Diversity | It's what makes the Data School so great

by Andy Kriebel

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”/content/images/wordpress/2017/06/DS6.png” show_in_lightbox=”on” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

The people we hire and the application process to get into the Data School are unique as far as I know in the data analytics world (and probably tech worldwide too). This has resulted in a very diverse set of trainees. We’ve broken down gender barriers; nearly 50% of our trainees have been women.

Think about it for a second. If you hire by looking at CVs and determining if someone is good based on the university they attended, I guarantee you’re missing out on exceptional talent. Once someone is hired, does it matter where they went to school? Of course not! It’s what they DO that matters.

At the Data School we’ve flipped this paradigm; we focus on what you DO first. I don’t care where you went to school (and I don’t know UK and European universities anyway). I know you’ll be a success if you’re passionate about data analytics. I know you’re teachable if you’ve shown passion for something you’ve done in the past. We ask every candidate what they’ve done that’s taken 10,000 hours.

As DS6 introduced themselves to each other Monday morning, I took some notes on their backgrounds. Why? Because I want to highlight the diversity of their genders, their cultures, their educations. It’s this mix that is our magic sauce. So here they are, the 6th cohort of the Data School.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”/content/images/wordpress/2017/06/Elena-Caric.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”/blog/elena-caric/” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Elena Caric

  • Masters in Finance
  • BS in Marketing
  • From Macedonia
  • Before DS, she worked in real estate

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”/content/images/wordpress/2017/06/Lee-Gibbons.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”/blog/lee-gibbons/” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Lee Gibbons

  • From Kent
  • Currently studying natural sciences
  • Before DS, he worked in education administration

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”/content/images/wordpress/2017/06/Mina-Ozgen.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”/blog/mina-ozgen” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Mina Ozgen

  • Studied economics
  • Born in Chicago; from Sussex
  • Before DS, she worked in shipping analytics

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”/content/images/wordpress/2017/06/Alex-Jones.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”/blog/alex-jones/” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Alex Jones

  • BS in Business & Sociology
  • From Bedford
  • Before DS, he worked in change management

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”/content/images/wordpress/2017/06/Marcus-Grant.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”/blog/marcus-grant/” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Marcus Grant

  • Studied computing and IT
  • Born in Jamaica; from Essex
  • England Under-18 Rugby
  • Before DS, he worked as a project manager for the NHS

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”/content/images/wordpress/2017/06/William-Guicheney.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”/blog/william-guicheney/” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Will Guicheney

  • BA in Economics
  • Masters in Development Management
  • From France
  • Before DS, he worked as an impact and strategy consultant

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”/content/images/wordpress/2017/06/Jamie-Gough.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”/blog/jamie-gough/” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Jamie Gough

  • Studied history
  • From Essex
  • Before DS, he worked as a football trader

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”/content/images/wordpress/2017/06/AJ-Basnet.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url=”/blog/aj-basnet/” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Aj Basnet

  • Studied economic
  • Born in Nepal; from Reading
  • Before DS, he started a youth-led microfinance initiative in Nepal

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]