Let’s meet you (Your Name, What You do, where you currently work).

 My name is Kelechi Cynthia Opara, I am a Sales Analyst and currently work at eProcess consulting limited.

Can you share your journey from completing the Utiva Data Accelerator program to your current role as a Sales Analyst at eProcess Consulting Limited?

I enrolled for the Utiva July Cohort B Data Accelerator training in 2020. I was working as a Market Insight officer for a Media Intelligence company then, I had just been trained on some Excel functions by my organization but I felt there was much more to what I was trained on. 

This prompted me to search for Data Analytics schools in Nigeria and that was how I found Utiva and enrolled in the program. The program was done 100% online and I had to wait after work in the office to be able to join the training so that I did not miss out while on transit and that was how I became a PRO at using Data Analytics tools, particularly SQL and Power BI. 

Shortly after this, I left the company to Euromega (A distributor in the FMCG industry) as a Sales Data Analyst and then to Eprocess as a Sales Analyst. 

What motivated you to pursue a career in data analytics, and how has your experience at Utiva influenced your professional trajectory?

My motivation came from years ago during my first role as an office Admin/Business Analyst, this was my first job as a fresh graduate after NYSC. I found the Admin role to be boring but since the Business Analyst role was a secondary role and occasional, I noticed that I found that role more exciting and decided to read up. 

The turning point for me was when I heard of a Job opening somewhere for Administrative personnel and then a Data Analyst. The role was open for two weeks and when anyone came to submit a hard copy of their CV, they would be required to write down their name.  When I arrived to submit my CV and enter my name properly on the list by the second week, I was around number 10,000  on the list and I looked at the data analyst section and saw only two names in all for the weeks. 

This opened my eyes to the gap in the field and I started to do my research and most particularly noticed that females were so few in that line. In addition to the general gap, that was how I began to focus on switching my career fully to Data Analytics. The knowledge gained from the program was a major springboard for me into these roles. Not minding that I have worked mostly with Excel in these companies but the certificates gave credibility and the fact that I could speak the data language across the data tools and all these were always an edge in my interviews.
 

As a Sales Analyst, what are some key responsibilities you handle on a day-to-day basis, and how do you leverage data analytics in your role?

Some responsibilities I handle and have handled in all these jobs are:

Extracting, transforming, and loading data, Report writing, Data Visualization and presentation for pitches and meetings, and financial modeling.

Could you provide an example of a significant project or analysis you conducted that had a measurable impact on your company's sales strategy or performance?

Since I am quite new in my present role, I will talk about a project I handled with my former company which was about day-to-day sales as it was an ongoing project. My daily, weekly and monthly reports show where we are at currently and determine the decision to take on pricing, and supply which feeds into the production quantity based on my report which points to the demand per region and brand. 

The feedback from my analysis is also used to determine where and how marketing campaigns should be done. It involved creating a template to suit the need, extracting the data as often as agreed, and preparing the report and sometimes I am expected to also present this to the management team.

How do you stay updated with the latest trends and advancements in data analytics, and how do you incorporate these insights into your work?
 

I belong to a lot of data analytics communities and I also take time to attend their activities as well as periodic training. My social media handles are filled with a lot of Data analytics content because I actively follow most data analyst content, groups, and other data analysts in various countries so as to stay updated on the latest trends and when I see something new, I go back to work and try to incorporate that. 

The community has also been helpful in solving some immediate work challenges like reaching out to them on something I am stuck at while at work and the moment that is resolved through their assistance of course, it's a new learning added to my knowledge base. 

You were recently selected as a coach for the 3MTT - Data Analysis & Visualization Learning Cluster. What inspired you to take on this role, and what do you hope to achieve through mentoring others?

I was inspired to take on the role when I realized that I keep training and retraining on some tools which I wasn't even using at my workplace and when my co-workers saw my CV and the things I could do, they encouraged me to begin to teach others so that I will even put it into use. 

