Class of 2025: Esther Nzekwe

For MSc Applied Data Science student Esther Nzekwe, the chance to put into practise what she was learning in the classroom and develop her skills through a work placement at Sodexo provided the perfect springboard for her career.

Esther, who is originally from Nigeria, chose her course because she is passionate about the possibilities of data.

“I love telling stories using data. The enormous amount of insight that can be drawn using data in combination with analytics tools fascinates me.

“Applied Data Science offered the perfect combination of technical skills, analytics, and real-world applications, making it an ideal choice for my career goals as someone who is coming from a non-tech career background.”

She was drawn to Essex by its “strong research culture, cutting-edge facilities and diverse student community.”

The experience hasn’t disappointed, and she cites “the supportive learning environment and the sense of community among students and faculty” as the most memorable things about her time at Essex.

But it was her placement at Sodexo that really set her experience apart.

“I wanted to gain practical experience in a related field. I wanted to apply what I had learned in real-world scenarios and enhance my professional skills. And I also wanted to expand my professional network here in the UK,” she said.

At Sodexo, Esther worked across teams. Her responsibilities included automating spreadsheets to track and update information on health and safety records, security and site management.

As well as teaching her about working with large datasets in a corporate environment and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, she says the experience boosted her confidence.

Esther credits lecturer and entrepreneur Dr Chiugo Kanu from her undergraduate studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with inspiring her.

Esther is currently working as a recruiter with a healthcare service provider in Essex and has already secured an opportunity as Market Access Intern at a Pharmaceutical company.