My name is Caroline De Ban. I graduated in 2019 having done Chemistry at the University of Manchester, and started at Sky August 2019 on the Technology Graduate Scheme.
I now work as a Technical Analyst in strategy and innovation. We look after emerging technologies, immersive technology and there’s someone that works in architecture and strategy. My manager and I look at specifically at emerging technology and the strategy around that.
We’ve been building a radar of innovation tech trends, so we connect people around the business with different vendors and we try to advertise different areas of technology where there’s scope for innovation to occur. I didn’t come from a computer science background, so my biggest area of development has been learning the technical side of everything.
I knew nothing about software delivery coming in, and I think that’s a really great thing about the grad scheme. You really don’t need to know anything specifically technical, because you are going to learn it. The amount that I’ve learned in the first year, I would never have thought that that was possible. In terms of coming from a different background, I would say I’ve just never encountered that being a problem. Specifically in my cohort, we’ve got all sorts of backgrounds; we’ve got people who did computer science, we’ve got people who did history, we’ve got people who did business, we’ve got someone who did mechanical engineering and I did chemistry.
I wouldn’t say any of us even entered the grad scheme on a specifically upper level, and if they did we’re all there now. I don’t think it’s held any of us back. I think the biggest thing is even; if you don’t come from a technology background, if you’ve got that kind of passion and enthusiasm for technology, or if it’s just something that you pursue in your spare time, you’re absolutely qualified to apply and get this role. There’s nothing that would hold you back. The biggest thing is that you’ve got that authentic interest in technology, and if that’s there then absolutely go for it.
In terms of being a woman in technology, again, it’s never been even an issue at Sky. If anything it’s been kind of nice, because you’ve got the Women In Tech communities, you’ve got people in the same boat and you kind of feel a bit special; ‘I’m a woman in tech!’, which is quite exciting. There’s nothing that you can’t do, and if it’s something that you want, I would always say absolutely apply for it. If you don’t apply, you can’t get it. You’ve got to give yourself the opportunity to show off your passion if that’s something that you’re interested in.
The most enjoyable thing about Sky, is going to sound really cliché, but all my friends and colleagues. They’re all my type of people. Everyone’s really friendly and approachable. I don’t think I’ve ever asked for help and the answer’s not been like; ‘Absolutely, yes, when can I help you?’
I would absolutely recommend working at Sky to someone. It’s a really great company. You’re surrounded by brilliant people with great ideas all the time. Just the amount of attention that Sky as a corporate business puts into its people is just evident from day one with the amount of help you get as soon as you join. Christmas parties, the ice rink, all that kind of fun social stuff. It’s a super fun social environment and it’s it’s got so many opportunities for you to learn and grow, especially so early on in your career. I think it’s such a natural choice for a graduate scheme.
