������������DZ������Ի�����Ǿ��Ա�����ٲ��ٲ����پ�������just under 6 months ago to work in our Software Development team.  We have loved getting to know her and wanted to take the time to ask her about how she is settling in; what her favourite part of being in the team is; and how she sees her role developing into the future. 

Hi Edele, how are you settling into the role? 

Brilliantly! I was delighted to immediately feel part of the team. From the first day, I was able to take the time to get my head around the job and am now proud to be working on really meaningful, exciting, and challenging projects. One of the great things about Ģ������Ƶ is the team. I have a brilliant manager in Martin Downey and my colleagues I work with day in/day out with are massively supportive, knowledgeable, and talented. Another aspect I enjoy is the flexibility; being in a development role, we ensure that the parameters of the project are set and then we can go work on the project at our own pace.  

What sort of workplace is Ģ������Ƶ? 

Ģ������Ƶ is the epitome of diversity, the team has a strong mix of genders and nationalities which is an important aspect to the company. Working in a team with such talented females has pushed me to want to progress in my career further. As a woman in technology, I am proud to see the trajectory of females in technology increase. Ģ������Ƶ is a wonderful place to work and from the first day, I remember thinking this – from the support, the social aspects, the career progression, the friendly team, and the growth of the company – it really is an exciting place to be! 

What are your goals? 

I am focusing on developing my skills as much as possible right now. In the past, I have had the opportunity to work with many different coding languages which has helped me to grasp the skills needed to do this job. I would hope to utilise the mentors around me to help me grow in both skill, acumen and professionalism. I am proud to be in a company that is going from strength to strength in terms of the talent and the technology. As time goes on, I want to be able to become even more confident in my ability, continually challenge myself to always be learning. I would love to go back to my old school and speak to the young girls about what a career in STEM can look like and to encourage them to pursue it as a career. 

We are currently advertising for the role of Senior Software Engineer. As you are 6 months into your own role at Ģ������Ƶ, what would you say to anyone considering applying for the post? 

You will be working closely with me! I would say that for anyone wishing to apply that you are guaranteed to learn huge amounts in a very short space of time, and I think if you are willing to work hard and buy into the company ethos here you will thrive. For any females thinking of applying, the company is keen to continually give women an opportunity in the technology field and are huge advocates of diversity and inclusion. All in all, 6-ish months in, I am very happy with my choice to come and join the amazing team here. I am looking forward to progressing in my career and I hope I will be able to always add value to the amazing work the company is doing! 

Thanks, Edele! If you would like to speak further with Edele about what it is like working in such a fast-paced, exciting team – you can reach out to her . If you would like more information about the role itself, that information can be found here on our website.  

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Julian Wavell kickstarted his role as Head of Business Development UK at Ģ������Ƶ a few weeks ago. We thought it would be a good idea to sit down with him and chat about his role and what he is hoping to achieve within it.

Hi Julian! ����’s great to have you join us, could you tell us a bit about your background before Ģ������Ƶ?

My original background was in Accountancy, I have always had an interest in numbers, having played an early part in the transition from an analogue to a digital world (ask me later). Data has now become the new oil. My first real venture into the software market was in 2000, having joined a start-up company selling early versions of an online Customer Service Agent technology. I then spent a number of years working for large US software companies which enabled me to gain a solid understanding of the Data Management space. In 2010, I opened the UK office for Ataccama and really sought to get to the bottom of why people would buy the software, what problems are they trying to solve and how can we solve the problem. I have always said if you can understand the business challenge and priority from a customer perspective you have a greater chance of finding a solution to meet their needs, the cornerstone of any business!

My strategy has been two-fold. Firstly, building trusted relationships with customers directly to solve their problems; whether that be data quality, data governance or mastering data. Secondly, working with Partners – as they can have greater visibility and insight into the bigger picture regarding customer projects and initiatives and can bring more value through domain expertise and their ability to scale solutions.

Taking it back further, what was your background before work?

