Sarah Xi Bonham-Yang is an ex-special needs teacher now Financial Crime Insight Analyst passionate about neurodiversity in the workplace. She joined The Data Lab Community to find a mentor while undertaking a data analysis bootcamp with CodeClan to change careers from teaching. We spoke to Sarah about the value of The Data Lab Community and its mentorship programme, which is helping her navigate the early stages of her data science career.
The Challenge
After graduating with a degree in Mathematics from the University of Manchester, Sarah spent several years working as a teacher. Despite the stability of teaching, she felt it wasn’t the right fit and enrolled in a Data Analysis bootcamp at CodeClan to pursue a career in data science.
Making a career change, especially from a stable job like teaching, can be quite daunting. To ease this transition, Sarah joined The Data Lab Community before graduating from CodeClan to find out more about the data industry and connect with a mentor who could guide her through her early career stage and help support her job search.
“My advice would be to gather as much information as you can before making the leap. The data industry is full of friendly and welcoming people, but it’s important to be aware of both the positives and the challenges.”
The Solution
In addition to accessing the CodeClan boot camp course and Women in Data, Sarah found support in the data and AI community through The Data Lab Community.
Sarah was connected with Ivona, a mentor whose guidance proved invaluable during this transition. Ivona’s mentorship has helped Sarah navigate the complexities of the data industry and continues to provide support as she navigates the early stages of her career.
“The mentoring programme has been incredibly valuable to me. There have been numerous occasions where I’ve felt lost or confused, and knowing I have someone to turn to for advice has been a tremendous relief. The guidance I’ve received has continued to benefit me well beyond landing my first job, and I’m extremely grateful for that.”
The Outcome
Through her mentor’s support Sarah gained a job with one of CodeClan’s partners, Morningstar, where she worked as an analyst for about 1.5 years, gaining invaluable insights into the data industry. She recently started working as a Financial Crime Insight Analyst at NatWest Group, where she continues to grow and learn every day.
Her work now focuses on developing data-driven detection rules to identify financial crimes, which visibly impact society. This involves constantly updating our rules to adapt to the ever-changing tactics used in crime and improving them to reduce false alarms, which enhances the overall customer experience. For instance, she recently worked on rules to detect Human Trafficking. Although it’s not a common crime, having these rules in place means that if such a crime occurs, this can help to protect potential victims, which is incredibly important.
Sarah is also passionate about neurodiversity in the workplace and aims to foster environments where neurodivergent people can be themselves and succeed.
“I’m passionate about seeing more neurodivergent individuals not only entering but thriving in this industry. I’d love to see companies becoming increasingly neurodivergent-friendly, where everyone feels accepted and their unique needs are met.”
As she looks forward, Sarah remains dedicated to supporting neurodivergent individuals and contributing to the data industry, valuing the ongoing community and mentorship she found with The Data Lab.