Hi Jane! You graduated from the master’s programme in Data Analytics and Business Economics (DABE) in 2022. What have you been up to since your graduation?
Since graduation, I’ve started working with a consulting company in Copenhagen, where I was part of the data team. I didn’t take much of a break after graduation because I wanted to dive straight into gaining real experience with data to see if I would enjoy it.
I wanted to find a community where women could support each other in breaking into this field. That’s when I discovered the Pink Programming organization.
Over time, I discovered a strong passion for it through engaging with various clients and industries. I appreciate the impact I can make on clients’ projects. It was a very inspiring environment to begin my data career.
Apart from that, while working in this field, I noticed that the number of females in tech and data is relatively low. I wanted to find a community where women could support each other in breaking into this field. That’s when I discovered the Pink Programming organization. I’ve been an active member of Pink Programming since 2021, attending coding, networking events, and camps around Sweden. Pink Programming is an organization that brings together female and non-binary developers, as well as those interested in tech and data, to learn from one another, share stories, and enjoy fun activities together. It has been incredibly supportive to have such a community while living and working here in Sweden.
Today you work as Data Engineer at Stretch Beyond AB in Malmö, can you tell us about some of the key projects or initiatives you're currently involved in?
Stretch Beyond AB is part of the Stretch Group, which comprises 11 companies, each specializing in tech and data tools. At Stretch Beyond, our focus is on advancing the circular economy to promote environmental and social sustainability for our clients using Business Intelligence tools. In my role as a Data Engineer, I work on the backend side using Azure tools to support my team.
My team and I are working on creating a sustainability report for both the Stretch Group and our clients to track their gas emissions, resource use, and energy efficiency, as well as labor practices, diversity, and inclusion.
One of my key projects was for the SHE Index Conference in Oslo, Norway. This conference awards and ranks companies based on their gender balance practices across the Nordic countries. We collected data from various companies and developed metrics to identify those with exemplary gender equality practices in the workplace. This project is a clear example of how we can use data to drive meaningful social impact, such as promoting gender balance.
Additionally, my team and I are working on creating a sustainability report for both the Stretch Group and our clients to track their gas emissions, resource use, and energy efficiency, as well as labor practices, diversity, and inclusion. This is part of the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting standards being introduced across Europe. As you can imagine, the data comes from various sources and formats, both structured and unstructured, so we need to build robust pipelines to ensure data quality before we can create analytical dashboards for stakeholders to review and take action. This is a core aspect of my role at Stretch Beyond.
What skills and knowledge from your time in the DABE programme and at LUSEM have been most valuable in your career after graduation?
With the DABE programme, it was an open door for me to enter the programming world. I needed to learn programming in SQL, R, and Python. Coming from a business background with my bachelor’s degree, the DABE programme introduced me to programming skills that have been valuable in my career. Once you know one language, it is easier to learn more languages later on. In my work, I use SQL and Python for many tasks, including automation, data cleaning, and data scraping, and they have become my favorite programming languages to work with. This is largely due to my experience with them in the Deep Learning course, which is one of the courses I took during the master’s programme.
Coming from a business background with my bachelor’s degree, the DABE programme introduced me to programming skills that have been valuable in my career.
In addition to programming languages, learning how to work effectively with others has been crucial. Through the weekly assignments in the Machine Learning course, we worked together as a team on various tasks. We needed to collaborate and support each other, which helped improve my teamwork skills. These skills have been invaluable in my career.
What advice would you give to current LUSEM students or recent graduates looking to pursue a career in data analytics or data engineering? Are there any courses, skills, or experiences you would recommend they focus on?
Jumping into the data or IT-related field is like embarking on an endless journey of learning. You will always hear about new tools or platforms being introduced, and you might need to adapt by learning these tools. It can feel overwhelming with the programming languages you need to master and the platforms you need to become proficient in, and you may question how you can know it all and excel while others around you seem to be ahead.
Jumping into the data or IT-related field is like embarking on an endless journey of learning.
I’ve experienced those overwhelming feelings myself in the past. What I’ve discovered is that I should not have pressured myself to be good at everything. Becoming a professional in the data field requires years of experience, and you will make mistakes along the way. That is okay, as this is when you learn the most. My advice for anyone looking to pursue a career in data is to avoid self-doubt and not compare yourself to others. You will encounter many data experts and highly skilled programmers and developers, but everyone starts from zero. Believe in yourself and in the progress you will make.
For current or recent graduates with no real-world experience in data yet, start by building your own GitHub repository to showcase your projects, including those completed projects during your master’s program. You can also participate in competitions or learn from others’ code on Kaggle. Begin by creating small projects using data that interests you the most. Data can be applied across many different industries, so find a dataset related to your interests and explore what you can do with it.
What advice would you offer to recent international graduates looking to start their careers in Sweden?
Stay positive and active socially. Personally, I think making connections is very important as a new international graduate. I’ve found it helpful both for finding job opportunities and for feeling more included by surrounding myself with friends who share similar passions, whether they are locals or fellow internationals.
Towards graduation, I spent time attending events in Lund, Malmö, and Copenhagen, participating in various activities and competitions such as hackathons organized by different companies. My goal wasn’t to secure a job from these events but rather to get connected, stay energized and inspired. Engaging in these activities with a growth mindset helped me connect with others who share my interests and stay motivated.
Towards graduation, I spent time attending events in Lund, Malmö, and Copenhagen, participating in various activities and competitions such as hackathons organized by different companies.
If you are still looking for a job after graduating, don’t give up, no matter how many times you send out your resume. You will likely be invited for interviews, but responses can take time in Sweden. Stay positive and curious as you explore or learn new things while job hunting. Keep building your portfolio, explore your field to discover what you truly enjoy, and regularly update and showcase your skills on your resume. Volunteering or doing unpaid internships can also help you gain hands-on experience. Although most of these opportunities may not be paid, companies value them when reviewing resumes.
When you're not working with data, what do you enjoy doing in your free time? Are there any hobbies or activities that help you recharge or even inspire your work as a data professional?
I love meeting new people, attending networking events in the evenings after work, or going to seminars on weekends where experts share their insights on AI and technology. I enjoy hearing stories and successful cases about how companies or startups use AI and technology tools to make an impact on society, health, or the environment. These talks inspire me because they help me stay updated with trends and remind me that working in data can contribute to more than just a career.
Also, I enjoy going to the gym, playing badminton with a group of friends to clear my mind and stay physically active, or just playing with my cat at home.