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Harnham Do The London Color Run





Color Run Diary by Charlie Waterman, Account Executive

It should come as no surprise that recruitment is a competitive industry - so you might think that a group of Harnham consultants would be at the front of any race that they may take part in... Of course normally we would, but when taking on The Color Run aka "The Happiest 5k on Earth" we decided to take it just that little bit easier…

In case you aren't familiar with it, The Color Run is a five kilometer 'race' during which the runners, dressed in white for maximum effect, get covered in brightly colored corn-starch and finish the race looking like they’ve been involved in an accident in a paint factory.

It started off well and amidst the sea of 18,000 white-bedecked runners it’s fair to say that we were already off the pace, but that just meant that it took us longer to get through the sea of colored dust meaning that we ended up looking slightly like smurfs that never quite made the cut!

By the time we made it to the Yellow station at the 3km marker we must admit, the novelty of having corn-starch all over your body was starting to show - sure it looks great in photos - but nobody tells you about the blue teeth that come along with it....

With a good 15 minutes left, the Harnham team spirit came shining through! The group was starting to slow - well actually, a certain member of the group started to wane.... You see it was actually rather funny seeing Harnham's top biller, the one that does deals in her sleep, the one that never slows below 100 miles an hour, lose interest in even walking. A bit of tough love from the crew and she was inspired to keep her legs moving!

Once we survived the Orange station 'powder shower' it was pretty much straight towards the finish line - we rounded the corner as a group and kept on pushing until the finish line. It might not have been our fastest run, and we definitely didn’t look our usual demure selves by the end, but it was a great way for us to raise money for a great cause…



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The Women Who Brought Us Wi-Fi, WFH, and More

It seems almost counterintuitive to lament the statistics of women in tech when you realize how many women, throughout history, helped to build the world of technology. Some names you may know. Ada Lovelace. Hedy Lamarr. Karen Johnson. Grace Hopper.  The list is long and these few names barely scratch the surface. But you have these ladies to thank for computer programming, wi-fi, and human mathematical ‘computers’ which have paved the way for so much of what we can do today. In honor of Women's History Month, we wanted to celebrate both the women of technology who set the stage for us to work from home on computers using wi-fi to the women of tomorrow.  Women in Tech Isn’t New Near the turn of the 20th century, a ‘woman’s work’ went well beyond the kitchen. Yet, it was a housemaid who was tasked with crunching the numbers from raw Data gathered by the men of the Harvard Observatory. When the men declined to analyze their Data deeming it ‘clerical’ and therefore, women’s work, the head of the Observatory needed help. Enter Williamina Fleming, housemaid to Edward Pickering, head of the Harvard College Observatory. Williamina would go on to lead 80 ‘computers’ at Harvard. Enter The Women of ENIAC, the first computer programmers. Though the ENIAC itself was built by men, it was a unit of six women who would actually do the coding on the machine. Their calculations plotted missile trajectories on behalf of the U.S. Military. These women would go on to become mathematicians at NASA and its Jet Propulsion Laboratory. And Grace Hopper, known as the ‘mother of computing,’ helped develop the COBOL language. She also helped develop the UNIVAC I computer, the first business-focused computer. The Old Normal Would you believe the idea of working from home began with a woman bringing home her computer to write its operating systems manual? As you commute across your home from your non-work life to your working life, cup of coffee in hand, thank Mary Allen Wilkes. She’s credited with being the first person ever to have a personal computer in her home.  And there would be no working from home without wi-fi. Hedy Lamarr, the famous actress of the 1940s was also a brilliant scientist. She loved to see how machines worked and helped develop what would become wi-fi. The Pioneering Women of Today in Tech   From AI to Machine Learning to Coding, women are leading the way. Not only are their businesses data-driven, but there is a strong focus on diversity and inclusion both for human and machine. Danah Boyd, founder and president of Data & Society, is keeping an eye the on ethical and legal implications of emerging technologies. Some topics she’s focused on include accountability in machine learning and media manipulation. Want to know what’s next in the world of tech? Meet Cathy Hackl, one of LinkedIn’s Top Tech Voices and the host of the Future Insiders podcast. She focuses on AR and VR working with name brands on the how best to use these technologies.  Dr. Fei-Fei Li, co-director of Stanford's Human-Centered AI Institute is a pioneer of not only AI, but also Computer Vision. Her nonprofit, AI4ALL, is intended to improve diversity within the field. But it’s her ImageNet project which holds the most sway. The images in this database have helped ‘train’ computers how to recognize what they see. Katie Moussouris is an unlikely heroine in the world of security. Cybersecurity. In the world of Data privacy and security, we may not automatically think of a woman. But we might imagine a hacker who would use their powers for good. The founder and CEO of Luta Security, Katie Moussouris, is the best of both worlds and is busy protecting businesses and government agencies from digital threats. With a focus on diversity and inclusion in the fields of Data and Technology, Kimberly Bryant, started Black Girls Code. Her aim is to create a more diverse computer programming course. An electrical engineer herself, she was determined her daughter not feel culturally isolated or give up her passions.  These women are the tip of the iceberg of women in tech today. As a recent interviewee suggested, we encourage you, if you’re interested, to join organizations and networks that support women in data and technology fields. At Harnham, we’re proud to partner with Women in Data. If you’re interested in Big Data and Analytics, Life Sciences, Data Science, or any of our Data professional fields, we may have a role for you. Check out our current vacancies or contact one of our expert consultants to learn more.  For our West Coast Team, contact us at (415) 614 - 4999 or send an email to sanfraninfo@harnham.com.  For our Mid-West and East Coast teams contact us at (212) 796-6070 or send an email to newyorkinfo@harnham.com.  

