To promote the strengths of our employees and exploit hidden potential: our training and further education concept provides optimal and individual development support for every Modelyzr employee. This includes internal and external training courses as well as support for part-time studies. Otto Hefner is one of our business analysts and will soon be studying for a Master’s degree in Data Science alongside his job. In this interview, he talks about goals, support and a groundbreaking conversation with our management.
Question: Otto, you have been part of the Modelyzr team as a Business Analyst since February 2020. What are your tasks?
Otto Hefner: I deal with the preparation of data in order to make it usable. One of my tasks is to support our customers in transforming their data so that meaningful analysis results can be achieved with their help. I identify weaknesses and inconsistencies in the data and show ways in which data quality can be improved.
Question: That sounds exciting, but also demanding. Nevertheless, you will soon be starting an extra-occupational course of study with which you are aiming for a Master’s degree in Data Science. What motivated you to do this?
Otto: I didn’t originally come from an IT background, I did my bachelor’s degree in a different field, but I discovered my passion for data analytics here at Modelyzr and familiarized myself with the topic. On some occasions, however, I realize that a deeper IT background would be valuable for me. That’s why I now want to delve even deeper into the subject in order to grasp issues more quickly and comprehensively on the one hand and to be able to develop even better solutions on the other.
That’s my motivation for doing this degree course: That it teaches me exactly the skills that I currently lack. It will push me to a higher level, which is of course also an advantage for my employer because we can operate at a higher level together.
Question: Modelyzr GmbH attaches great importance to the further development of its employees and supports them. What does that look like in your case?
Otto: I am supported in many ways, but when it comes to very specific things, financial support is of course an important example. My employer covers the costs of my studies, which is a real relief for me.
We have also agreed on a budget for additional days off, which I can call on in intensive phases of my studies – for example in the run-up to important exams – should this become necessary. It is difficult to estimate in advance exactly how big the workload will be for this virtual distance learning course. However, the fact that I have these free days at my disposal in case of doubt means that I can approach the matter with peace of mind. The fact that my employer, who also has to deal with this unpredictability, allows me to do this is certainly not a matter of course.
Question: Who took the initiative to start studying part-time?
Otto: When I started here, I already had the idea in the back of my mind that I wanted to do a Master’s degree in the future. Because I knew that Modelyzr fundamentally wants to offer employees the support they need to develop their full potential, I proactively approached my superiors. As a newcomer, you might not do this in every company, but there is simply an atmosphere here that encourages this kind of behavior. As a result, I am now about to start my Master’s degree and am receiving the support I need in all areas.
Question: How does something like this work at Modelyzr GmbH? What steps did you have to take?
Otto: There is no fixed, predetermined process for receiving this funding. It was a simple and open conversation with our Managing Director, in which we talked about the benefits of my further training but also about possible challenges in connection with my studies. I think it’s really special that my wishes were taken into account in this way. As an employer, you could also say: “OK, he’s going to university, then his head will be somewhere else. Is that really good for the quality of work?”
But especially in areas that require a certain skillset, it is crucial to be given the opportunity to acquire this. And in Nils, we have a managing director who knows this and encourages it.