Data Engineer
Data Engineer
Network Data Hub
Works in Utrecht and from home
Lives in Utrecht
At VodafoneZiggo since 2021
As a Data Engineer, Sukhleen Kaur works on VodafoneZiggo’s data-driven organisation. She dives into each new adventure with great enthusiasm. From organising hackathons and a position as chairperson, to playing the starring role in an Employer Branding campaign. "I'm always open to trying something new."
Sukhleen speaks with energy and enthusiasm about her role as a Data Engineer at VodafoneZiggo. She effortlessly shifts from the technical side of her work to her involvement with the Young Generation Board. And the amusing names of her department's squads: the Data Bees, later split into the Honeybees and Bumblebees.
As one of the Honey Bees, Sukhleen oversees the Network Data Hub, a source of knowledge and information that is used throughout VodafoneZiggo. The bee comparison is quite accurate, she explains. "Instead of honey, we collect all the data that are important to our organisation. The beehive, our platform, is a place where we store that data in an appropriate way. In order to do that, we sometimes have to transform or reorganise the data along the way, so that they provide usable insights for our colleagues."
For the most part, Sukhleen was given the opportunity to shape her role herself. "The first thing we needed? Data! So, I put on the hat of a Data Engineer and started building a hub. Our small team ensured a flow of data and used machine learning and AI to process it. Under our supervision, the Network Data Hub grew to become the foundation beneath our autonomous network of tomorrow. The digital heart of technology at VodafoneZiggo, you might even say."
"If I have an idea about how we could work more efficiently, then I'm free to put my time into it. For instance, I thought it would be relevant to write a programme for frequently asked questions to our department, using a large language model. And I got it to talk sense." Sukhleen laughs, "Literally. This was just after ChatGPT was launched. Unfortunately, we didn't yet have enough data to train my programme and get it working to its full potential."
In order to get to know VodafoneZiggo better, Sukhleen joined the Young Tech Community. "We formed a board, of which I eventually became chairperson. It was great fun and we were free to organise whatever we wanted. Like the very first hackathon, about solutions for a seamless and exceptional customer experience. We determined that topic together with the Technology Leadership Team." In time, Sukhleen was given a seat on the Young Generation Board. "I was chosen to represent Technology. Quite an honour and a wonderful opportunity."
Lights, camera, action! Another opportunity that she took, was to play the starring role in a VodafoneZiggo Employer Branding campaign. You just have to dare do it! "Far out of my comfort zone, but I thought it was great. I'd love to do it again."
Sukhleen is clearly as entrepreneurial as she is adventurous. "Probably because I've seen so much of the world. I went to primary school in India, secondary school in Japan, high school in Denmark and university here in the Netherlands. I learned at a young age that adapting isn't difficult. You just need to have an open mind. I'm always open to trying something new."
That's the reason Sukhleen felt so drawn to VodafoneZiggo. "I noticed the diversity already during my interview. And I was put in a team of female engineers from all over the world. Just out of uni and incredibly motivated. I was encouraged to speak up, to learn a lot and try things out, and to make mistakes. VodafoneZiggo has given me so many unexpected opportunities!"
