Ditch the Anxiety, Make Bold Moves, and Design Your Meaningful Tech Career

Join Charlottesville Data Science on the evening of Wednesday, November 12 for our November event

Please join Charlottesville Data Science on the evening of Wednesday, November 12 for the talk Ditch the Anxiety, Make Bold Moves, and Design Your Meaningful Tech Career by seasoned data science leader Kim Scott! We’ll be gathering in person from 6-8pm at Vault Virginia on the Downtown Mall.

If this event sounds familiar to you, you’re not wrong! Kim was originally scheduled to speak in September, but we had a last-minute change of plans. We’re delighted to have her back to anchor our November event!

About the talk

For tech professionals who pride themselves on superior analytical thinking, it can be hard to admit that we’re, collectively speaking, quite emotionally dysregulated these days. With AI hype-mongering threatening livelihoods and massive government and big tech layoffs, Kim is witnessing many colleagues going through an existential career crisis. There’s a lot of tactical advice out there for which new tech skills to develop, how to create a stunning personal brand, and so on. But frankly, tactics alone won’t calm your nerves or get you where you want to go in the long run.

How does she know this? Kim has spent decades as a high-achieving career woman, with an impressive career taking her from astronomy to data science to product management, working in academia, corporate, and startups, and holding multiple leadership roles. At least… that’s what you can see from the outside. Internally, she was suffering from anxiety, trying (and failing) to maintain a persona she thought was necessary for success, and acting in ways that went against her core values. Fast forward to today, where she spends little time worrying, shows up authentically, and has the self-efficacy to know she’s capable of shaping the career and life I want to live.

In this talk, Kim will start by discussing some of the common challenges tech professionals face today that are leading to an increase in anxiety, burnout, and disillusionment, including rapid technology changes, job insecurity, and challenging workplace cultures. Next, she’ll share the story of her own professional journey in data science, with a backstage pass to the not-so-pretty side. Along the way, she’ll teach how concepts and exercises in emotional agility, thought models, and coaching helped her develop the awareness, self-compassion, and self-love to break the anxiety cycle, manage challenging situations with a lot more ease, and finally make bold decisions that benefit her and align with her values. She’ll end by introducing some practical tools and mindset shifts that can help you stay calm, collected, and able to direct your energy to what matters most. Even if everyone else is freaking out.

About the speaker

Kim Scott is the Founder and Chief Data Scientist of Studio 240, LLC, a data science and AI product consultancy in Charlottesville, Virginia. She holds a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and has over 15 years of experience in machine learning and AI, including eight years in executive roles at early-stage startups. Her leadership is deeply rooted in a people-first approach and a commitment to authenticity. She believes that true innovation flourishes in humane workplaces where individuals feel valued, supported, and psychologically safe to express ideas and learn from mistakes. She is passionate about ensuring that technology is purpose-driven, delivering genuine value rather than just chasing hype. She strives for balance in all aspects, professionally and personally, ensuring that impactful work aligns with a fulfilling life.

Other upcoming events around Charlottesville

Tuesday, October 28: Cville AI Explorers is hosting their October meeting at Studio IX. The event will feature a fireside chat with Michael J. Prichard, Founder & CEO of Shift AI.

Thursday, November 6: The Data Centric Summit & Career Fair is taking place at the CODE building on the Downtown Mall. The summit will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, and a workshop covering a wide range of topics, including data governance, data security, AI/ML, and emerging data technologies. Most of the sessions are free to attend, but advance registration is required.

Friday, November 14: The UVA School of Data Science hosts Datapalooza 2025, its signature fall event bringing together faculty, students, alumni, and the community to showcase data science in action — across disciplines, industries, and the public good. It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required.

Friday, November 14-Saturday, November 15: beCamp 2025, Charlottesville’s long-running annual “unconference” for technologists, creatives, and builders, will take place at the Looking Glass Art Bar (Friday evening) and Studio IX (Saturday). It’s entirely community-driven — no preset agenda, no panels, no keynotes. On Friday night, participants pitch and vote on ideas for sessions, then spend Saturday diving into the conference schedule they’ve created together. beCamp is free to attend, but advance registration is required.