Sadiqah & Devina: A Mission to Empower Data and Analytics Professionals, Black in Data

The co-founders of Black in Data join us to discuss why they
founded a collaborative movement to promote equal opportunities and
representation for people of color in data and analytics Our guests
for this week’s podcast are on a mission. Devina Nembhard and
Sadiqah Musa, both senior analysts at the British newspaper The
Guardian, are co-founders of a newly-launched community, Black in
Data, designed to accelerate the careers of people of color in data
and analytics. Born of the turbulent events of 2020, including the
murder of George Floyd in the US, Black in Data exists to provide
mentorship, inspiration and a community to people of color seeking
a career in data. “The idea is that we get data professionals of
color together in one place to network, for example, to meet each
other, to share ideas, tips, and hints about what they’re doing in
their data world,” says Musa. “Overall, the idea is for us to
increase ethnic representation within the data industry.” “I think
it’s always been time for an organization like Black in Data,” adds
Nembhard. “And it’s clear from people’s reactions when we invite
them to the group that it’s something that everyone’s been really
thirsty for.” Accelerating the Careers of People of Color It’s no
secret that people of color are underrepresented in a range of
professional and academic fields and in particular those that draw
on graduates of science, technology, education and math (STEM). The
trend manifested in a very personal way for Sadiqah Musa as she
embarked on her career in data. “I had been working for well over
10 years and I had never worked with another black female. I just
felt like I did not belong in any of the workspaces that I’ve been
at,” says Musa. “And it’s not because of anything that I was doing
wrong or anything that my colleagues were doing wrong. I’ve worked
with some really amazing people. But something was just missing.”
Black in Data provides a ready-made network for people of color to
make connections, receive advice and support and even find
employment opportunities. “If you want to access the diverse pool
of candidates, you have to go to the right place, that’s why with
Black in Data we have set up a jobs board,” says Musa. “We’ve got a
fantastic group of people that are super qualified. We are here.
Find us.” Providing Training and Mentorship Black in Data is about
more than simply networking and finding new roles. Musa and
Nembhard are also passionate about helping their members develop
their data and analytics skills. “The mentoring, for me, I think is
the part of the organization that I feel most passionate about,”
says Musa. “I found when I started out I had nobody to reach out
to, to ask questions.” She continues: “So, we are running a
three-month mentoring program where we asked the mentors and the
mentees to meet at least once every month for an hour. And it’s
completely mentee-led.” “We offer a training program as well,” adds
Nembhard. “The whole point of the training scheme is to give them
those skills. Teach them SQL and Python, teach them advanced
analytics, teach them how to visualize data. And then they can just
make the leap into the data world a bit easier.” If you would like
to join the Black in Data community, or if you are looking to
support their initiative, you can find them at Black in Data. Key
Findings Black in Data is a newly-created movement. Its mission is
to support the careers of under-represented communities in data and
analytics. It’s a place where you can develop your skills. From the
‘data visualization challenge’ to training and mentorship, Black in
Data can help you develop your career. A ready-made community for
people of color. It’s also a place to network, share tips and
ideas, and make new friends.