Background/Intro: Prior to joining MI5, Olivia was studying towards a MSci in Biological Sciences. During her final year she decided to apply for the Technology Graduate Development Programme (TGDP) and now works as an Enterprise Architect. Her current role allows Olivia to work flexibly, including both office and home working – which is great when you play netball after work twice a week.
We caught up with Olivia to ask her about her career at MI5 so far, her biggest achievements, and career aspirations…
Timeline:
- 2021: I joined MI5 on the TGDP as a Data Architect and worked in three different teams – this was to give me a good breadth of experience of my role across the organisation. As part of my induction, I took take part in an outward-bound team building day with my fellow cohort, which was so much fun, and not what I thought my first month in the office would involve!
- 2022: My first post was in the strategy team, where I built up my data architecture skills and learnt about new professions, including Enterprise Architecture. I took some courses on stakeholder management and emotional intelligence, which has helped me throughout my career so far. I really love team sports, so I joined MI5’s netball team, where I’ve competed in matches after work. It’s a great way to burn off some stress!
- 2022: I then joined the data team, where I gained experience in data modelling. To ensure my skills were up to date, I undertook external training in data modelling, and achieved an industry recognised enterprise architecture qualification. I even got to travel overseas to attend a data and intelligence conference – a real highlight of my career.
- 2023: My final role on the TGDP was as part of a product team, where I developed my skills through designing operating models and building data landscapes. It was in this role I decided I wanted to specialise as an Enterprise Architect after completion of the programme. As a personal goal, I wanted to do more to support gender equality, a cause close to my heart, so I joined MI5’s Gender Network. I now help organise several events throughout the year, in particular for MI5’s annual recognition of International Women’s Day.
- 2023: I had the incredible opportunity to undertake a fully funded MSci in Enterprise Architecture as a part-time apprenticeship. For the next two-and-a-half years, I will spend 20% of my time in the office working towards my qualification, which will assist me in obtaining industry recognised skills, and help towards developing my career as an Enterprise Architect. I feel unbelievably lucky to be able to do this, as it is not something I could have achieved without support from the office.
- 2024: Following completion of the TGDP, I secured a role on promotion to be an Enterprise Architect within a strategy team, where I provide a business architecture function to the wider organisation - my dream role! I love my current role and can see a clear career path for myself as an Enterprise Architect in MI5.
Please note - the model shown is not an employee of MI5, MI6 or GCHQ and is for illustrative purposes only.
