S&A Group and Academy is proud to partner with Women in Data, a pioneering organization dedicated to advancing the roles and representation of women in the data industry. At S&A Group and Academy we believe that diversity drives innovation and excellence, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every voice is heard and valued.
“One of the key reasons I chose to join this company was the strong gender balance within the team and the clear representation in the leadership.” Lucy Lynch
By partnering with Women in Data, we are not only supporting the growth and development of talented women in the field but also aligning with our core values of equity, opportunity, and forward-thinking leadership. This collaboration allows us to contribute to the broader goal of closing the gender gap in data, science, technology and business, ensuring that our industry benefits from the full spectrum of perspectives and talents.
“Women in Data® is proud to support our brand partner S & A Group as they launch their data apprenticeships (Data Technician Level 3, Data analytics Level 4, Data Engineering, Level 5 and AI Data Specialist, Level 7) Apprenticeship programmes offer new and innovative pathways into careers in the Data and Tech industry and by providing the Women in Data® community with access to these programmes, we can continue to fix the broken pipeline and encourage more women into analytics and engineering roles.” – Fiona Sweeney Partnerships Director
Over the next five years, the data landscape is expected to undergo significant transformation, driven by advancements in technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data analytics, and cloud computing. As organizations continue to amass unprecedented volumes of data, the ability to harness this data for strategic insights will become even more critical. However, this growth will also bring challenges, such as managing data privacy, governance, and the ethical use of AI and automation.
Increased Automation & AI Integration: Automation will streamline business processes, but it will also require companies to rethink job roles and skill sets.
Data Governance & Compliance: As regulations like GDPR and similar laws evolve, businesses will need to prioritize data security and privacy.
Cloud and Edge Computing: The adoption of cloud and edge technologies will enable real-time data processing and decision-making.
Change Management and Business Design: As organizations increasingly adopt data-driven strategies, effective change management will be vital. Integrating new technologies can disrupt traditional workflows, requiring businesses to be agile in adapting to change. Successful change management will focus on aligning stakeholders, enhancing communication, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. This is not just about technology; it’s about reshaping the entire business design to become more flexible and forward-thinking, ensuring that employees at all levels are engaged and empowered during transitions.
Education and People Development: The workforce of the future must be equipped with data literacy and digital skills. Continuous learning will be key to supporting innovation, as new tools and processes are implemented. Organizations will need to invest in education and training programmes that inspire people to embrace change, cultivate creativity, and develop future-oriented mindsets. Mentorship and leadership will play crucial roles in guiding employees to thrive in an ever-evolving environment. Fostering a culture that encourages lifelong learning will enable businesses to stay competitive and adapt to new technological advancements.
Ethics in Data & Business: Ethics must be at the forefront of data strategy. As businesses increasingly rely on data for decision-making, there is an urgent need for ethical frameworks to guide these processes. Organizations should have robust discussions on data ethics internally, addressing issues such as bias in AI algorithms, data ownership, and transparency in decision-making. Translating these ethical considerations into actionable steps, such as implementing ethical AI guidelines or ensuring diversity in data teams, will be crucial in maintaining trust and corporate integrity. Ethical business practices will not only protect the organization but will also foster consumer trust in a data-centric world.
We hold it in our hands to make incremental changes in our organisations so that as a workforce we can authentically be ourselves and raise each other up.
Lucy Lynch is a true believer in Creativity, Curiosity, and Collaboration. With a wealth of experience spanning over three decades in the corporate, startup, and charity sectors, Lucy has dedicated the past seven years to advancing education in the data consulting space. As the former Head of Education and Honorary Industry Lecturer at Salford University; she developed an award-winning Ed Tech programme that aligned MSc students in Data Science, AI, and IoT with live industry projects. This initiative received many accolades and fostered strong academic partnerships and community support to nurture the next generation of leaders.
‘A few years ago, for a time I was the only woman in a business. Navigating what I believed to be fair and equitable and being a lone voice was an isolated position to find myself in. I learnt from this period that building networks and communities was required to allow every voice to be heard and amplified with or without an internal framework.’
Lucy will leverage her extensive experience to launch four data apprenticeships, to sit alongside the other Academies. The S&A Academy is well established and is rated as an excellent provider to both employers and learners. Industry expertise, and real-world case studies engage their learners and have had significant success in schools of Science, Modern Engineering and Business & Leadership. Her strengths in building networks and communities will be instrumental as part of her execution plan, as she is a firm believer that collaboration is the cornerstone to success.