I didn’t attend University – I went to college for a few years and studied Business Management. My first job was working for a Chartered Accountant and spent the following number of years working for Sainsbury’s and Digital (DEC) in Management Accounts. I soon came to the conclusion that Accountancy wasn’t going to be my future and decided to look for a different challenge. I made my move into Sales and I have never looked back. I have a genuine interest in technology and the value it can bring to businesses, but at the heart is an entrepreneurial spirit that runs through everything I do. I think my role at Ģ������Ƶ has come at the perfect time, I was ready for a new challenge, and I could see a really exciting opportunity with Ģ������Ƶ to take the business to the next level.

What would your proudest achievement be in your career so far?

I have had some great successes working on Financial Services, Pharma, and Telco projects over the years, but my proudest moments have been working with two high profile charities; RNLI and Cancer Research. Both of which came at different stages in my career. Whilst different in nature, the projects sought out to improve the customer experience, drive down costs and facilitate better decision making through improved data quality. For me, projects like those are important as they are the ones that make the biggest difference. The outcome of what I do is the most important thing – setting what you are going to do and always learning is vital and I have been privileged to always be able to learn.

If you had to summarise what you most looking forward to about the role, what would you say?

Companies have got their eye on AI; they want to know how they can use it from a business value perspective and I am interested to understand how we can help them solve their problems using AI. I really enjoy the challenge of a scale-up, we either do nothing or everything, it’s up to us to make it happen. Ģ������Ƶ is at a really exciting stage with the recent investment, growth, and differentiators making it a brilliant solution, and I can’t wait to get it in front of more people.

Julian’s appointment means Ģ������Ƶ has now grown to nearly 60, securing international clients in New York and Amsterdam during the past 12 months, alongside a £2m investment round. “We’ve seen many market consolidation moves in data management from large technology, consultancy and Private Equity firms, particularly as companies are seeking to make up for lost ground over the past year” commented Matt Flenley, Head of Marketing at Ģ������Ƶ. “The demand is especially strong in some of our strongest growth sectors such as wealth and asset management, and insurance, where ongoing challenges over digital transformation and the need to truly master the single customer view have never been more relevant.”

Thanks for the great chat, Julian, we are delighted you have joined us!

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“One of the main things I want to put across is that I was willing to move from a big company and a sport I was passionate about to come to work in Belfast” 

Martin Vance joined our team 15 months ago as a Data Management Consultant, helping our clients solve real-world data management problems. As someone who is passionate about data, he enjoys applying his analytical mind to solving problems and curating innovative solutions; in this interview, we took some time to find out why he relocated to Belfast from the fast-paced world of F1, and see what he’s planning to do next

How did you come across Ģ������Ƶ? 

I can’t remember what the event was, but I remember a listed Data Management event that included Ģ������Ƶ. If it hadn’t been for that event, I don’t think I would’ve heard of the company. I then applied for the role and got it! Ģ������Ƶ instantly stood out to me as a company that has reputation, one which had experience within it, and ultimately one that was leading discussions within the technology space. 

How did you get into Data? 

When I was 18, I went to America on a Soccer Scholarship as a student athlete. I quickly realised that I wanted to study further, which led me to study human performance (Sports Science) at university in England. I then did a Master’s in Clinical Exercise Physiology at Northumbria. 

Straight after University, my first role was within data with F1, and although my degrees were not directly related to technology, I was able to demonstrate my scientific and analytical mindset to land the role. 

How have you found the transition into a scale up company from a larger organisation? 

For me, I have loved getting to understand the different functions of the business. In larger organisations you tend to know your team and that’s it. At Ģ������Ƶ, being able to work with others from a wide range of backgrounds with a vast array of skills has been enlightening. On another note, it’s been brilliant to work in a gender diverse environment. Ģ������Ƶ is doing a great job of encouraging women to enter the technology sphere. Also, there is great age diversity within the company – I enjoy working with experienced eyes and working with those that are fresh into their career in equal measure. 

You are planning to undertake another master’s, could you tell me a bit about that? 

For me, it’s about gaining a more holistic view of data. I have done the data analysis role and then the data management role. I now feel like the gap in my knowledge base is understanding machine learning and artificial intelligence. Working closely with the Head of AI, Fiona Browne has been very inspiring to me, so I felt I would look into a Masters in Data Science in Ulster. I think this Masters will help me improve my knowledge and allow me to give more to my role at Ģ������Ƶ. I start the master’s time from September and am delighted to be able to study alongside working. The goal would be that my dissertation would tie well into something we are working on within the company, making it mutually beneficial for both myself and the company.  

