined that my background in petroleum geology would lead me to becoming a Data Analytics Lead, working across industries from aviation to brewing. Along the way, a particular movie—Moneyball—changed the way I viewed data. Watching how Billy Beane and Peter Brand revolutionized baseball by focusing on data over intuition was a turning point for me. It showed me that the numbers, when used effectively, could drive not just wins on a baseball field but transformative decisions across any industry.

In this post, I’ll share my personal story, highlighting the milestones of my learning journey, the challenges I faced, and how "Moneyball" played a pivotal role in driving my data mindset.

1. From Oil Rigs to Realizing the Power of Data

After graduating with a degree in Petroleum Geology, I started my career at Baker Hughes, traveling across countries like Vietnam, Oman, Malaysia, Australia and the UAE. My job involved monitoring oil drilling operations, configuring equipment, and managing real-time data. While my work was mostly operational, I was increasingly fascinated by the data we were collecting—seeing how insights from that data could optimize drilling processes.

It was during this time that I watched Moneyball. I saw how data analytics—focusing on overlooked metrics—could disrupt an entire industry. It struck me that the same principles applied everywhere. Just as Beane and Brand used data to find value in underappreciated baseball players, I realized I could use data to uncover efficiencies and drive decisions in any sector.

Personal Realization: That movie was a wake-up call. It wasn’t about the glamour of baseball; it was about how data could challenge the status quo and create opportunities where none seemed to exist. This insight inspired me to dive deeper into data analytics.

2. The First Steps: Entering the World of Data Science

In 2021, I made the conscious decision to shift my career towards data analytics. At first, it was daunting. The learning curve was steep—after all, I was coming from a non-tech background—but I was determined to learn. I began with basic courses on SQL and Business Intelligence (BI), which helped me understand how to manipulate and present data in meaningful ways.

At first, it was overwhelming—just like the Oakland A’s when they adopted their new strategy. But just as Billy Beane took a chance on the unproven methods, I persisted. I took courses on DataCamp and focused on building smaller projects using PowerBI and Excel PowerQuery. I began seeing the connections between data and its potential for driving business strategy.

Personal Insight: Learning data science felt like learning to play a new game. The tools (SQL, Python) were like a new set of rules, but once I understood them, I could start seeing patterns in the data, much like Peter Brand saw in undervalued players.

3. Making the Leap: Professional Growth in Data Analytics

With my new skills, I moved into more technical roles. In 2022, I joined FPT Software and worked with the Airbus team on their big data platform, Skywise. Just like Billy Beane and Peter Brand worked with the Oakland A’s leadership to convince them of their new data-driven approach, I had to learn to work with cross-functional teams, explaining how the data pipelines we were building could bring value to aviation operations.

Later, I joined HEINEKEN as a Data Analytics Lead. Here, my focus was on building predictive models, developing dashboards, and optimizing processes using the same principles of finding value in overlooked metrics.

Personal Insight: The lesson from Moneyball kept repeating itself—look beyond traditional metrics. My role was not just about crunching numbers; it was about finding data that could change how the business operated. Just like in baseball, the data had to show why certain decisions made sense, even if they defied conventional wisdom.

4. Continuous Learning: Keeping Up with the Game

One of the key takeaways from Moneyball was the constant evolution of the game—and this applies equally to data science. Just as Billy Beane and Peter Brand had to refine their approach as other teams caught on, I committed myself to continuous learning. The tech landscape is always changing, and I needed to stay on top of it.

Through Udacity-sponsored courses, I earned multiple certifications, including AWS Machine Learning Engineer and Data Engineering with AWS. These courses equipped me with the knowledge to build scalable data solutions on cloud platforms, deploying machine learning models to optimize business operations.

In 2024, I took my commitment to learning even further by enrolling in a Master's degree in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) at AIT. This formal education will give me the opportunity to delve deeper into advanced topics like artificial intelligence and machine learning, ensuring that I stay ahead in this fast-evolving field.

Personal Insight: Learning never stops, and just like in baseball, the data world is constantly evolving. I took a page out of Beane’s book—always look for the next insight, the next opportunity to improve.

5. The Challenges: Data as a Game-Changer

Shifting careers wasn’t easy. It felt like I was in the middle of a high-stakes game where the rules kept changing. I was competing with professionals who had been in the field for years, and at times, it felt overwhelming. But, inspired by the persistence I saw in Moneyball, I knew that the data I was working with had the power to make a real difference.

Even when the work was hard—learning new algorithms, managing massive datasets, and explaining the results to stakeholders—I remembered the scene where Billy Beane had to defend his decisions to a skeptical team owner. Every challenge was just another step in proving the value of data, and that kept me going.

6. Looking Forward: Data as the Future

Just as Moneyball showed that data can revolutionize industries, I firmly believe that data is the future of business. As a Data Analytics Lead at HEINEKEN, I now have the privilege of using data to shape business decisions. Whether it's optimizing production lines or reducing costs through predictive maintenance, my work proves that data-driven strategies can create massive value.

Looking ahead, I plan to continue applying these principles across industries—finding value in unexpected places and driving growth through innovative data strategies.

Conclusion

Watching Moneyball taught me that data is more than just numbers—it’s a tool for challenging the norm, for discovering hidden value, and for driving meaningful change. My journey, from drilling oil wells to optimizing brewery operations, was shaped by this belief. For anyone considering a leap into data science, I say this: the data speaks, you just need to learn to listen.

Whether you’re on a baseball field, an oil rig, or in a boardroom, there’s always an opportunity to find value with data. All you have to do is look beyond the obvious.