The Accidental Data Scientist: A Q&A with Equifax Fellow Matt Turner

In data science, leadership is about more than technical skill–it’s about curiosity, and a passion for problem-solving. As Vice President of the Data Science Lab at Equifax, Matt Turner doesn’t just lead–he inspires, guiding a group of engineers and data scientists through data challenges that demand creativity and precision. 

With a career defined by multiple patents and groundbreaking innovations, Matt has earned the recognition as an expert in his field. He has been a part of the Equifax Fellows Program since 2020. An Equifax Fellow is a highly esteemed individual recognized by their colleagues, leaders and industry peers for their skills, knowledge, and contributions in the areas of technology, security, data or analytics.

In this article, we explore Matt’s professional journey, his take on what makes the company’s culture unique, and why he believes it’s a place where bright minds can thrive.

How did you get your start into data science?

I got my start in data science quite by accident. When I first went to college I started out in engineering, I took Calculus III and I fell in love with mathematics. So I decided to make a career out of mathematics. When I finished graduate school, I had two bachelor's degrees in computer science and mathematics, a master's degree in statistics, and a PhD in math. 

I started looking around the analytics community for work around 2011, and applied to over 200 jobs before I got my first interview. 2011 was not a great time to be on the job market, so I'm very grateful for the opportunity that Equifax gave me, and I've always been very loyal to Equifax because of that.

Why are you so passionate about your work?

I’m passionate about my role at Equifax because there’s never a shortage of interesting problems that can be solved with data science, and we have access to the latest and greatest technology to help solve those problems. We get to work globally with Equifax customers and colleagues around the world on a daily basis. Everyone’s problems are the same, but unique.

How would you describe the work environment at Equifax?

In your career, you're looking for a few key things in an employer: interesting problems to solve, cool technology to work with, opportunities for upward mobility, and a kind work environment. Being a global team, we work cross-functionally, and there's a culture of supporting each other and building on each other's work. We value competence and kindness. We strike a nice balance between engaging work and fostering a collaborative culture. 

We also work in a regulated environment. It sounds like a curse at first, but it's also an opportunity because you have to innovate within that regulatory overview. So there is the ethical component to it that we adhere to, and we go above and beyond the regulation and ethical considerations. Equifax is leading the pack.

There’s a lot of innovation that is required to happen to solve problems within each country’s regulatory landscape, and we have a culture of innovation here at Equifax. We have countless opportunities to explore, innovate, and create new intellectual property.

What advice can you offer data scientists looking to join Equifax?

Early in your career, prioritize hands-on experience with data. It's invaluable. Graduate school often doesn't emphasize the significant time investment required for understanding and working with real-world data, so practical exposure is key.

For those interested in joining our data science lab, we seek highly motivated individuals with a genuine passion for data science. Ideal candidates will have dedicated significant effort to mastering machine learning and AI during their graduate studies and possess a strong understanding of modern cloud computing technologies.

Learn more about available opportunities at Equifax.