Career Stories: A Chat with Khadija Anam, Intern Data Scientist

Welcome to Careers Stories! Follow this series, where we’ll hear from Depop folks at various stages of their career journey, as we shine a light on how they reached their version of success – and the people that helped them along the way. This week, we're chatting with Khadija Anam, one of Depop’s Intern Data Scientists.

What made you want to get into Data Science?

As a teenager, I was really into fiction and fascinated by how things in stories could come to life. For example, remember how in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," Harry writes to Tom Riddle and gets a reply? That's exactly how I feel when using ChatGPT! Seeing fiction turn into reality through technology has always amazed me, sparking my interest in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

Back in Aurangabad, India, where I'm from, during my bachelor’s in CS Engineering , my professor pointed out that AI and ML is a booming industry. Combining my fascination with technology and a practical career path seemed like the perfect fit. I feel like I made the right choice joining Depop as a Data Science Intern, as each day of the past 3-months has been rewarding and exciting!

What are your ambitions, what do you want to do next?

Career-wise, I'm aiming for a full-time role as a Data Scientist. Personally, I want to create a positive impact on people’s lives. I'm seeking a data science role that allows me to make a meaningful difference while also being fulfilling for me. I'm excited about opportunities where I can combine my skills and passion to contribute to something impactful. 

Most important thing you learned during your time at Depop?

From exploring raw data to training models and creating features, I gained a comprehensive understanding of the industry. I was able to lead an experiment focused around pricing on the Depop platform, which taught me how an idea can evolve into a real feature. I learnt the process around decision-making, product analytics, and understanding the collaborative efforts behind an app have been invaluable. Every day felt like an adventure, and I even learned how to navigate London – though it's quite costly!

I've learned the importance of humility working alongside really intelligent and incredibly humble colleagues, learning clear communication from them and seeing how teams can still have fun whilst working.

Helping others showed me the importance of working in a compassionate team environment where everyone has a unique story, and being able to coexist within a diverse group of people has been enriching.

Are you working on any side projects?

Over the past three months, my focus has been entirely on learning, I wanted to fully immerse myself in understanding how data science works at an industry level. Whilst at Depop, I’ve had the chance to discover the inner workings of an app and have learned from very patient and humble people.

However, prior to Depop, I developed an app, built a website for a client and worked as a tutor at GoStudent!