Darolyn

Q1: Tell us who you are and what your placement/scheme you are on

I’m currently on the Commercial Analytics Graduate Scheme at British Airways. It’s a two-year rotational programme that gives me the opportunity to work across different areas of the business, with a focus on using data and insights to drive real commercial impact.

Q2: Do you have a set routine to your day? What does a typical day look like for you?

I usually start my day by checking emails and my calendar to see what meetings I have and then prioritising my tasks. I’d say there are two main types of days for me:

• Work from home days: these are more focused, with fewer meetings. I use this time to really dive into analysis, build dashboards, and progress project work.
• Office days: these are more collaborative. I prefer having stakeholder meetings face-to-face as it allows for better interaction, quicker decision-making, and helps build stronger relationships across the business.

This balance keeps my routine varied, making sure I stay both productive and well-connected.

Q3: Tell us a little more about a task you are currently working on? What are you enjoying about this project?

I’ve just completed my first placement in the Payments Analytics team, where I was responsible for building a comprehensive Payments KPI dashboard that brings together key metrics across the business.

The project began with designing the structure and layout of the dashboard, but quickly expanded into a much larger piece of work. I engaged with stakeholders from multiple teams to understand which KPIs were most important to them, gathered and refined the business logic behind each one, and worked with data from around 10 different sources to ensure accuracy and consistency.

What I enjoyed most was having real ownership from end to end. It wasn’t just about the technical build, I had to think carefully about user experience (how to make the dashboard intuitive and insightful), manage input from different stakeholders, and make sure the final product provided real business value.

This was my first project of such scale, and it was both challenging and rewarding. I developed strong technical skills in data modelling and visualisation, but also grew in areas like stakeholder management, communication, and problem-solving. Most importantly, it was rewarding to see how the dashboard is now being used by the team to monitor performance and support decision-making.

Q4: What skills are you surprised you’ve needed in your job?

One thing that surprised me in this role is how much emphasis there is on making data actionable for stakeholders. It’s not just about analysing numbers, but presenting the right insights in a way that helps stakeholders make informed decisions. When building dashboards, I focus on clarity, relevance, and user experience to ensure the information is easy to understand and truly useful.

Q5: Do you get many learning and development opportunities? What are some of the biggest learning opportunities you have had during this placement/scheme?

Yes, there’s a really strong focus on development. Alongside formal training, we’re actively encouraged to make time for personal learning. For example, in Payments I was able to block out 1–2 hours a week for self-learning through online courses.

One of my biggest learning opportunities was being given ownership of a project to flag cases happening on our new payment platform. I was responsible for everything from writing the logic and building the dashboard, to reaching out to stakeholders and presenting my findings. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and massively improved my stakeholder management and presentation skills.

On the technical side, I benefited from having a Tableau mentor in the team, who set me extra exercises and helped me improve my data visualisation skills far more quickly than I would have on my own. This combination of technical and soft-skill development has been invaluable.

Q6: What top tips would you give to students wanting to follow in your footsteps?

I’d say the most important thing is to stay curious. Ask questions, explore new opportunities, and be open to learning from every experience. Make the most of all the learning opportunities you come across, and always carry those lessons with you.

If there’s something you’re interested in, go for it, even if it feels a bit out of reach. You never know what you’re capable of until you try. And above all, enjoy the journey. A graduate scheme is as much about discovery as it is about the destination.