You previously worked in England; how did you find coming over to Northern Ireland? 

One of the main things I want to put across is that I was willing to move from a big company and a sport I was passionate about to come to work in Belfast. The move was 100% worth it. Moving back to Northern Ireland has given me great work life balance and I feel particularly excited to be working for a company that is growing hugely. In the next 10-15 years I think Northern Ireland will continue to go from strength to strength as a hub for technology and opportunity. 

Thanks, Martin, for taking the time to chat with us. It was great to be able to hear about your passions and your career journey to date.  We look forward to hearing more from you soon and good luck with the master’s! 

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Edele Copeland has joined our team this week as a Software Engineer. We thought we would sit down and find out a bit more about who she is, how she has come to Ģ������Ƶ, her goals and ambitions. Read on to get to know her better… 

Hi Edele! ����’s great to have you on board. What can you tell me about this role you have taken up with Ģ������Ƶ? 

Hello! I am delighted to have joined the software development team as a developer. I have been a developer for 3 years now with most of my previous experience being in C# and now I am venturing into the world of Java, which is all new to me. The first couple of months I will spend training and getting used to the business. I feel this role will give me a great opportunity to elevate my career within software and be able to develop my skillset whilst working alongside a stellar team. 

What brought you to work for a company like Ģ������Ƶ? 

Someone else within the company recommended Ģ������Ƶ to me which really enticed me to apply! I studied my undergraduate degree in Mathematics at Queens University, which was then followed by a master’s in Software Development. I have worked with data in a previous role, so I have developed a passion for data and the importance of data quality. I am really looking forward to being in an environment that will allow me to develop my skillset but most importantly be working towards projects that will have high impact and will help advance the company. 

How did you find your groove within software development? 

When I undertook my undergraduate degree in Mathematics, I wasn’t entirely sure which avenue I wanted to go down. Some people were wanting to be teachers, go into academia or become accountants but for me I wasn’t sure. I remember researching various master’s qualifications and I realised that Software Development was going to open many doors for me and that the employment rates were brilliant. I didn’t think about technology from a young age, I just knew I enjoyed numbers, and software development allowed me to use my logical, statistical background and apply it to technological solutions. 

Coming into the role, what are you most looking forward to? 
I am really looking forward to working with a team that has such a variety of experience levels. I am keen to elevate my career, I am an ambitious person so joining a company that clearly supports employees in development was massively important. I am also very passionate about promoting STEM to other girls and young women that are keen to enter the profession. STEM is a great career path, and I am hoping I can get involved with Women in Tech as part of the company. 

What were your first impressions of the company?  

My first impressions were brilliant – I had a call with Stuart, CEO just before starting and I remember from then thinking that the company is a company that goes the extra miles for their employees! I have been spending the first few days getting to know my other team members and I found it so refreshing to hear about the different educational backgrounds they have all had. It just goes to show, that there are many ways to get started in the technology sphere.  

Brilliant! What about goals for the role as you are starting out?  

I want to learn from now until the foreseeable. I am keen to become a senior developer in the next year and a half. Setting a goal like this for myself is scary but will push me to strive to achieve as best as I can. I am also keen to get in touch with my old secondary school, to go back and give a talk to female pupils and showcase to them what a career in technology looks like and the various different paths to get there. Everything is not set in stone, I did a mathematics degree and then moved across to Software Development later.  

You tutor alongside working, can you tell me a bit about that? 

In my spare time, I tutor 13–18-year-olds in Maths. I have been doing this for the past 10 years since I was a university student as I have gone through my various roles within my career. I am really passionate about helping young people to understand mathematics and to showcase to them the wealth of opportunities in front of them! I have seen a big trend in young girls doing mathematics at A-Level and then wanting to pursue a career with STEM, I feel in a lucky position to be able to help young people to learn and develop. 

Overall, I am so excited to get stuck into my role. I am looking forward to working across the various different projects that will come my way! 

Thanks, Edele, for taking the time to chat with us. It was great to be able to hear about your passions and your career journey to date.  We look forward to hearing more from you soon!  

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