Before he even began his apprenticeship at Starbucks, Ben had already invested his own money in an intensive data skills programme. That commitment, combined with a background in biomedical sciences, gave him a strong foundation in Python, SQL, and data visualisation. By the time he joined as Starbucks’ first Finance Data Apprentice in 2023, he was already among the most data-proficient people in the business.
He didn’t wait to get started. Ben arrived three months early, immersing himself in the business and finding ways to apply his skills. From the outset, he was determined not only to learn but to make a difference.
“This entry demonstrates a good spread of tangible projects delivering meaningful value and wider cultural contribution and stakeholder interaction.” – Judges’ comments
Delivering Measurable Impact
Ben’s work has already had tangible impact across multiple functions.
- Weekly Sales Reporting: He transformed a manual, error-prone Excel process into a dynamic Power BI dashboard, cutting preparation time from a full working day to just 30 minutes a week. The CFO personally praised the shift for freeing up valuable time.
- POS Data Integration: By validating and implementing transactional data pipelines via Databricks and SQL, Ben created scalable dashboards that became critical for market readiness assessments, unlocking a new era of data-driven decision-making.
- Menu Rationalisation: Facing rising supply chain costs, Ben built a SKU-level performance dashboard that enabled real-time analysis, helping teams identify low-performing products and make informed market decisions.
- Price-Volume-Mix Model: A first-of-its-kind for Starbucks EMEA, Ben designed a live pipeline handling 70 million rows of data to analyse sales variance. His Power BI dashboard broke down pricing, volume, and mix effects with precision, laying the foundation for predictive forecasting.
- Travel and Expense Model: In just two days, Ben replaced a static Excel process with a live dashboard, giving senior executives real-time visibility on expenditure across EMEA.
Each initiative has demonstrated not just technical skill but the ability to translate data into insights that senior leaders use daily.
Inspiring Others with Data
Ben’s influence goes beyond technical delivery. He played a central role in launching Starbucks Data University, building its website, contributing learning content, and speaking live at its launch event. In front of 80 colleagues, he shared his own journey and encouraged others to explore careers in data. Feedback described him as both “informative” and “articulate.”
As Ben himself put it: “This is something I’m incredibly proud of, as it reflects my belief that data is most powerful when it’s accessible to everyone.”
A Worthy Winner
The judges praised Ben’s combination of initiative, skill, and impact. In just over a year, he has transformed critical reporting processes, influenced strategic decisions, and inspired colleagues to embrace data. By investing in his own growth and consistently delivering value, Ben embodies the spirit of emerging talent.
For proving how quickly new talent can create lasting change, Ben Pereira is the 2025 winner of Emerging Data Talent of the Year.
