Meet Cameren Farr | Data Engineer & Music Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cameren Farr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cameren, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success is simply having and vision and being disciplined enough to execute it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my career at a Fin-Tech company, where I was able to travel the world and discover multiple cultures, professionally and artistically. During this time, I was very inquisitive about everything that was being introduced to me and I was soaking in as much as I could. I had the determination and discipline to learn as much as I could while I was exploring the world. I was first an auditor then shortly after, I transitioned into a Financial Analyst role. After about 10 years as a financial analyst, I transitioned into Data Engineering. During the pandemic, I taught myself how to code in Python and SQL. I did this because I wanted to transition into Data Science. I took on a hybrid role of an Oracle Database Admin and a Senior Financial Analyst. Being in this role, confirmed my desire to be fully in IT as a Data Engineer.

What sets me apart from others is my discipline and work ethic. When I decide that I want something, I love going through the process of getting to it. I am an athlete at heart so I know what continuous repetition produces. I know that if fall in love with the mundanity of doing the same thing over and over, I can achieve anything. But that is a mindset that I developed along the way. I am always strengthening my mind with positivity, such as prayer and meditation, hanging out with people who challenge the way I think, and surrounding myself and my environment with inspiring and motivational energy.

It was not easy at all. I had to isolate myself from family and friends just so that I could focus. That was and still is hard for me but I know that it is necessary to do it so that I can fulfill my purpose. Some relationships that were dear to me dissolved but in the process, I am becoming a better person every day. I am overcoming these challenges by getting closer to God and staying focused on my vision.

Some of the lessons that I learned along the way are that, in business and the corporate world, never take anything personally. Keep your emotions out of it and focus on producing better work. I also learned that I am my worst critic and I am more powerful than I can imagine. In Kanye West’s “Jeen-Yuhs” documentary, Donda West said that “the giant looks in the mirror and sees nothing”. We are geniuses but at times it may be hard to recognize and believe in our genius but when we do, it is one of the most liberating experiences that we possibly will encounter in this life.

If there is anything that I want to share with the world about myself it would be that I am an example that it is never too late to recalibrate your life. Going within has been the greatest compass for me. Taking time to understand who I am and whose I am; and not who everybody else says I am, has been life-changing; and has brought me so much peace because I know what I am supposed to be doing. When you know what you are supposed to be doing, it is easy to reject the things that you are not supposed to be doing. “Without a vision, the people perish”. Knowing your vision and your why is imperative; it eliminates so much anxiety and stress from your life. To me, these two are the leading factors of why I do what I do every single day and being intentional about my daily actions.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was in town for a week, I would take them to Malibu for a hike at Escondido Falls and then to lunch at Malibu Farm Pier Cafe. After lunch, take them around Hollywood just for the “Hollywood” experience. For dinner, we will go to Wah Gwaan Jamaican Kitchen & Bar near Leimart Park. While near Leimart Park, we would go to Nappily Naturals & Apothecary to re-up on essentials.

The next day, we will do a day trip down to San Diego and go to the Great Maple for brunch.

The next day, we will be in Long Beach and go whale watching. Eat at King Fish House downtown Long Beach.

If there is an artist of our interest performing at the Hollywood Bowl, we would go to that.

Do another hike at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook.

Bar hop in Chinatown.

Get the best sushi at Mrs. Fish.

Go people-watch on Venice Beach and eat at The Sidewalk Cafe.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Ebony Cleveland. Ebony is my sister and confidant. She is continuously pushing me to dream bigger and trust the choices that I make. I have always looked up to her and been inspired by how she continues to push the status quo. Whenever I feel like something is too hard for me, I ask myself “What would Ebony do?” and I usually power through that difficulty. I am honored to be able to have a front-row seat to her magic.

Priyanka Saini. Priyanka appeared in my life when I was at a crossroads in deciding where I wanted to go next with my career. I initially wanted to become a Data Scientist and she gave me a book that had data science projects in them. The more I hung around Priyanka, who is a Data Engineering Manager, and the more I did my research, I started to gravitate towards Data Engineering. The role of a Data Engineer is more structured than a Data Scientist in my opinion. So I give credit to Priyanka for helping me navigate and solidify my desire to become a Data Engineer.

Website: www.cameyeam.com

Instagram: @cam_eyeam

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameren-farr-92054730/

Twitter: twitter.com/cam_eyeam

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CamerenFarr/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCLcuZabiZVqIW8bgezIM6Q

Image Credits
Photo by @theminahouse