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Raoul Gabriel-Urma, Founder and Executive Chairman, 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 technology and education, leading me to create websites to teach children about strategy games. Pursuing my passion, I earned an MEng in Computer Science from Imperial College London where I graduated with first-class honours, having won several prizes for technical innovation. Subsequently, I pursued and completed a PhD in Computer Science from Cambridge University, with a research focus on source code analysis, machine learning, and education. My published research work has garnered over 500 citations, and I currently serve as a fellow and affiliated Computer Science lecturer at Cambridge University. In 2023, I was admitted to the OPM Harvard Business School executive education programme. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working for some of the leading technology companies on large-scale transformation projects, including at 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, and with more than £300 million confirmed value for our clients to date. With the support of the UK innovation agency, Cambridge Spark developed EDUKATE.AI, a proprietary learning platform for data skills, which 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. In 2023, I became a member of the Young President Organisation. 

What challenges do you see for data in the year ahead that will have an impact on your clients and on the industry as a whole?  

 

The booming interest in integrating generative AI (genAI) within organisations presents both opportunities and challenges, especially regarding data. This initiative necessitates high data quality, robust management, enhanced governance, compliance, and comprehensive training. For our clients, this translates to a commitment to continuous experimentation, learning, and evaluation, coupled with active stakeholder engagement, to ensure the delivery of meaningful impact. 

How are you developing the data literacy of a) your own organisation and b) your clients?

 

At Cambridge Spark, we are committed to enhancing data literacy across the board. Internally, we run a Python Academy to equip our staff at all levels with essential skills. For our clients, we offer a variety of initiatives, from apprenticeships to custom online programs aimed at evolving beginners into data experts. Our approach includes our proprietary EDUKATE.AI data learning platform, blending hands-on experience with adaptable learning paths. This strategy ensures both our team and clients are empowered to leverage data effectively, fostering informed decision-making and a culture of continuous improvement. 

How are you preparing your organisation and your clients for AI adoption and change management? 

 

At Cambridge Spark, we are actively preparing for AI adoption by piloting innovative initiatives. This includes making GPT systems available to all our staff to increase productivity and job satisfaction. We are integrating genAI into our EDUKATE.AI platform to augment the learner experience. We are also rolling out new courses designed to build AI skills and knowledge. These efforts are aimed at enhancing AI literacy across our organisation and providing our clients with the tools and understanding needed to leverage AI technologies effectively. 

Raoul Gabriel-Urma
has been included in:
  • 100 Enablers 2024 (EMEA)

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