about aruku analysis
Erin Williams, MBA, CAP
Founder and Principal, Aruku Analysis
Erin Williams is deeply passionate about data science. In fact, her personal mission is to turn everyone in the world into a data scientist. How? By continuously teaching, sharing, and promoting the pillars of data science which include evidence-based decision-making, an embrace of probabilistic thinking, and of course, a strong sense scientific curiosity paired with a desire to find solutions to problems.
Erin founded Aruku Analysis in 2014 so she could dedicate herself exclusively to the application, promotion, and promulgation of data science. Prior to founding Aruku, Erin’s professional experience was in the healthcare sector, and she continues to specialize in projects concerning healthcare operations, systems, costs, delivery, and outcomes. In addition to consulting and analysis, Erin also creates and delivers data science and analytics training materials for executives, professionals, and novices alike.
Professional Credentials:
Over 16 years of progressively sophisticated experience in data science and analytics
M.B.A. from the University of Houston with certificates in Business Modeling & Decision Making and in Global Management.
Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®) through INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and Management)
Recognized as a Top Solver at CrowdANALYTIX in 2015 (there were only around 20 top solvers identified out of over 15,000 members)
Originally from Houston, Texas, Erin has also lived in Arizona, Michigan, Singapore, and since 2020, Tokyo, Japan. One of her favorite things about living in Tokyo (out of many!) is that the city invites discovery through wandering. That is, you can take off on foot from just about any point in the city and no matter what direction you walk in, you are bound to find something interesting, beautiful, delightful, or all three. Setting off on long, wandering, curious walks is Erin’s favorite thing in the world . . . maybe this is why she named her company Aruku?
What does ‘Aruku’ Mean?
Aruku takes its name and logo from the Japanese verb "to walk". The characters used in Japanese and Chinese writing systems range from the simple to the complex. Often, more complex characters are formed by joining simpler characters together. They build on each other to form new meaning. So the character for 'step' is made up of 'little stops'. And a 'walk' is many steps taken together.
This is just like the act of analysis, which is breaking something complex down into its fundamental components, then putting it all together again with deeper understanding.
