Lynne Bailey: Encourage STEM in a sexier way

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?

Lynne explained that during her time with PwC, there was a small analytics and BI team created off the back of the market insights team. It was during this time she realised they were doing reporting and analysis, but hadn’t really done “data” as such, and she convinced her boss to bring in an Architect and then a Governance expert and realised data was much more than just reporting. This was the start of Lynne’s journey into the world of Data.

What advice would you give to a college or Uni leaver considering a career in Data?

Lynne didn’t hesitate by telling us “Do it”. She elaborated that Data is absolutely everywhere and it is intriguing to be involved in something that is so important. She added, “Don’t be put off, you don’t necessarily have to come from a Scientific background (although she does recognise the importance
of encouraging females into STEM subjects) – if you enjoy Geography for example, you can go off and study that but then come back and apply that to a career in data.” One of the main success factors of working in data is often understanding business and stakeholders, therefore being ‘technical’ isn’t necessarily essential. She added, to not let people put you off – value what you are good at – whether that be strategy or leadership, just because you can’t code doesn’t mean you won’t be a good data leader.

How has being a female leader impacted your journey within the data industry? 

Lynne states she has been lucky, but noted that if you work in data you work in technology, and when she worked in a previous IT department, she was the only female, working alongside six males. She felt at the time it could be a little strange, as even if parents, her male colleagues didn’t have childcare responsibilities, and as a parent, Lynne couldn’t participate in the spontaneity of going out “chewing the fat” over a few drinks as they could. However, she added that this has shifted dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic and now you do hear and see more male colleagues doing school runs and taking on more childcare responsibilities which is positive.

What do you think could be done better in the Data industry to attract more females to a career in Data?

Job descriptions can be off-putting, and Lynne believes we could position roles better. She made the suggestion of explaining to young girls, that it would be more appealing if we explained how TikTok and Instagram are based on data- make it relatable and exciting.

She emphasised that we should educate people that it doesn’t have to be a direct career path and finally added that we should

“encourage STEM in a sexier way”

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.