By Frances Denny, Sophie Gregg and the Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Team.
This year Tuesday 8th October marks the International Day of Women in Statistics and Data Science (IDWSDS), Ada Lovelace Day and Diversity Mark’s annual summit. To celebrate these, Exploristics is shining a spotlight on two talented female team members, Frances Denny and Sophie Gregg. Offering perspectives from different stages of their successful Statistics careers, Frances and Sophie were able to share valuable insights on their career journeys so far in the following conversation with our EDI team.
Can you tell us about your current role at Exploristics?
Frances Denny: I’m currently the Head of Business Operations. In this role, I lead Finance, Human Resources, Project Management and Quality Management at Exploristics.
Sophie Gregg: In my current role as a Statistician II within the Project Based Services Team, I collaborate with other statisticians and statistical programmers to deliver client projects across a variety of therapeutic areas. I am responsible for the completion of tasks such as programming statistical models for TFLs (Tables, Figures, Listings), conducting analyses, and reviewing statistical documents such as SARs (Statistical Analysis Reports). This collaborative environment is important for the work within our team, as we combine our skills to meet client needs and ensure high-quality analyses is completed efficiently and accurately.
Can you give us a flavour of your educational journey? What did you study and where?
Frances: After finishing my A-Levels (Biology, Chemistry and Maths) I went on to obtain my BSc in Mathematics at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). Upon finishing, I knew my educational journey wasn’t complete and had some idea of the field that I wanted to specialise in but decided to take a break first. Whilst on a gap year, I spent some time looking into career options, pathways and interests and it cemented my decision to pursue a career in Statistics. When the year was up, I returned to QUB where I worked as a Researcher in the Maths and Physics department, which then led into my PhD in Statistics. The focus of my PhD was statistical methods for data generated by patient reported outcomes (PROs).
Sophie: After gaining an interest in mathematics during my A-Level studies, I pursued a Master of Science degree in Mathematics at QUB. Over the next four years, I specialised in applied mathematics, graduating with First Class Honours in 2022. Following graduation, I joined Exploristics through the Analytics Academy, where I continued my educational journey with focused training in statistics and programming. After completing this training, I graduated from the academy and began my career as a Statistician.
When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in STEM (and then Statistics)?
Frances: During my final GCSE year, when making my A-Level choices. I was quite torn between Arts and STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) but ultimately felt that STEM held more long-term opportunities.
Sophie: From early on in high school, I developed a strong interest in STEM, as I particularly enjoying the problem-solving and logical thinking involved in understanding and solving mathematical problems. This grew into an interest in how data can be used to solve real-world problems and its potential for meaningful impact. Throughout my studies and further into my degree, I chose to pursue a career in Statistics as I found great satisfaction in analytical thinking, understanding data trends, and making informed decisions based on those insights.
What influencing factors played a part in your decision to embark on this career?
Frances: I will never forget an invaluable piece of advice that my GCSE Maths’ teacher gave the class. She said if you ever get an opportunity to study Statistics at University, do it! That always stuck with me and although there weren’t so many courses available for studying Statistics at QUB then compared to now, that teacher wasn’t wrong. It was the area of my Maths degree that held my interest throughout as I could see the practical application of the theory and I knew that I ultimately wanted to go in that direction upon completing my studies.
At the time I was studying, placement years weren’t part of the QUB program or overly encouraged and I was concerned that a lack of work experience might hinder my job applications. Some job ads showed a requirement of a minimum of a master’s degree and/or 3 years working experience. I therefore decided to boost my CV with both, gaining some work experience and a PhD. Career options for graduates are much better now. Exploristics Analytics Academy is a great example where experience led and on-the-job training helps open doors, and that formal education whilst having its place, is not the only path.
Sophie: Throughout my education, influential schoolteachers and university mentors played a key part in encouraging me to pursue a career in Statistics. Their guidance in highlighting the potential opportunities within the field, along with the knowledge they shared influenced my decision to become a Statistician. Additionally, the growing demand for statistics across industries highlighted its importance in solving real-world problems, which was an influencing factor in my decision to embark on this career path.
What inspires you in the workplace?
Frances: The people I work with and the need for always pursuing continuous improvement, not to stand still for too long.
Sophie: What inspires me in the workplace is the opportunity to collaborate with supportive and knowledgeable colleagues. Working with such a dedicated team motivates me to give my best every day, and the guidance I receive from them helps me grow continuously in my role as a Statistician. Additionally, I am driven by the chance to make a meaningful impact on public health. Knowing that our work directly influences healthcare decisions and improves patient outcomes gives me a deeper sense of purpose and fulfilment in my career.
How do you feel the landscape will change for women in STEM over the next 5 years?
Frances: Good question. Figures show that there is an upward trend in females taking up STEM subjects and pursuing a career in a STEM related subject but it’s still moving at a relatively slow pace. There are many initiatives out there to help encourage the pipeline of students (WISE Campaign, STEM Ambassadors, etc), and ultimately those going into the workforce but there is still plenty to be done. I would hope that we continue to see an upward trajectory in women pursing STEM related careers, and some of the holes in the leaky pipeline start to be plugged by solutions such as improved parental leave and flexible working policies.
Sophie: I believe over the next five years there will be a continued rise in support and opportunities for women in STEM, driven by an increasing emphasis on diversity and inclusion within the workplace. It’s encouraging to see more women entering STEM fields, but barriers still exist. To address these, I think there needs to be a greater focus on mentorship to guide the next generation and raise awareness of the under-representation of women in STEM. I believe promoting initiatives that encourage flexibility within the workplace will be key to breaking down these barriers and creating a more inclusive environment to facilitate future contributions from women in STEM.
What advice would you give to young people who are considering a STEM career?
Frances: There are so many opportunities out there in STEM. I started out wanting in a career in Statistics, and whilst I loved the technical aspect of the role of Statistician, in particular learning and putting knowledge into practice, the foundations that I built in that time helped me to pivot into another career. The skills I inherited through my education and training as well as being in a workplace that offers plenty of opportunities has afforded me the chance to do that. I’m still able to put all my logical and computational skills to good use every day, whether it’s helping to map out new process flows, put business metrics together, or being able to advise my colleagues on statistical methods and programming. I always seek new challenges and opportunities, and I believe a career in STEM offers those in abundance.
Sophie: My advice for young people considering a STEM career is to pursue a field or career path you’re genuinely passionate about. By taking time to explore different opportunities or careers within STEM and focusing on what excites you, you will be more likely to stay motivated to keep learning and growing throughout your career. Additionally, I recommend seeking guidance and advice from mentors such as family members or teachers when deciding on which career path to take, as their knowledge and experience can provide valuable insights and advice on how to enter and succeed in your chosen career.
Read more: STEM stories