4,000+ People Are Joining the SQL Challenge – Are You In? 🚀
The 15-Day SQL Challenge goes live on March 24, with 4,000+ data professionals. Join us for daily hands-on SQL problems inspired from industry problems, compete on a leaderboard and win rewards!
👋 Hey! This is Manisha Arora from PrepVector. Welcome to the Tech Growth Series, a newsletter that aims to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical aspects of data science. My goal is to simplify complicated data concepts, share my perspectives on the latest trends, and share my learnings from building and leading data teams.
Hello SQL Enthusiasts!
Earlier this year, I floated the idea of a SQL Challenge—a small initiative to help data professionals sharpen their SQL skills through hands-on practice. I thought it would be a fun way for a group of people to learn together.
I did NOT expect this.
Today, we have 4,000+ people signed up, and the momentum is still growing. 🎉
When Siddarth Ranganathan, Sai Kumar Bysani, and I first discussed whether we should build this, we had no idea it would resonate this deeply with the data community. What started as a casual learning challenge has turned into something much bigger.
So, before anything else—THANK YOU. 🙌
Your enthusiasm, support, and excitement are what make this possible. We are working hard behind the scenes to bring you an amazing learning experience, and we can't wait to get started!
💡 Why This Challenge Matters
SQL is one of the most critical skills for data professionals, whether you're a data analyst, data scientist, or software engineer. It powers everything from basic data analysis to complex optimizations in large-scale systems.
Yet, many people struggle beyond the basics—writing efficient queries, optimizing performance, and solving real-world SQL problems. That’s exactly why we built this challenge—to push beyond textbook knowledge and help you master SQL the way it’s used in industry.
This isn’t just about answering a SQL question every day. It’s about:
✅ Improving problem-solving skills through hands-on challenges that mirror real-world scenarios.
✅ Engaging in friendly competition to push yourself beyond your comfort zone.
✅ Learning from a global data community, sharing insights, and seeing different approaches to the same problems.
If you've ever wanted to level up your SQL skills while having fun, this challenge is for you.
How the 'LearnWithMe' Series is Transforming SQL Learning
This SQL Challenge is a part of the LearnWithMe series, where we’ve built an active learning community that:
✔ Established a strong foundation in SQL with core concepts & best practices.
✔ Explored real-world scenarios with hands-on exercises that simulate professional challenges.
✔ Provided step-by-step guidance to write cleaner, more efficient queries.
If you’re new, you can still catch up! Revisit some of our past SQL lessons here:
📌 SQL Aggregate Functions:
📌 SQL Joins:
📌 SQL Executive order:
Now, it’s time to take these skills to the next level in the challenge.
Meet the Team Behind the Challenge:
🔹🔥 Manisha Arora, Data Science Lead at Google
Manisha leads the Measurement & Incrementality vertical across Search, YouTube, and Shopping at Google Ads. With 12 years of experience, she specializes in enabling data-driven decision-making for product and business growth.
🔹 🔥Siddarth R, Principal Data Science Manager at Microsoft
With over 20 years of experience, Siddarth leads a team of 20 data scientists and engineers at Azure. His work drives impactful initiatives across tech, eCommerce, healthcare, and supply chain.
🔹 🔥Sai Kumar, Lead Data Analyst at BlueCross BlueShield
Sai specializes in predictive modeling and data-driven strategies. At BCBS, he develops dashboards, optimizes workflows, and builds predictive models to support C-Suite decision-making.
📌 How It Works
We go live on March 24. From March 24 to April 7, you’ll receive one SQL problem per day. The problems are structured to build on each other, covering concepts like:
✔ Filtering & Aggregations – Master GROUP BY, HAVING, and advanced aggregations.
✔ Joins & Subqueries – Work with multiple tables and optimize query performance.
✔ Window Functions – Learn how to rank, filter, and compute running totals.
✔ Performance Optimization – Explore indexing, execution order, and query tuning.
The questions start with core SQL concepts and progressively advance to more complex scenarios. The questions are inspired by real-world problems from leading companies. Each question takes about 10 - 20 minutes to solve, and at the end of the challenge, we’ll reveal expert solutions with best practices on LinkedIn and in our Newsletter.
These aren’t just theoretical exercises—you’ll develop the thinking patterns of data professionals.
🏆 The Leaderboard & Community Experience
What makes this challenge even more exciting? The competition!
Track your progress and see where you stand on the leaderboard.
Discuss different approaches with the community—learn from how others solve the same problem.
Earn bragging rights (and prizes!) for being one of the top SQL challengers.
Stay motivated and see how you rank! Our real-time dashboard tracks your progress as you solve each challenge, earning 10 points per question (150 points total). But the real excitement? The Leaderboard. Watch your name climb the ranks as you compete with fellow data professionals. Will you make it to the top? Let’s find out!
🎁 Exciting Rewards & Prizes
With each question you complete, you get a step closer to unlocking rewards.
🏆 30K Community Coins – Earn these upon completing the challenge and redeem them for a 30-minute career coaching session with our expert mentors.
🏆 $200 Discount – Unlock an exclusive discount on PrepVector’s flagship Product Data Science course upon successful completion of the challenge.
🏆 Bonus Prizes – The top 3 winners on the leaderboard will each take home a $100 Amazon Gift Card!
So whether you’re in it for the learning, the leaderboard, or the prizes—there’s something for everyone!
📅 Key Dates & How to Sign Up
Challenge Start Date: March 24
Last Day to Register: March 23
It’s free, fun, and a fantastic way to sharpen your SQL skills.
🚀 Join Our Data Science Community!
Become a part of the Learn Data Science with Me community and connect with fellow professionals on the same journey. Get access to exclusive content, participate in interactive discussions, and stay updated on challenges, speaker events, and more. Join us today and accelerate your learning with a supportive network of data science enthusiasts!
Check Out Our Upcoming Courses
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