From Analyst to Data Science Leader: A Journey of Growth and Learning

Meet Swathi Veeravelly. Swathi's journey at Equifax began in Melbourne as a Credit Risk Analyst after moving from the United States. She now leads the Data Science team, focusing on developing credit scores and statistical models. Learn more about Swathi’s career journey and her experience at Equifax below.

Tell us about your journey into Equifax.

My Equifax journey began soon after I moved to Australia from the United States. With a background in digital marketing analytics, I started looking for analytics roles. I received two job offers, one with Veda (now Equifax) in Sydney, and one with Equifax Melbourne as a Credit Risk Analyst. I ultimately chose the Melbourne role, drawn to it by my great interview experience and a curiosity to explore credit risk.

Fast forward to today: I lead the Data Science team for Australia and New Zealand. Our team develops and maintains credit scores and statistical models that power Equifax products in the region. We also focus on innovation, constantly looking for ways to enhance our models and bring new ideas to life.

A typical day involves collaborating with key stakeholders across the business, senior leadership, and my team to drive projects forward. I spend time problem-solving based on customer feedback, identifying opportunities for improvement, and ensuring our workflows and frameworks deliver valuable insights. 

I also spend time talking with my team about their interests, broader technology topics, and AI developments and discussing team strategy and ways to create best practices and innovative frameworks to solve customer problems.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

What I enjoy most is leading a team of amazing problem-solvers and innovative thinkers with curious minds. The process of turning data into meaningful insights that solve customer challenges and create commercial value is incredibly fulfilling. I also love shaping product strategy, developing new solutions, and building strong relationships across the business. Coaching and mentoring my team and helping them grow and succeed is also a very rewarding part of my role.

What unique skills or experiences do you bring to drive improvement at Equifax?

For me, innovation starts with a deep understanding of our data, products, industry, and Equifax strengths and weaknesses. When it comes to driving improvement, I consider myself as someone who can balance strategic vision with tactical execution, ensuring that any innovation we introduce is both meaningful and valuable to our customers.

Tell us about a project you were excited to be a part of. Why did it mean so much to you?

Reflecting on my 15 years at Equifax, there have been so many memorable projects I’ve worked on, but two stand out.

The first was developing our end-to-end parameterised AutoMachine Learning Score monitoring framework. It's probably our most comprehensive model performance assessment and recommendation tool, and it's been instrumental in Model Risk Management and building trust with our customers.

The second was leading the development of OneScore, our Explainable AI score, which was the first of its kind. Being at the forefront of innovation and seeing our work recognised with an Australian Business Award was a proud moment.

But beyond the technical achievements, what I find most rewarding is watching my team grow, innovate, and make meaningful contributions that push boundaries and have a lasting impact. Collaborating with such an incredible team helps drive me every day.

What growth opportunities have you encountered at Equifax, and how have they contributed to your development?

My career at Equifax has been a continuous journey of growth and learning. I started as an Analyst after completing my master’s and moved through roles including Senior Analyst, Analytics Consultant, Principal Data Scientist, Data Science Manager, and now Head of Data Science.

Throughout this journey, I’ve been fortunate to have amazing mentors who facilitated my learning and development and recognised my strengths—even ones I wasn’t aware of myself.

One of the biggest transitions in my career was shifting from technical expertise to strategic and people leadership. Initially I focused on deepening my technical skills by presenting at industry conferences, creating technical frameworks, and driving innovation. But a leader saw my potential as a people manager and encouraged me to step into a leadership role. That shift broadened my impact, allowing me to shape strategy, mentor others, and drive meaningful change.

How has the culture at Equifax shaped your experience?

From early in my career I’ve had the opportunity to work with the most amazing leaders and people at Equifax who have been instrumental in shaping my career, how I think and approach problems, and my leadership style overall. 

The culture here encourages curiosity, care and competency. My experiences at Equifax have fostered a strong sense of self, security, resilience and confidence. I enjoy that the relationships built here are founded on trust.

Overall, I’ve found that Equifax encourages an environment that values innovation, learning, and genuine connection—qualities that continue to drive my passion for what I do.

Learn more about available opportunities at Equifax.