Reflecting on happiness, data analytics dashboards, and beginnings of the universe with Data Scientist Joanna

Untitled Kingdom’s three core values are transparency, quality, and family. So, we’re proud to introduce our family members. Meet Untitled Kingdom’s Data Scientist - Joanna! Read about her journey from a self-taught programmer to a Data Scientist. Find out which two pieces of movie dialogue she finds best in cinematic history. Learn what activities she picked up during lockdown and what true happiness means to her.

What are the 3 best words to describe the Untitled Kingdom?

Three words that would perfectly describe Untitled Kingdom are the company’s core values. It’s Quality, Transparency, and Family.

Quality because we always strive to create the best products. Both from a technological and an end-user’s perspective. We care if and how our projects can help improve people’s health, and by extension, make the world a better place.

Transparency in the Untitled Kingdom is truly on the next level. I never get a feeling that I’m excluded from an important piece of information. We work as a team, and we all do our best to always be on the same page.

Just like in a family, I feel plenty of support from my teammates. With nearly 50 citizens, there’s enough of us to tackle exciting IT challenges, yet I know everyone’s name. And yes, we’re all friends who just... happen to be working with me in the same company.

And it shows! After hours, we hang out at the office together and take group weekend trips. Can you imagine?

Why did you join Untitled Kingdom, and what has kept you here?

I am a self-taught programmer. Over 1,5 years ago, after plenty of learning, I felt ready to have my first hands-on experience in the IT industry.

I was looking for a suitable opportunity, so I was more than happy to receive Untitled Kingdom’s invitation for an interview. I already knew how the UK works and what they stand for. So when they offered me an internship, I was truly excited!

Why did I stay? Beyond the things I’ve already mentioned, there’s a truly fantastic, welcoming vibe in the UK. Plus, it’s a great place to grow.

This is exactly what Joanna looks like during every Zoom meeting. How dare you think this photo is staged?

Do you have any hobbies, go-to weekend activities, or long-term passion projects you’re working on?

I love cooking and baking! Since I was a little girl, I have always observed my mom in the kitchen as she was creating a variety of beautiful dishes, cakes, and desserts. Now, I’m actively trying to recreate a little bit of that magic. 👐✨

When I cook, I am in MY zone. I can do it all day long, and I... never get tired. When someone eats my dish and genuinely enjoys it... it’s the best feeling in the world❗

During the pandemic, I focused more on my physical health. I started working out, doing yoga, and going for long walks. They are now all part of my daily routine. Also, I’ve been trying plenty of mountain climbing lately. And I’ve got to admit… it’s a regular weekend activity in the making! ⛰️

Joanna is thinking about life and the boundlessness of the ocean while sitting on a rock in Costa del Silencio. Where do your walks take you?

What’s your favorite dialogue/line from a movie?

🏆 The main award goes to... the Royale with cheese dialogue from “Pulp Fiction.” There’s something genius about the randomness and hilariousness of this conversation. I’ve watched this movie way too many times, but this part is… pure gold.

2️⃣ 🏆 And the second place goes to... “Do not go gentle into the night” line from ‘Interstellar.’ The whole poem, combined with the incredible, magical, out-of-this-world feeling of the entire sequence... gives me chills every time!

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?

It’s hard to choose just one event, but if I have to, then my choice is… the beginning of our Universe. Or, to be more specific, the time right before it.

How amazing would it be to see how it all started? To confirm how accurate our modern Bing Bang theories are? To be right there and then, witnessing the creation of all the space and time. To be humbled by unimaginable forces. To observe what is almost impossible to comprehend by a human mind?

Who knows what kind of unexpected things could be discovered if an intelligent observer (that’s me!) was present during such an event?

When are you the happiest?

That’s a good question! I think everybody has their own definition of happiness. For me, it’s feeling completely calm and forgetting all about the day-to-day problems. It’s the moment when you can’t help but smile for no particular reason.

Usually, I’m the happiest during the most simple and peaceful of days. When the sun is shining brightly, and when I feel rested after a good night’s sleep. When I’m not procrastinating before the workout and when I’ve got the energy to do some coursework. When I can spend a whole day outside with my friends, enjoying the summer weather.

A little goes a long way.

Romantic walks on the beach? Sure! But when a beach is in Tenerife… it’s a whole other level of romance!

How do you balance your career at Untitled Kingdom and friends & family?

I’ve got no problem balancing those things in my life. With flexible working hours, I can always start a little earlier or finish a bit later, depending on what works best for me during that day. Also, when working remotely, I can visit my family on the other side of the country without taking any of my days off to do that!

Those two things help me stay more alert and focused while working. I’m at my best when I have more time for myself and the people closest to me during my time off. I’m incredibly grateful to have such comfort!

How has Untitled Kingdom helped you in your career development?

The first thing that comes to mind is... the possibility of working on my own. I get to do the research, make my own mistakes, and then learn from them. Of course, I can rely on my teammates for help or advice, but I enjoy taking ownership and responsibility for my tasks. 😼

Being in data-centered projects means that I get to grow. To face challenges, broaden my skills, expand my knowledge, and take a deep dive into new areas of data science.

On top of that, Untitled Kingdom invests in resources to learn outside work, too. So I can always take courses within or outside my domain, attend business events, take part in convents - I’m very thankful to be able to improve my work constantly.

What was your most challenging yet rewarding project at Untitled Kingdom? Did you use any specific tools to overcome the challenge?

The most challenging and, at the same time, the most rewarding UK moment was my very first project. At first, it was a gradual introduction. I was receiving more and more complex tasks and learned the ins and outs of the project.

Then, right after I proved to be ready to work directly with the Partner (we never call them “clients”), I received a request to create a data analytics dashboard tailored for the Partner’s needs.... in just three days.

I worked alongside my whole team, and we more than delivered. Satisfied with the result, we decided that my role in the project should turn into doing this kind of work daily. Thankfully, with a little more time on my hands. 😉 I’m still extremely proud of that moment.

Get to know us (even) better!

If you want to work with an enthusiastic, thoughtful, and results-driven Data Scientist like Joanna… Let’s work together! Please feel free to share this article with your peers if you feel like supporting us.