Back in July, Jaywing received over 100 applications for our student placement program. From this pool of talent, we selected Abisola Akinjole, from Sheffield Hallam University, and Mustafa Khoshnaw, from Manchester Metropolitan University, to join our risk and data science consultancy.
They brought their sharp skills in data storytelling and data science into their placements, driving fresh ideas and fostering an inspiring learning atmosphere at Jaywing.
Their role as Junior Analysts introduced them to the world of credit risk and fraud analysis, and allowed them to gain hands on experience with tools like BigQuery, SQL and Snowflake - all while working alongside our expert consultants.
Abisola reflects on her experience, sharing:
“My time at Jaywing has been filled with incredible experiences and growth. From immersing myself in challenging projects to collaborating with talented colleagues, every moment has offered valuable learning opportunities. Applying my university knowledge in real-world scenarios, such as using statistical models for predictive analysis and exploring new areas like performing reject inferences and scorecard validations, has been a highlight.
Additionally, the support and guidance from mentors has had a profound impact on both my professional and personal development. Through this journey, I have gained clarity about my future career path."
"Overall, my experience at Jaywing has been transformative, and I am grateful for the lessons learned, friendships made, and memories cherished along the way.”
Abisola Akinjole
Mustafa shares similar sentiments, commenting:
“Jaywing provided me with the opportunity to apply my academic knowledge and skills in real-world scenarios, while also developing many new ones along the way. It is incredible how quickly time has flown by since I joined a year ago. They say time flies when you're happy and busy, and I have certainly been both. Throughout my time here, I've gained invaluable experience in Python programming, SQL, scorecards, model building and evaluation, among many other things. Additionally, I have honed my soft skills, making this journey truly enriching on all fronts.”
Navigating a placement is an unpredictable journey – and Abisola and Mustafa demonstrated a remarkable ability to translate academic learning into practical applications from day one. Their impact was felt far and wide within Jaywing.
Director of Fraud and Credit Risk Modelling, Nick Sime, reflects on working with the duo:
“To say Abisola and Mustafa have exceeded our expectations feels like something of an understatement. They have knocked it out the park. From Day 1, it was obvious they were here to maximise their learning opportunity and had an appetite to get involved and help wherever possible.
The timing of their arrival coincided with one of the busiest times in Jaywing's 25-year history and so we were able to provide them with experience of so many different aspects of credit and fraud risk management. They have been a breath of fresh air, and both are set for very bright futures.”
Senior Consultant, Peter Szocs, adds:
“Not only did Abisola and Mustafa excel in their own learning journey, but they also generously shared their expertise for our next generation of learners. After mastering Python, they helped improve our current learning materials and codes, undertook one-to-one sessions to teach others about Python and Gitlab environments, and created comprehensive user guides.”
As today marks the last day of their placement, both students will return to university to complete their final dissertations, equipped with the invaluable experience gained during their time working with Jaywing and our clients.
We’re sad to see them go - but we can’t wait to see what they’ll do next.