She is determined that she contributes to a legacy that:
Inspires the next generation
Creates pathways and opportunities
Is a changemaker in working towards gender parity, equality, and inclusion.
I am a 24 year old computer scientist currently working as a Forward Deployed Software Engineer at Palantir.
As a bit of a background of my career, I’ve always loved maths, not only because I was dyslexic so hid away from essay based subjects at school but because I saw a beauty and simplicity in numbers. I was studying when Computer Science was replacing IT in schools, so I was lucky enough to be one of the first classes in my schools to take Computer Science as a GCSE and A-level. With a lot of work, I managed to get a place at Cambridge to study Computer Science, where my computing passion grew and I knew this was the area I wanted to grow my career.
Graduating in Covid I had no clue what industry I wanted to apply for, so I applied everywhere, after getting many rejections I finally got three offers to do Software engineering. I chose to go to a consultancy style, so I could try out different industries while learning about the Google Cloud Platform. I would say I massively underestimated the importance of a positive work environment, so I doubled down to get two promotions and get out.
I heard great things about Palantir so I went for a job there and with a lot of hard work I got the job, and I would still get to work with different clients. I focused on healthcare and defence, and I have been quickly exposed to some extremely privileged places and working around respectful and exceptionally talented people, who I learn from on a daily basis.
Chesca is a Deployment Strategist at Palantir Technologies, working on various UK Defence projects since transitioning from her civil service role as a data analyst. Her experience covers intelligence, maritime, and defence logistics, with a focus on both customer-facing and technical aspects of her role. With a background in the defence sector, Chesca understands the importance of data-driven solutions in government and their potential impact. As a Deployment Strategist, she enjoys bridging the gap between government and technology, using her firsthand experience to develop rapport with government customers and deliver innovative solutions. Chesca is passionate about championing women in the male-dominated fields of both data and defence. Recognising the need to make these industries more appealing to a wider audience, she is committed to driving change and fostering gender parity in all data roles. Chesca believes that promoting diversity and inclusion will create a more innovative and balanced workforce to tackle future challenges.
Simal Patel, Lead Product Manager at Motorway
Simal is a Lead Product Manager at Motorway, the UK’s fastest-growing used car marketplace. Simal joined the business in February 2023 to lead the Growth and Engagement teams responsible for optimising the experience for private car sellers, creating innovative tools to give consumers more reasons to engage with Motorway.
Prior to joining Motorway, Simal has been in Product roles in high-growth/scale-up companies such as Farfetch and Activision Blizzard King as well as a founding member of a gardening marketplace startup. Simal’s transition into Product from Engineering roles at King and The London Stock Exchange were inevitable given her passion for using tech/data to solve commercial and consumer problems.
Simal has a BSc in Computer Science and Management from Kings College London.
Outside of Product, Simal is a gin enthusiast and entrepreneur and has her own gin brand called Gin Wala.
Katie MacDonald, Senior Product Manager at Motorway
Katie MacDonald is a seasoned Senior Product Manager with a track record of driving innovation and enhancing user experiences. As Senior Product Manager for the dealer experience at Motorway, Katie is responsible for the optimization of the vehicle browsing and bidding processes, driving value for Motorway’s dealer partners. Katie actively uses data, leveraging the power of machine learning and AI models, to help dealers find more relevant stock, faster, ultimately improving their overall user experience.
Prior to her role at Motorway, Katie was a Senior Product Manager at MasterClass, an educational and entertainment streaming platform. There, she played a pivotal role in building the B2B segment, contributing significantly to the company’s growth and strategic initiatives.
Hannah Carroll, Analytics Engineer at Motorway
Hannah Carroll is an Analytics Engineer at Motorway, the UK’s fastest growing used-car marketplace. In her current role, Hannah provides clean datasets to end-users, modelling data in a way that empowers teams to find answers to their questions in an independent way. She supports the upper funnel, customer success service teams and also the post-sale teams, in order to use data to enhance user experiences and operational efficiency.
Hannah’s journey with Motorway began when she joined the company as a Data Analyst and after one year, made the transition to Analytics Engineer.
Before joining Motorway, Hannah gained valuable experience in various analytical roles across different industries. She served as a Tactical Analyst at ASOS, where she honed her ability to interpret data trends and support tactical decision-making processes. Prior to that, she was a Workforce Planning Specialist at MOO, where she focused on optimising workforce allocation and planning to improve operational efficiencies.
