Hi, I’m Stephen, the founder of Peak Python, I specialize in turning Python challenges into streamlined, impactful solutions.
Have you ever been so caught up in your work that you knew a better approach could save time, effort, and frustration—but shifting priorities got in the way? I’ve been there too. That’s why I started Peak Python: to help professionals like you uncover missed opportunities and maximize the return on your Python projects.
At Peak Python, I create practical, results-driven resources to help you and your team:
From insightful articles to focused webinars and hands-on resources, everything is designed to empower you to tackle Python challenges with confidence. The Peak Python approach combines practical tools, focused lessons, and an actionable roadmap to drive immediate results—so you can focus on what truly matters.
You’ve got a lot on your plate, but that’s where Peak Python comes in. Let’s unlock better performance, drive greater ROI, and eliminate the frustrations that often come with real-world Python applications.
Here’s to building smarter, more effective Python solutions—together.
Throughout my career, I’ve combined technical expertise with practical, real-world solutions—and I’m deeply passionate about sharing what I’ve learned to help others succeed. From programming to analytics, my mission has always been to bridge the gap between complexity and clarity, empowering teams and individuals to achieve more with their data.
Over the years, I’ve worked with 20+ programming languages, each shaping the way I solve problems. Here are some highlights:
Here are some career milestones that reflect my dedication to innovation, leadership, and data-driven impact:
SAS: Led a team of 40 developers, driving product growth from $40M/year to $100M/year.
Netflix: Built the first holistic Customer Lifetime Valuation system, revolutionizing how retention and revenue were measured.
Brio (Oracle): Spearheaded the development of web-based advanced analytics tools, making powerful insights accessible online.
Loudcloud: Established and led analytics, data warehousing, and reporting teams from scratch, setting up scalable systems for a fast-growing tech company.
Navy CyberDefense: Designed a cutting-edge, large-scale data warehouse to support critical cybersecurity operations.
I’m passionate about education and sharing knowledge, and I’ve had the privilege of teaching thousands of professionals worldwide. Through my previous company and faculty roles with TDWI, the American Marketing Association, and INFORMS, I’ve helped individuals and organizations unlock the potential of data.
My teaching has taken me to some of the world’s top academic institutions, with lecture invitations from Princeton, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UW-Seattle, and Brown University. These experiences have shaped my commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry with practical, real-world insights.
“… Reflecting back on the class, I am even more impressed by the quality of instruction and how well it worked for all in attendance. I was immediately able to go back to work and apply the skills I gained in the training to solve a problem that some thought couldn’t be done in-house.”
Danyelle Mannix, PhD
US Dept. of Health & Human Services
Pat said that our book “… changed how he thought about analytics and inspired him to change his approach to teaching courses at Stanford.”
Pat Hanrahan, PhD
Canon USA Professor of Computer Science at Stanford, Co-Founder at Tableau & Pixar
“I really enjoyed the class. I think you both did a great job on the material. I can appreciate what it takes to write complicated concepts so others can understand. The class has provided insights I needed to consider in the way I design data structures…”
Gary deBoer
Information Architect at Microsoft
I’ve held leadership roles in some of the most influential companies in analytics and software, including Oracle, Brio, SAS, and Tableau. My responsibilities have included:
Before my career in software and education, I spent nearly a decade in pharma research, specializing in:
These roles honed my ability to solve complex problems while ensuring rigor and reproducibility in analytics.
I’ve authored multiple books and courses, helping professionals and students worldwide advance their skills in:
My work is widely recognized and used by professors at prestigious institutions such as Vanderbilt, Stanford, and Oxford.
My academic journey spans a diverse range of disciplines, including Statistics, Economics, Mathematics, History, Econometrics, and Biostatistics. I’ve always been driven by curiosity, asking “why,” “how,” and “how much” from an early age—a mindset that led me to teach myself BASIC programming by the time I was 12.
By 16, I earned early admission to college, where I pursued rigorous coursework and rich extracurricular experiences, including Marching Band, Jazz Band, Concert Band, and serving as a writer and editor for my college newspaper.
On my very first day of freshman year, I joined a Plasma Physics lab as a Research Assistant. Over time, I took more than 60 hours of doctoral-level courses in Statistics, Biostatistics, and Econometrics, deepening my expertise in data-driven problem-solving. While at NCSU, I taught Engineering Statistics, balancing academic pursuits with professional roles at Duke University and an advanced research corporation associated with UNC-Chapel Hill.
Today, I channel my lifelong passion for learning and problem-solving into two key roles:
