Women in Data Podcast

Ep.132 - Should You Stay or Walk Away? Making the Toughest Career Decision

This episode explores the tough decision of staying in or leaving a role. Karen Is joined by Marli van der Merwe and Rianna Kelly share personal experiences, discussing career growth, work environment, and well-being.  

Marli, a Data Engineer, had only been in the UK for a few months when she decided to leave her role. 

Rianna, a Senior Manager for Data Analytics Engineering, on the other hand decided to stay when she found herself in an organisation where uncertainty was constant. 

The episode offers a structured approach to decision-making, considering non-negotiables, financial and emotional factors. It also addresses external constraints like visa status and how circumstances may affect your decisions on your career. 

 

Ep.131 - How Data Teams and Stakeholders Can Work Better Together

Collaboration between data teams and stakeholders isn’t always smooth. Misaligned expectations, shifting requirements, and a lack of mutual understanding can lead to frustration on both sides. 

  

In this cohosted  episode, Karen and Cecilia dive into the key challenges data teams face when working with stakeholders —and, more importantly, how to overcome them. They share practical strategies to: 

• Get stakeholders to bring problems, not just predefined solutions 
• Align expectations early and avoid last-minute changes 
• Build empathy and trust between technical and business teams 

 

Tune in for actionable insights that will help you work better with stakeholders and maximise the value of data analytics! 

Ep.130 Data Protection 101: What Every Data Professional Should Know

Data privacy isn’t just for legal teams—it’s a responsibility shared by everyone working with data. In this episode, Karen sits down with Sachiko Scheuing, European Privacy and AI Governance Officer at Acxiom, to explore the crucial role privacy plays in the data industry and why it matters more than ever. 

They discuss: 

• How data privacy differs from other roles in data and why strong communication is key 

• The role every data professional should play in protecting personal information 

• Common misconceptions, including the truth about consent and "consent fatigue" 

• How to handle situations where you're asked to share customer data but feel uncertain about privacy risks 

• The complex intersection of privacy laws and how to navigate them 

• How AI is impacting the field 

With evolving regulations and growing concerns about data and AI ethics, this conversation is packed with practical insights to help you take responsibility for privacy in your work. Tune in to learn how you can be proactive in protecting data—and the people behind it. 

Ep.129 Breaking Barriers:Skills and Strategies for Data Career Growth

In this episode of the Women in Data podcast hosted by Cecilia, Manca Vitorino shares her journey from journalism to a data leadership role at ICIS, part of LexisNexis. Initially a markets reporter, Manca's exposure to data-driven journalism led her to identify automation and data visualization opportunities, sparking her transition into data.

 

She discusses how skills from journalism—investigating, verifying, and storytelling with data—are directly transferable to data analysis. Manca emphasizes the importance of solving problems and articulating solutions for career growth, rather than just seeking out job titles. She also highlights the growing need for data literacy across all industries.

 

Reflecting on her own experience, Manca talks about the challenges of moving into a technical role, managing imposter syndrome, and leveraging her communication skills to excel. This inspiring episode encourages listeners to explore how their existing skills can open doors to data-driven careers.

Ep.128 Personal Branding for Data Professionals: Actionable Strategies to Grow Your Visibility

What does it take to build a personal brand that truly stands out?  

In this episode, Karen dives into the world of personal branding with two inspiring guests, each offering unique perspectives and strategies: 

• Robin Sutara, Chief Data and Strategy Officer at Databricks, who shares her journey from being behind the scenes to building her personal brand and being a visible thought leader. Robin emphasises the importance of consistency and overcoming imposter syndrome when sharing expertise online, especially on platforms like LinkedIn. She also shares how she makes time for content creation and advocating for opportunities to present work. 

• Olivia Arnold, Communications Director for Women in Data, who provides actionable strategies and advice for building your personal brand online. Livi stresses the importance of understanding your motivations and goals before sharing content. She breaks down how to engage your audience effectively, structure compelling content, and align your online persona with your offline presence. From writing in your authentic voice to analyzing what resonates with your audience, she offers practical advice to help you build connections and grow your visibility. 

Listen to this episode for actionable tips to help grow your visibility and excel in the data community! 

Ep.127 Data Job Search Hacks: How to Land Your Dream Role

More often than not, we start looking for a new job when it’s already too late. We’re unhappy in our current role, and the rush to apply for anything we find online can lead to dissatisfaction down the line. 

In this episode, Karen and Cecilia explore a more strategic job search process for data professionals. 

From defining your ideal role to navigating the complexities of applications, they share strategies that will set you up for success. Whether you’re starting your search or looking to optimize your approach, this episode provides actionable insights. 

Tune in for tips on how to stand out in the data job market, build your network, and maintain your mental health throughout the process. 

Ep.126 Karen’s Recipe for Bold Career Decisions and Thriving in Data

What does it take to find your space and thrive in the data industry? 

For the last episode of 2024, Lizzie Harris steps into the hosting seat to interview Karen Jean Francois in front of a live audience at Kingfisher. Over the past two years, Karen has made courageous career decisions—voluntarily taking redundancy, leaving a job that wasn’t right for her without having another lined up, and ultimately joining B&Q as a Data Product Manager in a role that stretches her beyond her comfort zone. 

In this candid conversation, Karen shares insights on: 

• The emotional and practical side of making bold career moves—and lessons learned 

• How networking and relationships can supercharge your data career 

• Breaking down misconceptions about what it means to work in data 

• Tips for finding mentors and being an ally in the data space 

• The journey of starting and hosting a podcast for women in data 

With audience Q&A and real-world advice, this episode is packed with inspiration for anyone navigating their path in the data world. Don’t miss it! 

Bringing Gender Parity to the Data Industry: Celebrating Women in Data's 10 Years Anniversary

As a recruitment leader, Roisin McCarthy noticed that her team was placing less and less women in data related roles year on year. She kept hearing stories of women being passed over for promotion. So she set on a mission to bring gender parity in the data industry. 10 years later, Women in Data has become a powerful force, advocating for women and creating spaces where they can excel. In this episode, Roisin raconts her inspiring journey, highlights key milestones, from representing the community at influential policy discussions to growing retention rates among senior female leaders. While there’s been progress, with women now holding 19% of top data roles, challenges remain, especially in reducing talent loss and bridging the gender pay gap. Roisin’s vision is clear: a future where gender parity is the norm, and where Women in Data continues to empower every woman in the field. 

Ep.124 Empowered by Neurodiversity

In this episode, Cecilia is joined by Konstantina Kapetanidi and Anna O'Donohue to talk about how embracing neurodiversity can bring unique strengths and perspectives to the workforce, as well as to day-to-day life. They share personal experiences with neurodiversity, discuss the importance of diagnosis, and address workplace challenges such as misinformation and inclusion. Having recently ran a successful lunch and learn on the topic with Women in data recently, they continue the conversation and dive into questions they didn’t have time to answer during the event.  

Ep.123 Elevate Your Career: Growth Mindset, Strategic Networking, and the Power of Curiosity

In this episode, Jade Emmanuel, a Customer Science Analyst, reveals how she took ownership of her career by starting with curiosity and pursuing what excites her. You'll get actionable advice on how to take control of your own career, whether it's through engaging in curious conversations, shadowing others, or approaching senior leaders with confidence. Learn how to leverage informal learning experiences and develop a growth mindset to create opportunities and build strategic relationships that elevate your professional journey.