Dr Raoul-Gabriel Urma, CEO, Cambridge Spark
Describe your career to date
At the age of six, I was introduced to the world of coding through a book on HTML given to me by my parents. This sparked a lifelong passion for both coding and education, leading me to create websites to teach children about strategy games.
Pursuing my passion, I earned a MEng in computer science from Imperial College London and a PhD in computer science from Cambridge University, with a research focus on source code analysis, machine learning, and education. My published work has garnered over 300 citations and I currently serve as a fellow and part-time affiliated lecturer at Cambridge University.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working for some of the leading technology companies on large-scale data transformation projects, including Google, Oracle, Goldman Sachs, eBay, and Morgan Stanley.
I founded Cambridge Spark with the mission to empower organisations through education in data and AI. Our efforts have resulted in educating thousands of learners globally, serving major corporations and government organisations. With the support of the UK innovation agency, Cambridge Spark developed EDUKATE.AI, a proprietary learning platform for data skills, which has received a European and UK patent (EP3719653B1) that I co-invented.
In addition to my professional accomplishments, I am also the author of several best-selling software development books, including "Modern Java in Action" and "Real-World Software Development", with a total of 60,000+ copies sold globally. My contributions to the community were recognised in 2017 when I was nominated as an Oracle Java Champion.
What key skills or attributes do you consider have contributed to your success in this role?
I attribute my success to a combination of technical expertise and my passion for using technology to empower others. Additionally, my obsession with continuous improvement has been a key factor. I am always looking for the next challenge, seeking to absorb as much knowledge as possible to improve my skills. This drive for self-improvement extends to all areas of my life, whether it’s at the gym, in my friendships, or in my work.
What level of data maturity do you typically encounter across your client base and what tends to hold this back?
With the ongoing evolution of technology, data management and analysis has inevitably been a key part in the growth and development of industry. Data skills have been some of the most desired skill-sets when hiring new talent and companies have identified that to truly succeed in this field, they need to invest in their staff and their infrastructure.
A lot of organisations have identified and started their own journeys in data maturity, but understanding this field comes with a steep learning curve and trying to find the balance between work and learning is a delicate line to tread.
Certain industries are leading the charge when it comes to data maturity. Pharmaceutical and retail in particular have been pushing the limits of data science due to social and economic pressures to adapt. Consumer habits are constantly changing and the appetite for quick, convenient goods is pushing the retail industry to keep up. The pace of change is certainly something that holds companies back, along with the rising competition for skilled workers.
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