3 MIN READ
Blog
Employee Spotlight Template 3
3 MIN READ
Blog

Employee spotlight: Kacper Malysa

Employee Spotlight Template 3

What makes 84.51˚ an intriguing company? Is it the flexible hybrid work options, the free food regularly found around the office or the challenging problems that we tackle? While these aspects are undoubtedly great, it’s the people that make working here truly special. Check out our Employee Spotlight series to learn more about who we are and the unique traits of our teammates.

Hometown:Bensenville, Ill. Office Location:Chicago, Ill. Start Date:  June 2022  Job title:Senior Data Scientist

Describe your role.

I’m on the Enterprise Price and Promotion team, developing and maintaining some of our core pricing sciences. This role allows me to combine both technical skills through code development, and insights skills thanks to close collaboration with our stakeholders.

How long have you worked in data science and what inspired you to pursue this field?

I’ve interned with 84.51° as early as June 2020, so I’ve been in the field for about five years. Initially I studied applied mathematics and computer science at my university, but after running into a couple people who were working in the data science field, I decided to pursue it as my master’s. This allowed me to tackle real world problems by combining both programming and mathematics, with the best part being the real-life data, which made all those problems much more relatable and interesting to solve.

What interested you in joining 84.51°?

My family, myself, all of my friends, and everyone else I know go to grocery stores. Some like it, some don’t, but it’s something that everyone has to do. When I found out that 84.51° is in the grocery business, I was extremely excited to work somewhere where I could find data so relevant to my daily life. This gives me a chance to work on projects that I can see direct results of during my shopping trips, which makes my work only more fulfilling.

What has been the most memorable experience or favorite project you’ve worked on?

About a year ago I had a chance to help build and enhance a report that evaluates the financial impact of Kroger's upcoming promotion plan. I was onboarded onto the project quite quickly, and at the time I wasn’t familiar with that side of the business and the data they were using. Thanks to huge help from my colleagues, I was able to quickly contribute and parallelize the entire input data process which allowed us to run the report on a daily basis. Even after I moved on from that project, I would from time to time see the benefits of it running smoothly, which was very satisfying!

What’s your favorite part about working at 84.51°? Do you have a favorite benefit or perk that is offered?

The first one that comes to mind is the flexibility and work-life balance that’s encouraged at the company. Second, is the fact that everyone is always happy to help each other, and that it’s extremely easy to reach out to anyone at the company. This was especially helpful when I first joined during the pandemic, as reaching out to new colleagues through Teams for the first time can always be challenging. I quickly learned how friendly and kind everyone is, and this has become even more apparent after going back to the office post-pandemic.

What advice would you give to those who are considering working in this field?

When I decided to get a master's in data science, it was still a new degree at my university. From what I’ve seen, it’s becoming even more popular now, so I encourage everyone interested to look for resources online, as there has never been a better time to get into data science.

What do you like to do in your free time outside of work hours?

Tabletop games, video games, virtual reality, and all other nerdy things! I also love cooking and I’m trying to get better at prepping healthy meals in 2025!

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