Building a data science team in today's data-centric climate

Core data scientists, or data scientists who have been trained or educated specifically in the field, are hard to come by, Krensky said. There's a talent shortage, he said, and increasing demand for machine learning tools to automate what might have been done by traditional data scientists isn't helping. While Krensky noted that more colleges and universities are beginning to offer degrees in the fields of data or business analytics, and academia is one of the top sources of data science and machine learning talent, hiring a core data scientist can be costly. Internships, however, can serve as a "win-win" for both businesses and students, he said. By working with schools and welcoming student internships, a business can "get an injection of the latest and greatest tools and techniques that are being used" and taught, and students can earn valuable experience, Krensky said.