Learn what makes it exciting to be a data scientist at CGI through the eyes of Tytti Böök, a CGI Partner based in Rovaniemi, Finland.
Tytti, can you begin by explaining the role of a data scientist? What attracted you to this career?
A data scientist is a little bit like a data detective—we dig through large volumes of information, then clean, analyze and visualize it to uncover insights that help solve real-world problems and guide better decisions. It involves writing code, building predictive models and algorithms, and spotting patterns that aren’t immediately obvious.
But I didn’t start my career as a data scientist. In fact, I began as a nurse, working for several years in a pediatric ward. I loved working with my patients and found it immensely rewarding. Over time, though, I started to notice how much data we collected in hospitals every day, and began to wonder: how can this data be used to improve health care on a larger scale?
That curiosity led me back to university, where I pursued a Master’s degree in health data science and artificial intelligence. I was especially intrigued by the possibilities of machine learning and its power to detect patterns and risks that aren’t always visible in day-to-day clinical work.
After graduating, I decided to continue with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. My research focused on using machine learning to support the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and assess the risk of falling while walking.
Today, I feel fortunate to combine my background in clinical care with data science to explore new ways of supporting healthcare professionals and improving patient outcomes.
Can you share what type of work you do for our clients—and why it matters? What kinds of outcomes have you helped clients achieve?
Most of my work is with clients from the health industry, where I focus on the data science behind applications and systems that simplify the work of healthcare professionals. The work I do helps transform raw data into actionable insights that can support better decision-making. For instance, I recently worked on a project that involved embryo identification and the integration of patient data with embryo images. Not all my projects are directly related to healthcare. I also take on data analytics and project management work for clients in other industries as well.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a data scientist in healthcare?
Working with real-world healthcare data comes with its own set of challenges. It is rarely clean or complete and is often fragmented, inconsistent, or missing key information. Before we can even begin to build models or draw insights, we spend a lot of time cleaning and validating the data. In clinical settings, this is especially critical because there is no room for error. You can't make assumptions, because the decisions based on this data can affect lives. There is a huge responsibility that comes with handling health data.
What parts of your day-to-day work do you enjoy the most?
I love interacting with colleagues in team meetings. Our meetings are always full of different ideas for our projects—we bounce views off one another, explore different approaches, and help each other overcome hurdles. Sometimes, it feels like we are all solving a big puzzle together, where each of us helps with a piece to form the big picture.
How do you stay up to date in such a fast-moving industry like IT? What’s been your biggest learning so far as a data scientist?
Working in this field means there’s always something new to learn. To support our learning and development, CGI organizes different types of webinars that I can attend remotely, which is great because I live three hours from the nearest office! I am also active in the CGI Storm community, which hosts sessions on various topics from AWS to green coding.
I began my career as a data scientist in 2024. And without a doubt, my biggest learning curve has been in coding. It is a core part of my role, especially for data analysis. Thanks to the projects I have worked on and the guidance from more experienced colleagues, my confidence has grown exponentially.
Tell us about your daily routine.
With a busy household and young children, my workday starts early at 7 a.m.—right after the children head out to kindergarten. I’m definitely a morning person, so those early hours are when I am very focused and productive. One thing I’m still working on, though, is remembering to eat breakfast on time. I know it’s important to fuel my day.
I usually start my day by checking my emails and Teams messages. This helps me stay organized and set priorities. Then I dive into project work. Throughout the day, I usually have short meetings with colleagues to align on goals and ensure we’re all on track.
Midday is when I reset. I make it a point to take a well-deserved lunch break and sometimes catch up on a show to unwind while I eat. This helps me recharge for the rest of my workday.
What do you look forward to when your workday ends?
Once I wrap up work, I take our two dogs for a walk, which is a part of my daily routine and something I love. It's a refreshing way to transition out of work mode. Plus, it’s a great chance to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors.
Finally, what advice would you give your younger self?
I’d say: You don’t need to know everything on the first attempt. It’s okay to learn as you go. You’ll get more confident with time—and that’s part of the journey!
