Tamara Castelli
Head of Data & Insight, Unidays

- Did you always want to work in the data industry?
I’ve always been passionate about solving problems and puzzles. As a child, one of the few things I had infinite patience for was sitting and solving puzzles. And so I see this as just an adult version of it; it’s gathering all the clues and the evidence to help make the right best decision for that time. What I really enjoy about it is having that evidence to back up what I’m saying. I really love that moment when you can challenge someone’s perception on something that they’ve had based on gut-feel.
- How did you get where you are?
Having zero idea of what industry I’d want to work in, what type of analytics I was interested in, or even what my strengths and weaknesses would be in the working world, I decided to take a career in consulting. I felt that that would give me a really great grounding in different experiences, different types of projects, and allowing me to sort of work out what I wanted to do next.
After working as a consultant, I took data and analytic roles with TV broadcaster Channel 4 and online fashion retailer YOOX Net-a-Porter Group before joining Unidays.- What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
I would say the biggest risk I’ve ever taken is climbing Kilimanjaro. It certainly was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done; but of course, having achieved it, I can look at it very proudly and it’s created a lot of very fond memories for me, as well as making a lot of great new friends.
- What advice would you give your teenage self?
I would say to my teenage self that there isn’t always a right answer – there is only a well-reasoned, justified answer. And quite often the mathematically correct answer isn’t always the right answer; there are other things that need to be taken into consideration. I would have told myself to prepare for this.