Career Directions, Personas and Experiences

Jennifer Holt and Claire Williams

12pm –  Virtual – Tuesday, 23rd November

Watch or Download the session

Host:

Jennifer Holt, Chief Risk Officer at MarketFinance
Claire Williams, UKI Garage Consulting Leader at IBM

Panel:

Ella Ovenden – Data Science/AI
Inderjit Birak – Security and Governance
Laura Foulquier – Data Engineer
Pinder Johal – Senior Manager

Summary:

Join our phenomenal chapter leads Jennifer Holt and Claire Williams, who will be taking you on a tour of some of the more popular roles in data. The session is designed to help those that are just starting out on their careers or deciding on paths and trying to figure it all out. Perhaps…

– You don’t know what these roles are and what they entail every day

– They all sound a bit similar, and you can’t decide which path to take

– You’re not quite sure if this is for you, will you enjoy it?

– You’ve already landed a role in one of these disciplines and you want advice on how to reach your full potential

Our WiD Leaders will be joined by four experts from Data Science, Data Engineering, Data Analysis and Data Governance. They will share candid experience, advice and salary expectations from their chosen careers. There will also be handy tips and information about what recruiters are looking for.

After each expert has been interviewed, it will be over to you to ask your questions so you get to cover what you personally need to help you move forward.

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Jenny has over 24 years’ experience in analytical roles within the financial services sector with Santander, Barclays and a number of smaller Fintech organisations. She is known for her aptitude in transforming and building high performance teams; and has a passion for supporting individuals across the analytical community to develop and progress in their career. Jenny attributes some of her skills in helping others to her breadth of experiences in a variety of roles across different countries and a genuine interest in learning & understanding cultural differences. She says “It’s really helped me to understand behaviours and the preconceptions that people have”. She also has a catalogue of stories and experiences she has gathered through her own career that that bring to life the challenges we face, particularly in gender equality that so many can relate to. Jenny has been actively ambassador of Women in Data since 2017; now leading the ‘Set up for Success’ chapter which she chose out of all the chapters given how instrumental and transformative the early career years can be. On this she said ‘so many women turn they’re back on a career in data through their early experiences before they realise the variety of skills and roles needed in this field. I’d like to help them find their place”.

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Claire is an Associate Partner at IBM, a proud data geek, and a retail obsessive. She’s IBM UKI Garage Consulting Leader. She spends her time working with clients to unlock real, transformative value from their data with her teams and with a little help from analytics and AI. People are her passion, and her mission is to create projects that her teams relish working on. She is a Retail Industry specialist and is a member of the exclusive IBM Global Industry Academy. Diversity and Inclusion are hugely important to her DNA, at 14 she wanted to work in Business and IT and despite not having the role models to follow, wasn’t put off, but now her mission is to inspire and create as many opportunities for females to follow a career in data. She lives in the Peak District with her puppy, Dougal is a proud Aunty to her niece and nephew and has recently become a fitness convert! She is super proud to have recently been recognised as one of the Twenty in Data and Tech for 2020.

Ella Ovenden

Degree Apprentice, IBM

Ella Ovenden Headshot

Ella is 19 years old and a Degree Apprentice at IBM, where she is part of the UKI Garage Squad as part of the AI and Analytics Practice. Her role includes helping clients go from ‘good ideas’ to business outcomes using the IBM Garage operating model as well as learning everything she can about the Data world and helping implement these solutions with clients. Ella left school in 2020 post A Levels and wasn’t sure at all what she wanted to do but wasn’t sure about University so decided to apply and got a place on the Futures Scheme for a 12 month placement.

Originally all she knew was that she wanted to do something that robots/technology couldn’t replace thus knew it had to be creating and building it! Ella’s role last year was supporting the Data and Technology Transformation service line in IBM which was where her love for data began. She never thought leaving school that she would be any good at this area within business because Ella hated coding (still does!!) and thought that really was all it was but she couldn’t have been more wrong.

Ella has a passion for helping other people especially girls learn this too and create more opportunities them to enter this world as she has and thrive because it’s for EVERYONE!

Ella has just moved to London living with other Apprentice/Intern friends and outside of work is a swimming teacher which she also loves! You’ll always find her with a smile on her face whatever she is doing and is super excited to be a young WiD helping drive GiD.

Laura Foulquier

AI Engineer, Shell

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Laura is an experienced backend developer with 5 years of experience in building large-scale applications, promoting DevOps processes and implementing Cloud technologies. She has hands-on experience of the full software development life cycle, from requirements, through design to implementation, and has worked with diverse industries (Telecom and Energy), dealing with various timeseries, localisation and IoT datasets. More recently, she is also looking at applying her skills to develop blockchain related solutions.

Outside of work, Laura enjoys exercising, going to the gym or practicing aerial hoop. This is part of a healthy routine as she also loves baking!

Inderjit Birak

Data Security and Governance expert

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Passionate about protecting data in a proportionate; prioritised and balanced way.  A customer focused Managing Security Consultant, Indi has over 15 years’ experience in information security, with a focus on governance, risk and compliance.  Building and maintaining trusted relationships with clients, Indi is able to understand their challenges by listening and taking into account organisational culture to develop effective solutions, that incorporate traditional methods with innovative ideas.  Recognised as one of the Twenty Women in Data and Technology 2019, Indi is a role model for women and girls, inspiring them to consider careers in Data, STEM and Information security. Indi is committed to helping create a truly diverse and inclusive workplace that encourages and enables people to thrive. 

Pinder Johal

Senior Manager, Deloitte

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Bhupinder Kaur, ‘Pinder’ as she is known by family, friends and colleagues is a Senior Manager within Risk Advisory. Pinder has 15 years practical experience within Data & Information Management, Data Governance and CDO Advisory. Enabling large complex organisations increase data literacy, achieve data democratisation, commercialisation and reduce risk. Driving compliance and adherence to enterprise wide Data Management and Data Governance policies, standards and controls.

Prior to joining Deloitte Pinder was the Data and Information Governance Officer in Telco. Previous experience includes Investment Banking, Logistics and Insurance; on programs such as GDPR, Solvency II & BCBS239.

Pinder has had various roles in data including data analytics, data architecture, and more recently information management. “no day is the same in data, new day new data adventure, this is why I love my job”

Pinder is married with three children Ajuni Kaur aged 9, Ramaiya Kaur aged 7 and Teeran Singh aged 4. When she is not at work, she enjoys long country walks with her family and two Lakeland terrier’s; Charles and Theodore in the Warwickshire countryside.

Diversity and Inclusion is very important to Pinder and in her previous organisation she was the data committee lead for diversity and inclusion.

“I would love to live in a world where all girls like my own dream big, thrive and become empowered, confident women. If they are interested in a career in data, they are fully supported and set up for success in STEM education at the grassroots. With the support of ‘superwomen in data’ that they can rely on, look up to and aspire to be”