Fernanda Vargas Mendez, Data and AI Technician

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What I do

I use AI and data to solve problems in companies and go to different businesses to solve all sorts of issues. I come up with different ways to make things easier for workers and customers at banks, using public services or for big brands selling a product or service. I also create systems that help people do their jobs more efficiently and fast-track processes.

Fernanada seated on a stage with other panellists, speaking to the audience at a live event.

How I became a technician

I came to England at the start of Year 10. For GCSEs, I took art, French and design technology, which helped me develop my creativity. After that, I wanted something where I could still be creative but that would also be monetisable, so I did a T-level in Design, Production and Development. That's where things started to change for me.

How I became a technician

I learnt how to code and how to have more business presence. As part of my T-level, I did a 45-day industry placement, or work experience, at IBM, which is what set me up for wanting to work in tech. When I finished my T-level, I applied for an apprenticeship at IBM. The application window was only open for 24 hours during apprenticeship week as it’s so popular!

How I became a technician

I made sure I was prepared and was so pleased that out of thousands of applications, I was one of the people they chose! I've now continued my learning and am doing an apprenticeship in Digital Technology Solutions Professional whilst working in AI and analytics. Doing a T-level was brilliant because I don't have student debt like friends who went to university.

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A typical day in my
working life

My days are really varied. I start with a stand-up meeting at 9:30 where we catch up on what we've done the previous day and plan for the day ahead. After that, I work on different tasks which could be anything from coming up with ideas, to solving issues, as well as working on databases and doing research.

A typical day in my
working life

Because of the different clients I have, there's never a structured day for me. Every day is different! Sometimes I go to the office, sometimes I work from home. One day I could be analysing data from an app used by millions of people, and the next I could be coding solutions to make systems work better. I love that variety - it keeps things exciting!

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My most exciting achievement was winning both the T-level Student of the Year award - first regionally for London, and then nationally!

Work hard, even if you think you’re too young – doing that will help you in the future and you’ll be thankful for it.

What I love most about my job

I love that I’m always learning something new. Always. Recently, my skills have gotten better at SQL (Structured Query Language), which is a type of data-wrangling code. Before, I used Python more, but now I’m going deeper into SQL and helping manage databases storing millions of people’s data. I love that everything I do has a real impact. Even when I’m working on very technical, back-end systems, I know that I’m helping create apps and services that people rely on. It feels personal when I think about how the data I manage helps improve apps that millions of people use. It gives me a sense of purpose to know my work is making a difference.

A little more about
my everyday role

The best bits about working in a team

My team consists of about 10 people, but I work closely with two people who are helping me get to grips with my new role. They're teaching me all about creating reports since I'll be analysing lots of data and using different software. I really value how supportive everyone is, especially as I'm onboarding to a new role as a data analyst. We all check in each morning and share what we're working on, which helps keep everyone connected, even when we're not all in the office together.

The most exciting thing I’ve achieved so far in my job

My most exciting achievement was winning both the T-level Student of the Year award - first regionally for London, and then nationally! It was a big recognition, but what really makes me happy is when younger students message me on LinkedIn saying they're inspired by my journey. Sometimes when you're very young, you feel you haven't done enough, but when people in different organisations talk about you because of the things you’ve done, you realise you have, and it's very fulfilling.

The advice I'd give to someone younger

This is difficult, I guess because I did everything in my power to get where I am today. I’d say pursue what you want, because those that pursue it will get it. Work hard, even if you think you’re too young – doing that will help you in the future and you’ll be thankful for it.

Find opportunities and take ALL of them, not just the ones you think will help - sometimes it's the ones you don't expect that get you further than the ones you'd think.

What I wear for work

I love to dress up! I strive to dress very corporate as I think people respect you when you look professional. Also, when I look good, I feel good. Making a good impression can take you a long way!

What I like to do in my spare time

I still love everything art-related and I draw often in my spare time, I like to draw architecture. I have always been very creative - if you saw my desk right now, it's full of notebooks and memo pads! I love stationery and stickers too.

My friends from secondary school and I have a group chat where we arrange nice places to go to. Every few weeks we go out to eat somewhere fancy. The last place was a luxury hotel in London. I choose to treat myself - I deserve it!

My favourite piece of equipment

A digital notebook is so convenient because you can separate everything into subject-related notebooks. Every note I take goes in there, and it's become such a part of me that if I need to write something, I'll put it in my notebook first to play around with it before putting it into a word processor. I started using it during my T-level when my school scrapped physical notebooks. Having everything digitally organised is so helpful, especially when I'm learning lots of new things.

The skills I use most

First of all, communication - you have to be a good speaker. Even in a back-end role, you need to communicate because you're working with a team. If something goes wrong, you need to tell them and make sure you're updating them constantly on what you're doing.

Apart from communication, the technical skills are crucial. For data analytics, you need to be able to learn systems like Python and SQL. I gained these skills at a young age through my T-level, and it's because of those skills that I'm working here now.

After the technical skills, I'd say creativity and critical thinking are essential. There are going to be a lot of issues within programmes that are really hard, and you have to think outside the box to solve them. Problem-solving is a huge part of what I do every day.