Analytics and Performance Manager - School Entrance Tests

Inspiring answers by Lyane Bartlett, one of our STEM Careers for Women Ambassadors on her life and working as an Analytics manager.

Name and job role.

Lyane Bartlett, Analytics Manager

What is something about you people might not know?

I am very focused and professional at work, however little do they know I am a sucker for a Disney classic film.

What are your hobbies?

After busy days at work or working on my business, I love having a relaxed evening, reading, watching tv, especially a good period drama. I love to travel and get in as many Europe weekend city breaks as I can.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I believe this changed quite a lot but the main one I remember is a Party/Wedding Planner. I did love and do still love organising a good event.

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Who was your biggest influence growing up?… who were your role models?

Specific teachers throughout school had a big impact on me. They would push me to show what I was capable of. My Mum and Dad were also so supportive. They always encourage me to take whatever opportunities I could. My mum had her own business and dad worked in sales. They both allowed me to get involved in their work in ways I could at a young age. That’s definitely given me my current work ethic. They are my biggest influences in getting to where I am today. Now I have some amazing people around me who mentor me and offer more business-focused guidance and support.

What were your favourite subjects at school?

I enjoyed French all throughout school, but once I got to GCSE and could take Business Management/Economics and A level Psychology I jumped at the chance. They quickly became my favourite subjects. The opportunity to argue your answer and debate a process was always what kept me keen on a topic.

Analytics Manager

What were your least favourite subjects at school?

It has to be the sciences or RE. During school, I struggled with just being given the answer. I wanted to know ‘Why’. I wasn’t the best at regurgitating answers without understanding how we got there, which during secondary school science and RE, is not always something the teacher would spend the time on.

How did you come to choose your current career path or were you led to it?

During my master’s degree as part of my final project, I took on a consultancy project aimed at solving a business problem. This involved working with a large local organisation in identifying the best ways of working for their sales team. Throughout this I kept returning to data, creating measurement dashboards and using performance data to analyze efficiency and define goal setting. It was only at this point that I realised how I was being drawn towards the data-driven element of their business question and using data to define my approach. From that point, I then knew what career path I wanted and set about finding a data analyst role for after my masters. I was quite annoyed it took me so long to discover the world of data to be honest.

What are the biggest changes in the world of work (for women) that you are excited about?

I am definitely excited about the boundaries being pushed by women in terms of gaining senior roles and having an amazing impact, especially where they are having big voices in the data/technology world, enabling the sector to really see things differently. These women are paving a way for those like me to have confidence in making an impact in the sector and challenging the current status quo.

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Would you say having a degree is the only path to a successful career?

For me doing a degree was how I came across the world of data. However, it definitely isn’t the only way to a successful career. University can teach you a lot about yourself. It gives you a lot of independence. I personally ended university a much more confident person, having discovered my strengths. Subsequently, I became a great problem solver. I likely wouldn’t be in the position I am had I not taken that path. But now there are so many alternative routes that offer the same level of skills and knowledge and where you can draw on real-life experiences a little more and develop vital personal skills. If you have the drive and are willing to learn and work hard you can succeed at anything you put your mind to. No matter what route you take.

Would you say there are opportunities for women entrepreneurs in your career?

Definitely, the world of data is always evolving, and women can easily jump into these spaces as entrepreneurs. I myself have just set up a consulting business, to share my knowledge of data with SMEs to enable them to understand the full potential correct data use can have on their business.

What advice would you give your younger self and school leavers today?

Don’t worry about what other people are doing or compare yourself to others. Don’t put the pressure on yourself or feel like you’re failing if it seems your friends are all getting better grades than you or someone gets a role at a larger company or gets a promotion before you. Everyone is on their own time lines and has different life goals and you will get to exactly where you want to go.
Analytics Manager

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