Recently, I had the opportunity to shadow Numa, who is currently completing her P4 placement. She’s working on a project involving admissions data, where her responsibilities range from data preparation to building reports in Power BI.
One of the most striking aspects of Numa’s role is the level of autonomy she has in managing her project. She’s trusted to work independently, with regular check-ins to ensure alignment. This freedom allows her to be creative and proactive in her approach — especially when dealing with the complexities of the data. Because of the way the admissions data is collected, she often has to think outside the box to clean and prepare it effectively for analysis.
During our time together, she walked me through her workflow and shared valuable insights into how she tackles challenges. We also discussed her journey across different placements during her time at The Information Lab, which gave me a broader understanding of how different environments can shape working styles and skills.
Key Takeaways
1. Get to know your team
Building strong relationships within your team is essential. It fosters collaboration, open communication, and a supportive working environment.
2. Make an effort to integrate
In new settings, taking the initiative to engage with others helps you adapt more quickly and contribute more effectively.
3. Communicate effectively
Being clear about timelines, deliverables, and progress helps manage stakeholder expectations and builds trust throughout the project.
4. Manage your workload realistically
It’s important to be honest about what you can achieve and to set boundaries that maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Overall, shadowing Numa gave me valuable insight into how data projects are managed in a professional environment. It was inspiring to see how she combines technical expertise with strong communication and self-management skills.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from her and appreciate the time she took to share her experiences and advice with me.