Hi, I'm Anoushka.
Senior Manager AI and Data - Defence, London
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My journey so far…
I grew up in Cambridgeshire in a rural village with my parents and younger brother. I was very academic at school and worked hard to excel. I was also a keen swimmer and qualified as a swimming instructor to teach lessons to local children.
After A-levels I moved to Birmingham to study for a Masters in Maths. When I graduated I wasn't sure of my exact career path, but I knew I wanted to apply my mathematical background to something impactful.
This led me to a data consulting graduate scheme at another firm, where I gained valuable experience in the defence industry, as a data engineer. However, I was looking for a new challenge and, having heard great things from friends already at Deloitte, I decided to apply there. I was excited by the opportunities available.
Work that matters
I’m a delivery lead in Deloitte's AI & Data team, working closely with our Defence clients to develop and deploy trustworthy AI solutions. We work hand-in-hand with clients throughout the entire process, from understanding their specific data challenges and operational needs to developing and deploying robust, secure, and user-friendly AI applications. Our solutions are designed to provide insights that can help clients make decisions and improve their day-to-day operations. We also ensure the safety and reliability of the technology through comprehensive user training and ongoing support. I was drawn to working with Defence clients because of the impact it has on society. It’s work that really matters and keeps our people safe. I also get the opportunity to use new technologies and help others learn how to use them, which is incredibly rewarding. I’m part of the Women in Defence community at Deloitte, and regularly attend events which gives me the opportunity to connect with colleagues across Defence. Since starting this career path as a graduate, I’ve noticed a real change in the numbers of women getting into technical roles. It's also been inspiring to see more women working themselves up to senior positions, and I hope to follow in their footsteps.
Highlights from my week
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I travel to a client site to gather user feedback on the latest AI solution we’ve put in place. I also meet with our product owner to discuss the safety and security measures of our solution. | I work from home today so that I can focus on some coding and update our latest project plans. | Today I go back on our client’s site to discuss the future vision for AI within the organisation. In the evening, I head for dinner with my team. | I attend a Women in Defence event and catch up with colleagues over lunch. The rest of the day is meeting free, so I go through our ideas from yesterday and translate them into tasks for the team. | On Fridays I carve out some time for admin tasks such as checking in with my people leader and creating ‘lessons learned’ documents from recent projects. After work I take a trip away to see my university friends. |
My weekend looks like
My family and friends are a huge part of my life, so I love spending weekends visiting them. In the quieter moments, I’ll always have my head in a good book or I’ll be out exploring the nearby countryside. I also love to travel, so I am always planning the next getaway. We are particularly excited to be going on Safari in South Africa later this year!
3 things I've learned
Get involved
I’ve discovered there’s so many opportunities to try new things. It’s a great way to meet new people and build relationships.
Embrace new approaches
I’ve learned how important it is to be inquisitive and curious. As well as learning new approaches, it’s great to keep up your own research in areas that interest you.
Give every task your all
Commitment to every task, no matter how small, really matters. Even seemingly mundane tasks offer valuable experience and demonstrate your work ethic.
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Anoushka's book recommendation
"Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well" by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen
This book addresses the common struggles that people face with feedback, both professionally and personally. It touches on lots of the challenges we have in both giving and receiving feedback and explains how our natural desire for acceptance may lead us to shy away from feedback. There’s lots of incredibly valuable practical advice on how to approach all feedback with curiosity and grace, enabling us to learn and grow both in our personal and professional lives.
