Non-IT Background – Should I Start with Data Analytics or Jump into Data Science?

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Peter

Updated on July 7, 2025 in

Hey everyone! I’m from a Non-IT background, but I’ve been exploring the world of Data Analytics and Data Science lately. My long-term goal is to become a Data Scientist or work in AI/ML, and I’ve picked up some basics through self-study.

However, I’m confused about where to begin seriously: Some people say I should start with Data Analytics (Excel, SQL, dashboards, etc.) to build a solid foundation, while others suggest I can dive directly into Python, statistics, ML, and modeling even as a non-tech person.

If you’ve taken either of these routes, I’d love your input:

Does starting with analytics help when transitioning into AI/ML later?
Or is it better to directly jump into core Data Science concepts if I already know the basics?
Also, how important are tools like Power BI/Tableau vs learning Python, ML algorithms, and statistics in the early phase?

Hey everyone! I’m from a Non-IT background, but I’ve been exploring the world of Data Analytics and Data Science lately. My long-term goal is to become a Data Scientist or work in AI/ML, and I’ve picked up some basics through self-study.
However, I’m confused about where to begin seriously: Some people say I should start with Data Analytics (Excel, SQL, dashboards, etc.) to build a solid foundation, while others suggest I can dive directly into Python, statistics, ML, and modeling even as a non-tech person.
If you’ve taken either of these routes, I’d love your input:
<ul>
<li>
Does starting with analytics help when transitioning into AI/ML later?
</li>
<li>
Or is it better to directly jump into core Data Science concepts if I already know the basics?
</li>
<li>
Also, how important are tools like Power BI/Tableau vs learning Python, ML algorithms, and statistics in the early phase?
</li>
</ul>

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