Also, I saw a video clip of one of Utiva alumni whom I have known for a while and it was inspiring seeing how far she had gone and improved from where she was a few years ago when we first met. She mentioned that she was coaching others and that was what made her improve, and this was how I got motivated to apply for a coaching role with 3MTT. It has been a refreshing journey so far and I hope to be better at my craft, build more confidence outside the workplace, and also be an inspiration to as many budding data analysts.
 

What skills and qualities do you believe are essential for success in the field of data analytics, particularly in sales-related roles?

The essential skills and qualities for a data analyst from my experience so far would be; having quantitative skills or being willing to improve on it, being open-minded and analytical, be inquisitive because if you don't begin with a curious mind then you will not be able to drill-down to get the information out of the data, be a good communicator as most of the time you will need to communicate your findings to stakeholders and also answer their questions, also be willing to learn because its a developing field and there are changes all the time so stay hungry for knowledge.

Can you discuss a challenge you encountered in your career as a Sales Analyst and how you overcame it using data-driven insights?

I deal a lot with figures,a most common challenge is establishing if the figures follow trends especially as there is always historical data. 

Sometimes, the figures show the sales while preparing a report or carrying out a financial analysis of the expected sales seem off. I know this because we will always refer to the history of that data or request to know what was available and then I can see if this is in-line with or off the trend if it’s not in-line I will have to troubleshoot and it could be an error on my part from how I extracted or cleaned the data or an error from the source where the data was collected. 

The insight from doing a quick trend analysis from this narration shows how I am able to take a proactive approach to my task.
 

How do you approach data visualization to communicate complex insights effectively to stakeholders and decision-makers?

I try to understand what the stakeholders want. Then, after the analysis and deciding what charts represent the analysis better, I try to picture it in my mind to be able to decide how to rearrange it into a chart that tells the story effectively. I also decide on the colours and get someone on my team to look more into it and give feedback which I implement and afterwards, I am ready for presentation.

In your opinion, what are the emerging trends or opportunities in data analytics that professionals in the field should be aware of?

There are opportunities everywhere and in every niche. The trend I see is the ability to do data analytics, which will soon become “a must-have proficiency” in every job. I noticed jobs are moving away from just doing the task to drilling down and understanding the cause and effect as well as giving actionable insight. In my opinion, it is actually very important.

How do you prioritize and manage multiple projects or tasks simultaneously, especially when dealing with tight deadlines or competing priorities?

 I try to understand the realistic timeline for the completion, then I look at tasks that can be done simultaneously to an extent, tasks that can be delegated, and also in understanding the realistic time of job completion.

I know how much extra time I need to put in to meet the deadline. 

Also, I find a way of automating some repetitive tasks through formulas. Getting other people's opinions in case they know a faster and more efficient way can do this because there are usually advancements in data analytics all the time. You might be using a complex formula when a new, easier, and faster one has been created. You might not know and remain on the old one, that is how communities come in handy.

Looking ahead, what are your career aspirations in the field of data analytics, and how do you plan to continue your professional development journey?

My aspiration is to be a consultant and help others build their business through insights from my analysis and skills.

Also with my experience so far having moved across five industries during the course of my career, I intend to achieve this by taking advantage of every opportunity to learn, network, and contribute my quota in this field.
 

What are your final words?

It is never too late to take that step, do not be discouraged by your age, qualification, or anything you see around you. Just start from somewhere and see that your little steps will eventually grow into giant strides. 

If you have to strain yourself for a while then please do and it will eventually pay. Opportunity meets preparation, so keep learning and one day, the opportunity will find you. Volunteering is also a great way to announce your skills. 

Kelechi Cynthia Opara is a Nigerian, from Imo state and the second of five children. She studied Economics and has a BSc and MSc degree in the same course of study. 

She has worked in several sectors; energy, pharmaceutical technology, Media intelligence, FMCG, and the Cybersecurity tech industry. She is actively involved in charity activities and every other way to give back to the less privileged. She spends her leisure time with children, participating in religious activities, and learning new skills.

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