Meet Orca Scan’s new Data Analyst, Utku 💛

For September’s employee spotlight, we wanted to say a huge congratulations to Utku, our Data Analyst, who recently graduated from Anglia Ruskin University with a degree in BSc in Finance with Economics…a huge congratulations to you👏

Find out how Utku juggled work alongside studying, where his love of data came from and his career goals at Orca 👇

A little bit of context: Meet Utku 💛

Name: Utku Kaleli

Age: 27

Degree: BSc in Finance with Economics at Anglia Ruskin University

Current role: Data Analyst

Orca-Anniversary: 7th August 2024

Firstly, hello, happy Orca-versary! So exciting that you’ve been here a year already 😁

Congratulations on graduating from your degree in Finance and Economics! 👨‍🎓 How did you find the course?

Thanks! I really enjoyed the course, it gave me a strong understanding of finance and economics, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Two of my favourite moments were a group project analysing a company’s stock and we nailed the presentation, and my dissertation on analysing globalisation qualitatively, which was a fun challenge working with tonnes of data.

How was it balancing work and finishing your degree? You must have been busy!

Balancing work and studies was smooth, thanks to my team’s flexibility! What also helped was how both areas complemented each other in mindset, even though the tools were different. At university, I used spreadsheets and stats tools, focusing on data cleaning and analysis, while at work I was learning new platforms and query languages. Both environments taught me to understand the numbers before drawing conclusions and presenting insights clearly. It’s been a great experience, and I feel like I’ve really grown as a data analyst because of it.

What were some of your favourite, and most challenging, things about your studies?

I really enjoyed the topics involving statistics and analytics, especially in my final year where we explored Applied Economics. It introduced advanced statistics and different ways of analysing data, which was fascinating. I also loved exploring economic theories, with macroeconomics being my favourite.

I wouldn’t say anything was particularly challenging, but as the course progressed, the topics became more specialised and matched with my interests, which made the years much more enjoyable.

Where did your passion for working in finance/ economics/ data come from?

As a kid, I remember being fascinated by a movie where someone was analysing numbers on massive monitors. I’ve always been excited by the idea of drawing conclusions from data, even though there’s always a level of uncertainty to it.

What relevant skills did you acquire during your degree that are applicable to your role at Orca?

The biggest skill I developed during my degree was knowing how to learn independently, and that has been super useful in my role at Orca. For example, at Orca I’ve been able to pick up new skills like learning query languages and using data visualisation platforms to extract and format data which has helped me present insights clearly to the team. Similarly, my background in statistics and data analysis from university helps me to understand the numbers at work, ask the right questions, and provide meaningful insights.

How do you start your day? Are you a coffee ☕ or a tea 🫖 person?

Coffee! I’m a morning person so I start my day with an early cup of coffee and an episode of anime to wake up. I like getting to work early so I can get a head start on my tasks. After a few hours at work, everyone in the office will head out together to one of the many great coffee spots in Cambridge, and then we get back to work for the day.

Working remotely can be challenging, do you enjoy it? What’s it like working with a global team?

I love working from our beautiful Cambridge office, but it’s equally as enjoyable to work remotely from a café or home. Working with a global team is fantastic. The diverse stories and flexible schedules make collaboration smooth and fun. Even though we’re in different time zones, our supportive culture helps us connect and work well together.

Can you talk us through your day as a Data Analyst at Orca Scan?

In a typical day, I focus on tasks that have been prioritised from our sprint planning sessions. For me, this usually involves creating and visualising data through graphs to share insights with other departments. Regular tasks often focus on making data accessible and understandable for a particular department.

Other tasks may include using different tools or platforms to analyse and visualise data. This often involves data cleaning, creating models, and finding the insights, followed by reconciling the data to ensure accuracy.

How do you tackle a complex data analytic problem?

For complex problems, I start by breaking down the task into manageable pieces, I would focus first on understanding the goal. I use a step-by-step approach, starting from the end goal and working backwards if the problem is complex. I clean and prepare the data, ensure it’s suitable for analysis. For regular tasks, I write queries and create visualisations to make data insights clear. For ad-hoc tasks, I analyse and reconcile the data to ensure accuracy, then generate actionable insights and report findings.

Can you name a few of your favourite things about working with data?

It’s like solving a puzzle. I love digging into complex datasets and discovering insights, even if they’re not always actionable. The process of analysing and interpreting data gives me a sense of accomplishment. I also appreciate the chance to provide clear visualisations to my colleagues, so they can see the impact of their work. It’s rewarding to see the results of my efforts and know that my analysis contributes to the bigger picture. The challenge and satisfaction of getting accurate results make it all worthwhile for me 💛

How do you see your role at Orca evolving over the next few years?

I aim to become highly proficient in queries, modelling, and using our visualisation tools. I want to transition into more detailed and actionable reporting and eventually take on a data scientist role, focusing on advanced modelling and forecasting.

Do you have any specific long-term career goals, if so, can you tell us a few? 😉

My long-term career goal is to evolve into a data scientist role at Orca. I want to specialise in creating automated and actionable reports that provide deeper insights and predictions. This will involve mastering new skills and technologies to enhance my analytical capabilities.

Could you list a few of your favourite things about working at Orca Scan? 👀

I love working at Orca Scan because we are constantly learning. The company keeps us updated with the latest tech, which is fantastic for growing our skills. I also appreciate the flexibility to work remotely when needed—it’s a real bonus. Plus, collaborating with our global team is amazing. Hearing different perspectives and stories makes work exciting and rewarding every day!

We’re so happy with the progress Utku is making at Orca Scan, and we’re excited to see where his journey takes him 🚀 If you want to see more of our great team, and the fun we get up to behind the scenes, check out our socials - LinkedIn & Instagram.