CSJ Public Lecture Series
The Campus Saint-Jean Public Lecture Series seeks to connect our students, researchers, and alumni with our larger community, and share their latest discoveries.
Alumni Public Lecture
Innovating with Mathematics: A Silicon Valley Journey
with Philippe Gaudreau, Senior Software Engineer, LinkedIn
Conference organized in the framework of Alberta Mathematics Dialogue 2024.
Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 1:30 pm – Campus Saint-Jean
Please note that this event takes place in English
Philippe Gaudreau shares insights from his transformational trajectory from a mathematics Ph.D. to a trailblazer in Silicon Valley's data science landscape. Philippe will unfold his experiences as a machine learning engineer, where the rigour of applied mathematics meets the brisk innovation of the tech industry. He will discuss the practical challenges and triumphs of applying sophisticated mathematical models to real-world business problems, offering a glimpse into the day-to-day life of a machine learning professional in the epicenter of technology.
The talk will then spotlight Philippe’s significant contribution to a pioneering financial time series forecasting platform. This project epitomizes the synergy between mathematical theory and impactful application, scaling to over 4 million forecasts monthly and yielding an impressive $40 million in savings. Attendees will learn about the project's journey from conception to successful implementation, underscoring the pivotal role of advanced forecasting in driving efficiency and strategic decision-making in a global enterprise.
About Philippe Gaudreau
Philippe Gaudreau, a native of Alberta, received BSc from Campus Saint-Jean, and his PhD under the supervision of Dr. Hassan Safouhi, in Computational and Applied Mathematics with a certificate in data sciences from the University of Alberta in 2016. Philippe boasts a remarkable journey that has led him to Silicon Valley, where his educational roots at the University of Alberta propelled him into the world of forecasting and data science. Philippe’s exceptional skills have made him an indispensable expert in forecasting. At Bosch, he tackled the immense challenge of forecasting a staggering 3.6 million timeseries per month, demonstrating his ability to handle vast datasets with finesse. Philippe utilized Spark to forecast these time series at scale.
Philippe continued to grow his forecasting expertise at LinkedIn by tackling media mix modeling (MMM), often referred to as marketing mix modeling. This powerful analysis technique enables marketers to gauge the impact of their marketing and advertising campaigns, discerning how different elements contribute to the overarching goal of driving conversions.
Philippe also tackled capacity planning problems at Linkedin through the use of neural network forecasting models. These models are deployed in the intricate process of capacity planning for LinkedIn's multiple clusters and hardware ordering.
Philippe journey, firmly rooted in Alberta, serves as a testament to the remarkable possibilities that arise when a strong educational foundation, an unquenchable curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence converge in the pursuit of data-driven solutions.