Lucia Clifford took part in the Professional Pathway (PP) scheme at City, University of London. She now works as a CTO is the co-founder at Sharpei.
What made you decide to join the Professional Pathway scheme?
I decided to join the Professional Pathway scheme as I wanted to start my career earlier, being a very ambitious person. I also thought I would do better at university if I could apply everything I was learning in real like.
What roles did you do whilst on the Professional Pathway scheme?
I worked for six months as a Student Software Developer for Hackney Council, another six months as a Student Application Support Officer and then got offered a full-time job as a Software Developer. I stayed at Hackney for a total of three years, being offered Team Leader when I graduated. However, I decided to go back to my home country and start my own business.
How did the scheme help you find work on graduation?
Essentially, I was already employed so it allowed them to get to know how I worked and my potential - which is why they gave me the opportunity to be a full-time worker.
Describe your career journey since graduation.
After I graduated, I decided to go back to Spain, and started my first company, Progressive-Blue. We developed an AI to predict footfall of shopping centres and event spaces - though sadly we could get the funding we needed so we had to stop pursuing the idea.
I then started working as a Senior Microsoft Dynamics Developer, in which I did projects for around 30 top companies in the country, helping them develop the business logic they needed for their CRMs.
After a while, I decided I wanted to go back to AI and Data, so I got a job as Head of IOT and Data analytics as a Microsoft Partner. In this role I managed a full division and team of my own and did really interesting work.
I then decided to start my second company, The Eco Host, it’s a real estate company very focused on property management of touristic apartments. The company is still ongoing, although I started the business shortly before Covid and managed to survive, we are now very focused in the luxury market and south of Spain.
Having this entrepreneurial soul, I couldn’t keep myself from trying new things - I wanted to change the world, not just make money. That’s when I founded Yakk, and we are one of the biggest rental marketplaces in the world.
In the first two years, we have already an annual revenue of over 1M€ and are a team of 16 working in three different time zones. We also work in 10 different countries providing businesses with the ability to pay-per-user physical objects while managing their assets through our centralized software.
I have now relocated to Silicon Valley where I’m learning from the best talent and will continue to pursue my dreams!
Are there any lessons you want to share with current Professional Pathway applicants?
PP helped me develop my technical skills in a way most people haven’t been able to, at a time where you need to not only understand how the business world really works but you need to learn not to be overwhelmed by the amount of work and responsibility you have by studying and working full time.
I think it’s all about being curious, ambitious and constant; there is no is no better way of starting than PP.
Any final message about the Professional Pathway scheme?
When looking for your internship, look at the company and the mission and at what you will be able to learn there. It’s not about the money that’s peanuts for your future, you need to be smart and can ask PP alumni who worked there for references.
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