He translated poor science grades through the “grind” of his renewed determination to become a data and artificial intelligence (AI) specialist.
Though veterinary medicine caught his attention from early, his strength in the sciences was not as solid as it should have been, so he opted to mix it with business.
That, however, mattered little, because Quinn Weekes recalled getting “some really bad grades”. In sharing the distressing information with his then girlfriend, she told him that it was not surprising.
Quinn knew that he was not living up to his true potential and he intended to correct it.
So deep was his conviction that while working at a gym, he carried a maths book to work daily and pored over it with one view in mind – to succeed this time around.
“I did not intend to repeat what happened previously in my academic life,” Quinn told the DAILY NATION.
As he scanned YouTube, he came across a video about the global financial crisis and it further inspired him to pursue a course of study in economics and finance.
On completion of his studies, he worked as an economist at the Central Bank, and it was there he discovered that his love was not restricted to economics, but incorporated data science.
As Quinn broadened his horizons, he changed jobs. In so doing, he saw several opportunities at the new company, including establishing data science teams.
For him, it was a dream come true. “I wrote a proposal to the CFO, but in agreeing to it [in theory], she set one condition – I had to prove the concept in a couple months.” He worked 18-hour “daily grinds” with great passion to gain approval for a concept he believed in. And, in two months so too did his boss, and it was approved.
For several years, Quinn, by dint of his commitment, steadily climbed the corporate ladder and built a career in the chosen field. As his stars aligned, he founded Infolytics which provides data and AI support to governments across the region. Touting the benefits of AI, the business executive is hoping to use it to the advantage of small resource constraints in countries like Barbados and the region, to achieve a level of productivity similar to that of more developed countries. “Most of the time you may be in a department of two, but have to produce as though you were in a department of ten, so AI now allows you to do that.”
Addressing fears about job losses, he said one principal factor is that AI would replace the types of jobs people do, while making a distinction between any fallout in constrained economies like Barbados and that of the developed world.
The executive said precise projections for the future would be unrealistic, while acknowledging that trends would be based on assumptions.
“If we were good at projections we would not have financial crises and all of those different types of things.”
Pointing to those at the forefront of AI, Quinn said that they too are mindblown with the progress that they are making “so it shows that no one really knows exactly where it would take us”.
Cross-referencing the introduction of computers, the data specialist said no one expected the birth of the Internet or social media which created a whole new concept for marketing and influencers and brought “a huge set of jobs”.
Seeing it as a crucial and pivotal moment for the implementing of AI, he said that the face of doing business would change, but he does not envisage a dark and gloomy future.
He, however, noted that there is a need for an overhaul of the job space relative to worker contracts and their descriptions as they transition.
In looking towards the future, the corporate executive concluded that his ultimate aim is to help governments solve problems relative to cost of living and finding ways to utilise technology for the betterment of society.