Ciaran Goddard

Current Employer/Organisation Name

British Airways

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

The job market was rough after graduation. Achieving a 2:2 meant I was often dropped at the first sift of applications. I had a short period working for a law firm then Covid hit, so I took voluntary redundancy and became a delivery driver for Sainsbury’s during the pandemic. I used the redundancy package to study a Masters in Applied AI at Aston Uni. I got a job on the data science graduate scheme with British Airways in 2022 and joined the company a few months early to fly as cabin crew whilst I finished my studies. I achieved a distinction in my masters and within a year on the data science scheme, I was promoted to Senior Data Analyst where I am now the operational expert in Cabin Crew and Pilot data at British Airways.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I just really like solving challenging problems. The thing I like most is that people always come to me with a seemingly ambiguous problem that they need solving. They usually have no idea what the solution will look like so I have the freedom to think and be innovative about how to get to the solution. 

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

Mainly the Physics society. I dabbled in Athletics during second year but never fully committed.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

I loved quantum mechanics – it shouldn’t make sense but when you dig through the details it does. A truly fascinating subject.

What did you most enjoy about studying here?

The beautiful green campus. The people I met along the way too, we are friends for life!

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I liked the facilities for my subjects and the campus was a conducive learning environment. It’s near the sea as well, and far away from my parents (lol). 

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Resilience. I didn’t always get the results I wanted, but I have always made the most out of what I had and never stopped aspiring for more.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

A common misconception is you have to be certain kind of intelligent to work in Data Science/Analytics. What matters more is practise and consistency. A little bit of Python on the side every day, just like Duolingo, can go a long way. The other thing which is probably more valuable than coding experience is the ability to translate complex problems into impactful business solutions that non-technical audiences can understand. The thing to focus on here is not how the algorithm works, but why it will solve the problem better than any other way. 

What are your plans for the future?

Short-term: potentially move into the travel tech industry and pivot back into data science/ Machine Learning, or explore the world of data visualisation next. Blend the art of data analytics with impactful designs to inspire leaders to act.

Once I have experience in all of the roles in the data analytics and insights landscape (data science, data analytics, data visualisation) I aspire to lead others in a Head of Data role, drawing on my experience in all the roles to bring everyone together.