Meet Wes Stewart, Senior Data Analyst at Populi. A martial arts teacher turned data analyst, Wes helps customers use our data to make important decisions. In his free time, he can be found reading, playing video games and mastering Shaolin Kempo Karate.

Q: What’s your role at Populi, and what does an average day look like for you?

A: My role is Senior Data Analyst, with my particular focus being on healthcare provider-related data. My day typically consists of helping clients with any issues they have with using our data to answer their questions. But I also contribute to internal analysis for product enhancements and bugs.

Q: How did you get your start in data analytics?

A: So I went to college for physics but did nothing with it after getting my degree. I was happily working as a cook in a restaurant and teaching martial arts. (See the “how I spend my free time” answer below.) I was teaching private karate lessons to a guy who co-founded a small company. He liked my overall vibe, and I started doing work for him on the side. He eventually hired me as a business analyst, but we started getting enough data that someone needed to start analyzing it. I kind of volunteered to do it, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

Q:  What do you think is the most important benefit of the detailed healthcare analytics and insights that Populi provides?

A: My entire career has been in healthcare data, and I’ve seen how difficult it’s been for providers to make decisions based on real-world data. The available data can be hard to interpret (or even access), and many IT/analyst departments are swamped as it is. Populi’s products and insights will enable the people we count on for our healthcare to make smarter decisions and improve our lives in the long run.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for Populi?

A: This is, without a doubt, the smartest group of people I’ve ever worked with. And we are all driven to make our customers happy and productive. Because of the people and the environment, I get to learn something new almost every day.

Q: Why should someone join your team at Populi?

A: As previously mentioned, we’re a small but dedicated team. If you want to learn, be agile and contribute to a growing company, come on over. And we really are trying to make the world a better place when it comes to healthcare.

Q: What’s the best part about working 100% remotely?

A: The flexibility of being able to work at times that suit me best. For example, I’m a night owl and do my best work pretty late. But I don’t have to sit in an office for 8 hours then do more at night when I’m more productive. There are also fewer distractions at home than in an office.

Q: How do you like to spend your free time?

A: I live a pretty sedentary lifestyle, and I have to balance that with activity. I love stories, so I can spend a whole day reading, playing video games or watching TV and movies. I try to work out 5–6 days a week so I don’t become a human blob. My biggest passion is the martial arts, which I’ve been studying for 22 years. My main style is Shaolin Kempo, but I have experience with several different styles, and I travel all over New England to learn more. I’m also a pretty good cook, if I do say so myself.

Q: If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, which would it be?

A: Some sort of wild cat, like a tiger or leopard. If you know anything about kung fu, you know how influential they are in many styles.

Q: What’s your go-to midnight snack?

A: Granola or some sort of trail mix. I don’t buy them too often because I can eat a whole bag without realizing it!