Lum-neh Angela
Computing Student 
African Leadership University
Mauritius

One of the most difficult challenges in the job market today is the skills gap that exists between the expectations of employers and the abilities of new college graduates aspiring to join the corporate world. Recent technological advancements that demand new skills, have only exacerbated the problem as businesses scramble for the best talents to help them stay relevant and innovative. 
 
The shortage of data science and machine learning practitioners around the world is well documented. As more businesses adopt big data technologies, the demand for highly skilled data scientists has exploded. This makes it imperative that we develop new talent. 

Despite the efforts of universities and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offering modules in data science, there is still a great need for aspiring data scientists to test and develop their skills in the real world. It is with this in mind that the African Leadership University in Mauritius with its vision to provide young African leaders with 21st -century skills, established an annual 4-month internship experience for all its students.

My internship for the past four months has been with Ixio Analytics in Cape Town where the data scientists strive to build data science capacity across Africa. I was privileged to be the first ever intern to work with the Ixio team.

What an exciting opportunity for a young, data enthusiast with basic knowledge about the field but ready to learn and add as much value as possible! But like any other student venturing into a technical role in a company, I often worried about my own skills. Nonetheless, the constant support from my managers at Ixio really helped me build my self-confidence. I discovered that starting a journey in data science can be intimidating but companies like Ixio can contribute a great deal towards nurturing new talent and not simply searching for the handful of experts in the field. From my internship experience, there are three ways businesses can help build young data science talent:

    1.    Providing opportunity and resources: Ixio Analytics opened a door for me into the data science world by creating a conducive environment where I could learn, make mistakes and grow. Being treated as an integral part of the team led me to want to excel in all the tasks I was given.


    2.    Working on real-world projects: In many fields of study, the practical side of things is usually forgotten. It’s not unusual for students to go through a data science program without gaining the much needed practical skills to compete in the job market. In my case I developed data science solutions using transactional data from one of Ixio’s clients. I also worked on a customer segmentation and profiling model as well as an uplift model to determine customer response to messaging. These projects have enabled me to gain valuable skills in data science and machine learning, skills that I may never have gained in school in the same period of time. 


    3.    Industrial Exposure and Networking: With many graduates still to fully understand the prospects and applications of data science in today’s information-driven world, exposure to industry and engaging with other professionals and mentors can be extremely valuable. For me, working with the very competent and organized Ixio team has not only helped me develop my skills in data analytics but also boosted my interest in pursuing a career as a data scientist.

I was encouraged to attend conferences and tech events where I represented Ixio Analytics, the highlights being PyCONZA 2017 which is all about Python coding and ASTARS, a forum for young leaders in tech and part of the annual AfricaCom conference in Cape Town. As part of my internship I also attended meetings with Ixio’s clients including some of the largest corporate names in Africa. That has broadened my outlook on the industry and shaped my decision on what skills and areas to focus on in the future.


My journey into the field of data science and analytics has turned out to be my best experience so far in the corporate world. I am truly grateful to the entire Ixio team and ALU’s Career Development team and am humbled to have had such an enriching learning experience. I will continue exploring in the months ahead and see what a career in data science holds for me.

Note to Angela from Ixio Management: Thank you for the kind words. Your cheque is in the post.