Kadence International is an agency with a lot of talent from all around the world. In this series, we honor some of our female colleagues leading up to International Women’s Day, asking them about their experience working within the market research industry and what the future holds for the industry.
Name: Bridgette LaFaye
Position: Junior Data Analyst
Kadence Office: San Francisco, USA
When did you join Kadence?
I joined Kadence in August 2021.
What does your role as Junior Data Analyst entail?
I’m responsible for any and all things related to technical support and data analysis. Right now with a data team of just two, there’s a lot of flexibility in the types of projects I can work on. Recently, I’ve been working on topics ranging from programming custom functions in Google Sheets to performing conjoint analysis.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Most days, I start my day with shorter tasks or any tasks that popped up overnight, like debugging a Python script or adding a feature to one of our projects. By the afternoon, I’ll usually work on longer-term projects. Once a week, I teach the rest of our Kadence team about an application of Google Sheets, since that’s our primary computational tool.
What was the very first job that you had (during school, college, or university)?
My first real job experience was in college as a research assistant in a computational simulation lab. I had a fantastic advisor, Prof. Andrew Ferguson, who taught me the fundamentals of programming and physics simulations. Those skills have been useful in every job I’ve had since, and really sparked my interest in learning more about data analysis in other applications.
What is it about market research that excites you the most?
I’m excited to contribute to real-life, cutting-edge products. Kadence’s fast-paced environment means that we’re working on a variety of projects at a time, and each one means that we’re learning about a different group of people who can be helped by a new product.
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What is it about Kadence’s company culture that you like the most?
Right from the start in my hiring process, I felt like I had the opportunity to talk to real people instead of getting lost in a sea of resumes. I feel like that’s been indicative of how supportive and accessible the team members are. With a closer group of people, I can reach out to anyone at Kadence and start a conversation. I also love the flexibility of working remotely.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I was convinced I was going to become a professional ballet dancer. These days, I like to go to social dancing events instead, which are much more relaxing.
What qualities do you feel are “a must” for anyone exploring a career in market research?
I think creativity and adaptability are must-have traits. Every day we see new types of problems, and we have to be ready to adjust our goals and timelines to accommodate new information. It’s never boring!
What is your favorite hero or movie of all time, and why?
I think Elle Woods from Legally Blonde is great. Her character is an awesome example of a woman with a strong identity that never lost sight of who she was or what she was capable of.
What is your favorite quote, motto or favorite phrase?
My favorite quote is “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” It’s easy to get caught up in whether you’re living up to everyone else’s expectations, and I like to remind myself that it’s okay to follow my own path through life.
If you could time travel into the future 10 years, how will market research evolve?
As a data analyst, I have to say improvements in technology. I think there’s always room for more automation and more efficiency.
What do you like to do in your free time, when you are not working?
I like to solve simple brain-teaser puzzles, go ice skating, and play with my two cats.
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