So Sarah how long have you been at TKF and what is your role?
I started working at The Kite Factory in 2016 in the digital team before switching over to my true passion of data. I worked my way up the levels of the agency and now head up Data & Analytics for the agency.
Tell us about your typical workday as Senior Data Scientist
I start the day with a quick catch up with my team to check all our overnight data runs have completed successfully in FlightDeck and that tasks for the week are shared across the group. I help unpick any issues and check everybody knows what they are doing.
After that, no two days are ever the same in my role. I have meetings with the client teams to discuss campaign measurement, investigate new tools to integrate into FlightDeck, speak to prospective clients about our Analytics consultancy services. On some days I bury myself deep in the coding of a modelling project.
What are you looking forward to the most when we are finally let back to the office?
I am most looking forward to coffee machine chats with colleagues. So many great ideas come out of these conversations and they are difficult to replicate online. We have also had a lot of new starters during lockdown, so I would like to spend some time getting to know them face-to-face.
What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?
I was really proud to complete my first solo Marketing Mix Model, providing invaluable attribution for a large multi-channel campaign. When I first transitioned to the data team it wasn’t part of the plan for me to do modelling projects, but I love a challenge and my manager gave me the opportunity to learn to code in R. It felt like a huge milestone to deliver the results of that project knowing it was all my hard work. Since then, I have delivered projects like this for many of our clients and trained others in the team to do this too.
What’s your favourite way to unwind after a busy day?
I love to unwind with a gin and tonic or a wine in the garden. My garden has been essential to separating home and work life while working at home this last year and it is my happy place. I grow flowers in the borders and fruit and vegetables in my raised bed. Sometimes passers-by take photos of my flowers and I feel like a super proud plant mum!
Do you have a hidden talent?
I am actually pretty good at Fantasy Football. At one point I was inside the top 1,500 in the global league. Several people in the office have accused me of using mathematical models to build my team but it is just good old-fashioned instinct. I am still yet to win the TKF Head-to-Head league though!