FSP Academy is launching a brand-new series highlighting the journeys of our academy graduates from their first days to their growth within and beyond. This week, Alishba, Brand and Comms Apprentice, interviewed Associate BI Engineer, Klaudia Sopata as she shared the support she received from FSP. Curious to know what it was? Check it out below!

• Alishba – ‘What is your role at FSP and have you been in this role since you started in the FSP Academy?’

Klaudia – ‘I am an associate BI Engineer in the Data & AI capability, however, it is not the role I started with at FSP. I joined FSP as a Graduate Business Consultant, and after working in that role for roughly 1.5 years on various client projects and fulfilling different project roles, I transitioned to the Data & AI capability to start my journey within the BI space.’

• Alishba – ‘What made you choose FSP for your graduate role?’

Klaudia – ‘The most significant factor was the opportunity FSP provided to explore various capabilities across the organisation. I had always found it challenging to establish a clear career path. However, by engaging with different teams and roles, I was able to discover both what I enjoyed and what I excelled at. This kind of opportunity is invaluable for recent graduates who often lack certainty about their professional direction. After rotating through different projects over the first 18 months, I realized that my strengths lie in technology – particularly in working with data, which I found very interesting.’

• Alishba – ‘Whilst you were in the Academy, what kind of support and guidance did you receive and how did this contribute to where you’re at now in your role?’

Klaudia – ‘At FSP, everyone is highly supportive and understands that you may be entering the field with limited professional experience. This creates a safe learning environment where you can work alongside colleagues you can learn from and receive feedback, regular check-ins, and guidance to address any areas for improvement.’

• Alishba – ‘How has the Academy contributed to your overall career growth and success?’

Klaudia – ‘FSP has provided me with an incredible opportunity to launch my career in data. Through hands-on experience and access to various certifications, I’ve been able to expand my knowledge, refine my skills, and explore different areas within the field.’

• Alishba – ‘Can you tell us about a key highlight from your time at FSP so far?’

Klaudia – ‘From the start, I was fortunate to be assigned Home Office as a client. Working for them has always been challenging due to the size of the organisation, their rigorous processes, and high delivery expectations due to the critical importance of the work they undertake. I have worked with Home Office through various roles ranging from project support to Power BI developer and one of the key moments was supporting the roll out of M365 to the whole of Home Office and decommissioning their Skype solution, as well as building and quality checking Power BI reports for various areas across the organisation.’

• Alishba – ‘What advice would you give to both current and new Academy members for maximising their experience?’

Klaudia – ‘Really take that opportunity to learn different things. Try to shadow different teams if you can and be open to all kinds of opportunities, even those that may not immediately align with your interests. Through this, you will really expand your skill set, become more adaptable and may reveal new areas of interest you hadn’t previously considered.’