Employee Spotlight: Patrick Hibbert, Data Scientist
Been with Music Health since 11/2021
Tell us about yourself and your journey to Music Health
Hi, I’m Patrick, and I’ve been working at Music Health for just over a year. It has been the experience of a lifetime to be part of an extraordinary team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the health tech space whilst enriching the lives of so many people.
As I was wrapping up my Honours in Industrial Design (RMIT, Melbourne), an amazing tutor of mine, James Curtis, approached me to work alongside him as a Data Scientist at Music Health. This was the perfect opportunity for me, as I am incredibly passionate about how technology and design can unlock innovative, creative and accessible experiences.
When I’m not at my work-from-home station, you can catch me queuing up a playlist, slipping on some runners and jogging into my happy space training for my first marathon.
What made me go into data science?
Although my formal training is in industrial design, most of my projects have centred on developing accessible experiences and understanding the individual's unique needs. Throughout these projects, I have employed data science principles and practices to deepen my understanding of the individual and discover what compels them to engage with a product or service.
It’s an incredible feeling that the insights we gather as data scientists tailor Vera even more to the individual, allowing us to surprise and delight our users every day.
What does your regular day at Music Health look like?
The most exciting thing about my role is that every day is different. As I am located in Melbourne, I primarily work from home, so whenever I have the opportunity to jump on a call or chat with my team face-to-face, this is the highlight of my day. There’s nothing I love more than scoping a new idea or solving a problem as a team.
I always strike a nice balance between data insights tasks, brainstorming and developing new projects and initiatives.
If you could take one album, and one thing with you on a deserted island, what would it be?
As cliché as it sounds, my answer to this question would probably change daily! If I had to choose just one album, it would be the soundtrack to ‘Back to the Future’. Watching the movie with my parents for the first time is a formative memory, so whenever I hear ‘The Power of Love’ or Alan Silvestri’s iconic score, I’m instantly transported.
When it comes to the item, I think I would have to pack the ol’ reliable iPod Classic. Now I can listen to the album AND watch the movie!
What are you most proud of so far while working at Music Health?
My proudest moment was introducing Vera to my grandma, who was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago. Seeing the difference it made and sharing that with my family was incredibly powerful. I’m so proud that I’ve been able to experience a feeling like that so early in my career.
What do you find most challenging about your role?
The most challenging aspect of my role is ensuring that everything I do day-to-day always comes back to the user. This is a great challenge to have as I have a fantastic team to collaborate with and ensure that every task I do and every piece of data we review prioritises the needs of our users. Nothing is created in a vacuum, and we always seek fearless feedback to create the best possible experience.
What is your best memory while working at Music Health?
Without a doubt, my best memory was flying up to Syndey to meet the team face-to-face for the very first time. I had only been with the company for a few weeks, so it was a fantastic opportunity to work alongside my colleagues and get to know them! I consider myself especially lucky to work with some of the kindest and most passionate people in the industry.
What is your favourite Music Health ‘practice’?
I think ‘radical candour’ is my favourite Music Health practice. Although one of the most exciting things about my role is being able to dive head-first into a new project, it’s so easy to want to unpack every new idea you have. Soon enough, you can’t see the forest for the trees, and you neglect the bigger picture. Bringing radical candour to life empowers us to help each other bring the focus back to the big picture.
‘Clear is kind’ and being comfortable and confident enough to be upfront with a colleague or the team creates a safe space for people to share and build upon ideas without fear of criticism for the sake of criticism.
Lastly, what would you say for someone who is thinking about applying to Music Health?
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring your unique ideas to life to create products and services that actively make a difference in people’s lives.
As someone fresh out of uni, this is the place to develop your skills, learn entirely new things and create genuinely transformative experiences!
