Kisaki Watanabe
San Francisco
Summary
- Experienced with developing and deploying machine learning models to production using cloud architecture (AWS, GCP) and API retrieval to enhance operational efficiency and detect frauds. Utilizes advanced statistical techniques and programming expertise to build predictive models and uncover data patterns with a track record of integrating data science methodologies into business strategies to drive growth and innovation. Collaborated with cross-functional stakeholders to visualize and track KPI metrics.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Data Scientist - Risk
BLACKHAWK NETWORK INC.
10.2023 - Current
- Delivered fraud detection model to production by creating a new architecture using clustering, anomaly detection and and XGBoost and successfully identified fraudulent transaction and increased approval rate for customers.
- Developed metrics to identify approval rates at each operational decision-making processes and successfully improved operational efficiency
- Formulated the model monitoring KPI metrics to track the baseline performances of ML models in production and produced lively updated Power BI dashboards for stakeholders and identified timely needs for retraining (Python, MySQL, PostgreSQL, PowerBI, XGBoost, Isolation Forest, transformers, reinforcement learning)
Founding Research Scientist
CV SCANNER
05.2023 - 12.2023
- As a founding research scientist, orchestrated and deployed end-to-end AI/ML models (object detection) for real-time inferences using open-source models and cloud services (AWS S3) and retail APIs
- Solved business problems with technical solutions in Computer Vision (Python, OpenCV, Scikit-learn, Tensorflow, PyTorch) and Semantic Search (LLM; Transformer, BERT) fields
- Built the dashboard for internal clients to interact (Streamlit) and dockerized to deploy it
- Successfully delivered a prototype to stakeholders
- https://github.com/kisakiwata/image_scanner
Senior Data Scientist
GUIDELINE INC
01.2022 - 06.2022
- Delivered end-to-end modeling efforts (ML classification - XGBoost, Random Forest, Gradient Boost) to drive conversion rates for the Marketing team's BtoC email campaigns. Developed and productionized the model from the ground up (Python, Scikit-learn, MySQL, Big Query, Google Cloud Platform). Increased conversions by narrowing down to participants with higher conversion likelihoods and who fit into thresholds of significant features. This enabled more complex and pinpointed A/B testing and seamless campaign setup. In addition, the result showed that users identified with a higher likelihood to convert did enroll for 401k twice as the users who had a lower likelihood.
- Drove automation project to deliver APIs that increase efficiency by 80%. Developed the algorithms to meet the compliance requirements and designed APIs to be integrated directly with user interface products. (Rest API, Big Query, GCP, Scala, API, GitHub, Jenkins) The responsibilities included implementing complex logic in Scala, identifying input data sources, setting up results storage, and standing up an API endpoint serving results to other engineering teams. Despite technical hurdles and tremendous time pressure from the senior management, executed successfully all the above responsibilities and delivered a performant and correct solution.
Data Scientist
SUMUP INC
01.2020 - 09.2020
- Developed classification model from the ground up (SQL, Python, XGBoost) and productionized on Airflow/AWS Sagemaker/S3 to detect emerging frauds in online payments
- Delivered Tableau dashboards to track KPIs and emerging fraud trends to identify actionable insights for the management
- Collaborated with cross-functional projects to deploy new products with data-driven research and analysis (i.e. Product, Marketing and Engineering teams) to and managed a risk operation team as a Head of Risk
Associate, Coding for Risk Management
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
09.2019 - 12.2019
- Led a programming course as a teaching assistant for the Enterprise Risk Management Program at the School of Professional Studies, mentored students on how to utilize programming tools such as Excel VBA, SQL, R, and Python for capital/insurance/enterprise risk management
- Assisted the instructor to prepare and review course materials
Data Science Fellow
NYC DATA SCIENCE ACADEMY
01.2019 - 09.2019
- Accelerated in data science skillsets for SQL, R, Python (pandas, seaborn, matlab, numpy, scipy, etc.), GitHub, and Machine Learning (regression, classification, decision trees, random forest, gradient boosting, ensemble learning)
- Analyzed datasets qualitatively and quantitatively and created predictive modeling with statistical and machine learning models for projects of which some are listed below:
- Employment Growth - R Shiny - Investigated the employment growth trend in the U.S., and designed and created an interactive R Shiny app
- The Lending Club - Examined the return and risk ratios by loan types, formulated a survival analysis of loans with Python, and successfully generated a classification model to create a diversified portfolio for potential investors.
Consultant - Data Analytics and Visualization
KPMG CONSULTING
03.2018 - 12.2018
- Led analytics and visualization dashboard reporting using tools such as Alteryx, Qlikview, Tableau, and Microsoft Power BI and provided actionable insights for Fortune 500 clients of a wide variety of industries ranging from financial services, social networking services, game, pharmaceutical, media, to advertising
- Investigated fraudulent use of funds, detected fraud and created dashboards with datasets from HR, Purchasing, or Finance
- Automated data processing, which cut down manual processing time by 50%
Volunteer - English Teacher
Mumbai Mobile Creches
05.2017 - 12.2017
- Joined a team of volunteers and contributed to an educational program to teach English for children of migrant workers in Mumbai
Senior Specialist - Risk and Audit
AISIN WORLD CORP. OF AMERICA
12.2011 - 05.2016
- At a North American headquarter of Tier 1 Automotive Supplier, organized risk assessment activities for all 18 sites
- Based on the inputs of each department, assessed current situations against risk scenarios filtered the results into tangible metrics, and generated actionable goals
- When the company was to exhibit for the first time at the largest automotive show in the world, coordinated this cross-functional and international team as well as budget ($1M)
- Strongly contributed to smooth and swift operations and brought success to the event
Education
Master of Science - Urban And Regional Planning
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor12-2011
Bachelor of Arts - Art History
Waseda University
Tokyo, Japan03-2009
Skills
- Python
- GCP
- AWS
- SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
- Tableau
- Power BI
- R
- Scala
- Java
- Machine learning
Certification
- DeepLearning.AI DeepLearning.AI TensorFlow Developer, Feb 2023, Coursera
- Natural Language Processing in Tensorflow, Nov 2022, Coursera
- Convolutional Neural Networks in Tensorflow, May 2022, Coursera
- Neural Networks and Deep Learning, Oct 2021, Coursera
Timeline
Senior Data Scientist - Risk
BLACKHAWK NETWORK INC.
10.2023 - Current
Founding Research Scientist
CV SCANNER
05.2023 - 12.2023
Senior Data Scientist
GUIDELINE INC
01.2022 - 06.2022
Data Scientist
SUMUP INC
01.2020 - 09.2020
Associate, Coding for Risk Management
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
09.2019 - 12.2019
Data Science Fellow
NYC DATA SCIENCE ACADEMY
01.2019 - 09.2019
Consultant - Data Analytics and Visualization
KPMG CONSULTING
03.2018 - 12.2018
Volunteer - English Teacher
Mumbai Mobile Creches
05.2017 - 12.2017
Senior Specialist - Risk and Audit
AISIN WORLD CORP. OF AMERICA
12.2011 - 05.2016
Master of Science - Urban And Regional Planning
University of Michigan
Bachelor of Arts - Art History
Waseda University
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