Ambassadors

Beyond the Spreadsheet: Reflections from my Cowrywise Internship

4 Mins read
victoria francis

One of my genuine aspirations at the beginning of the year was to seize any opportunity that came my way without succumbing to fear. I was committed to moving away from my comfort zone, to pushing myself to personal growth and self-improvement. This influenced my decision to get fully involved in the Cowrywise campus ambassador community and eventually be part of the data internship at the Cowrywise HQ.

I have a vivid recollection of when I first applied to a Cowrywise data internship and it felt like my “village people” were actively working against me. I did not get in the first time. Despite this setback, I persevered and I applied again during the next recruiting process. BOOM! I received an offer letter. I got in.

Day 1 at the office

Prior to my first day at Cowrywise, I took some time to browse through the company’s LinkedIn page to familiarise myself with the team. 

My first day at Cowrywise was a truly unforgettable experience. As I stepped into the office, I immediately felt the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the company’s culture. Despite having been a campus ambassador for over a year, this was my first visit to Cowrywise’s headquarters. I was excited to finally be there.

Timi welcomed and he introduced me to the staff at Cowrywise upon my arrival. He also took me on an office tour. As we walked through the different sections of the workspace, I was amazed by the vibrant energy that filled the air. From the open-plan workstations to the cosy break areas, every corner of the office was designed to foster collaboration and productivity.

One particular area that stood out to me was the Engineering room. As a tech enthusiast, I was fascinated by the sense of camaraderie and engagement that I felt when I stepped into the room. It was clear to me that the team was passionate about their work and fully committed to achieving the company’s goals.

After the tour, I had the privilege of having an enlightening conversation with Ebenezer, the HR Manager at Cowrywise. To say that Ebenezer is intelligent would be an understatement; his wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry was truly impressive. We discussed Cowrywise and her mission, and while I was thrilled to learn more about the company’s vision for the future, what really stood out to me was the personal connection we made during the conversation. We spoke about our shared interests, and I was pleasantly surprised by how down-to-earth and relatable Ebenezer was. Looking back on that conversation, I realise that it was a pivotal moment for me. It was a reminder that in addition to being a part of a great company, I was also surrounded by amazing individuals who were just as passionate and driven as I was.

Interning as a data analyst

I had the opportunity to work with the amazing individuals on the data team – Ibrahim, Charles, and Ahmed. One of the things that stood out to me was how approachable and willing to help they all were. Ibrahim was always ready to break down complex data terminologies in a way that was easy for me to understand. He went the extra mile to ensure that I had a solid grasp of the concepts we were working on.

Charles was another valuable member of the team. He was always willing to listen to my questions and concerns, and his calm demeanour made me feel comfortable approaching him with anything I needed help with. And there was Ahmed – always ready to lend a helping hand. 

Victoria Francis during her final presentation to the Cowrywise staff.
Victoria Francis during her final presentation to the Cowrywise staff.

Projects

During my internship at Cowrywise, I had the privilege of collaborating with the entire data team. Initially, the focus of my data journey was on mastering Excel, PowerBI, and Python. However, it was during my internship experience that I truly grasped the importance of SQL skills for problem-solving as a data analyst.

Over a span of four weeks, I had the valuable opportunity to not only acquire a comprehensive understanding of SQL but also develop and validate SQL queries that fueled the functionality of Metabase dashboards. 

A notable achievement was the creation of an insightful Metabase dashboard that analyzed both failed and successful deposit and withdrawal transactions.

Furthermore, I conducted data cleaning on the current Cowrywise Ambassador application using Excel, ensuring that the data’s quality and accuracy were up to par before integrating it into PowerBI for optimal visualization. Leveraging Power Bi, I was able to develop a dynamic dashboard that effectively highlighted the key performance indicators and metrics for the campus ambassador application.

During my internship, I worked on several exciting projects and these projects allowed me to hone my skills in SQL querying, and data visualisation with Power BI and Metabase.

One month of data internship

Throughout my time at Cowrywise, I had the opportunity to interact with many staff members, each bringing a unique perspective and energy to the workplace. However, the conversations I had with Daniel and Rahman truly stood out as exceptional moments of connection and care. What struck me most about these conversations was the level of engagement and empathy,  they actively listened to what I had to say, offered thoughtful advice, and shared their own experiences in a way that felt genuine and relatable. 

 I couldn’t have asked for a better internship experience. This has been by far the most interesting and cherished worthy experience of my life. 

Thank you, Cowrywise 🥳 Cheers to more milestones!

If you are reading this and want to participate in the Cowrywise ambassador internship program, apply to be a campus ambassador and gain access to this once-in-a-lifetime chance.

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