Caroline Carruthers, Chief Executive Officer, Carruthers and Jackson
Caroline is a Miner’s daughter from the Northeast of England. She’s a wife, a mum, a first-generation Chief Data Officer, and co-founder of global data consultancy, Carruthers and Jackson. Caroline simply just really likes solving problems and loves data, which has led her to write numerous best-selling books, which includes ‘Chief Data Officer’s Playbook.’
As part of our ongoing celebration of International Women’s Day, we sat down with senior leaders from our community to ask them how they found themselves in the world of data, and what advice they have for others.
How and Why did you get into the Data industry?
Caroline initially worked in the IT space, which followed on from completing a Computer Science and Maths Degree but she became frustrated with the fact that despite constantly investing in shiny new tech, this didn’t solve actual problems. It was this frustration that led her to transition into Data.
What advice would you give to a college or Uni leaver considering a career in Data?
Caroline suggests following people on LinkedIn and being proactive by reaching out and asking for advice. She advises us to ‘get involved’ and never be afraid to speak up and ask questions.
How has being a female leader impacted your journey within the data industry?
Interestingly, Caroline has been in the industry long enough to see it evolve. She pointed out that when she first started, she was either the only one of very few females, but she was never made to feel unwelcome. Caroline pointed out that only a few weeks ago she attended an event, and the room was very much a 50/50 split between males and females, which is great to see and hear.
What do you think could be done better in the Data industry to attract more females to a career in Data?
Caroline feels making people in similar roles like herself, visible, is key. She has had feedback from people in more junior positions saying it helps to have this elevation of visibility. Caroline attends schools and universities hosting talks, influencing the younger generation with her enthusiasm for the industry and normalising that Data isn’t boring, she feels this is beneficial.
Caroline also emphasized that there is an issue around falling into the traps of copy and pasting Job descriptions. By doing this we won’t entice people into the industry; we need to put some real thought and effort into descriptions of roles to encourage people to join the industry.
Check out more content with Caroline…
S2 | Ep 44 | Data Ethics or Just Ethics with Caroline Carruthers, CEO at Carruthers and Jackson
Tahanee Twist
Tahanee is an accomplished principal talent partner with us here at Orbition. With years of experience in the industry, she has developed a reputation as a skilled and trusted advisor to both clients and candidates.
In her role as principal talent partner, Tahanee is responsible for managing key client relationships and ensuring the delivery of high-quality talent solutions. She works closely with clients to understand their business needs and culture, and develops customized strategies that meet their specific requirements Read more.
