Talent Spotlight: Seynabou Faye
“As a data scientist, I am focused on building models that can make a real impact. One of my goals is to create solutions that help Africans, such as machine translation for resource-limited languages or using tools like Whisper for low-resource languages like Wolof.”
Seynabou’s strong software development and computer science background has fueled her passion for applying data science to create meaningful change in her community. By working on various data competitions, solving real-world problems, and winning, Zindi has helped Seynabou build her skills and take the leap to empower African communities.
Senegalese beginnings
Seynabou was born and raised in Senegal, where she pursued her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Engineering and followed it with a master’s degree in Software Development at Dakar American University of Science and Technology. While studying for her bachelor’s, she picked interest in data science through courses like Introduction to AI and Data Mining. Her early exposure to AI-related concepts inspired her to pursue research in this field, and she applied her knowledge to her master’s thesis, focusing on AI in human resources. This foundation laid the groundwork for her success as a data scientist.
Joining Zindi
Seynabou first learned about Zindi through a friend’s recommendation to explore the platform’s competitions and learning opportunities. Upon discovering that, she watched a fellow Senegalese, Aimerou Ndiaye, a Zindi ambassador, give a presentation on how to get on the platform, participate in hackathons, and gain knowledge. This introduction, combined with the support of her friends, Seynabou officially joined the platform in 2021. She quickly became part of a team, tackling and participating in various data challenges.
Perseverance pays off
Seynabou initially lacked confidence in getting into everything relating to AI. However, projects assigned during her studies at the university provided a guide. One project involved building an Alexa-like AI tool for local languages, which sparked more interest in machine learning and AI. In the process of tackling real-world challenges on Zindi’s platform, Seynabou and her team often conducted late-night research sessions, studying various models and applying new techniques.
Pathway to success
One of the real-world challenges Seynabou has solved is helping Malawi’s public health to improve its system using large language models (LLMs). Winning a gold medal with her team in that competition boosted her confidence and helped her realize the value of pushing herself beyond her limits.
“Zindi has been a continuous learning process, and has helped me a lot in knowing that I am not as good as I think, I have room to grow and improve. It has pushed me to gain more knowledge and challenge myself if I want to compete with others,” she said in a recent interview.
Today, she is a freelance data scientist and also an IT advisor for a company in Senegal. Beyond her professional work, Seynabou is also part of the Women in Machine Learning and Data Science community in Senegal, where she continues to thrive and support other women in the field.
“It’s great that the Zindi platform offers job opportunities and allows users to earn points for courses. This is especially helpful for Africans who may face challenges accessing certifications. It’s wonderful to see the platform building up African communities and creating opportunities for us to grow.”
Seynabou is one of many on the Zindi platform using opportunities to build her skills and contribute to impactful projects across Africa.