McElla Pappas

McElla Pappas

04. March 2021

CRO: Getting Customers Past Your Digital Door

Conversion Rate Optimization. CRO. If you’re an established business just getting on the technology track to improve your business, these words and acronyms can sound difficult and confusing. So, let’s put things a little simpler. Your website is your digital doorway to your business. Your service is your digital handshake. When you’re able to meet with customers face-to-face, you can get a firmer grasp on their likes and dislikes. You get to know your customers over time, they get to know you, and you begin to learn what the want so you can improve your business. If you’re a startup, you’ve opened your business because perhaps you’ve been a customer and saw a need no one could fill but you.  Whichever type of business you are, when you make changes to your website to improve your customer experience, you’ve worked through conversion rate optimization, though you may not have realized at the time. What is Conversion Rate Optimization? It is the penultimate testing strategy to convert visitors into customers. Let’s assume your eCommerce business is bringing in leads, but no one is clicking the ‘buy now’ button. If you’re wondering why, this is your chance to test your CRO through A/B testing. This kind of testing examines your original version against a change in your wording or colors. Consider the number of times you’ve seen Amazon’s logo change over the years. Today, the name is no longer needed, only the smiling arrow. The simplest of tweaks to your call-to-action (CTA), logo, colors, wording, or even a well-read or reviewed article can drive more leads for your business. Simple testing with big consequences can be overwhelming to consider. But with a few key points to consider, you may have a better focus on what you need to do. This focus will help you identify your goals, your audience, and the best conversion touchpoints for your business. What Do You Want to Optimize? Conversion means many things to many people. While ultimately the goal is to convert visitors to customers, there are a variety of ways to get there. So, what do you want to do? Do you want to have more visitors call or fill out your contact form? Do you want new subscribers to your website? Or do you want your visitors to click ‘buy now’ or ‘add to cart’? Choose one goal and work from there. Data you may already have or can gather, can offer you insight into your customers to help you know the best way to move forward. Know Your Customer Digital and Web Analytics can help you navigate the Data gathered about your customers. For example, who’s already visiting your site? How did they find you? Age, gender, and location are additional demographics which may help your team make informed decisions about what to test, why, and how it will improve your conversion rate. Bringing Your CRO Team Together There are three main roles most often brought together for conversion rate optimization. Smart businesses make CRO a part of their Marketing Strategy. So, it’s only fitting Marketing is on the list.  Marketing - These are the professionals who understand people. They know the strategy behind every level of the sales funnel within the customer journey. And from these understandings, they can troubleshoot, if needed, with acquisition, qualification, or optimization. Acquisition – These are the professionals responsible for bringing in new business. New leads. New customers. It’s their experience which can help to identify what’s optimizing well and what isn’t whether from targeting the wrong data point or on-page issues. Web Developer or Designer – These professionals assist with the technical aspects of conversion rate optimization. Begin at Your Homepage If you’re wondering where to begin, it’s best to begin at the homepage. This is where prospective customers find you and determine whether they’d like to look around a little more or not. So, knowing this there are a few things to keep in mind. ABT – Always Be Testing. This is a circular exercise in keeping up with the Jones’s of business. The more you know about your site, your goals, and your customers needs, your improvements can help to generate leads and increase sales. OTE - Optimize the Experience. When setting your goals, you’ll want to consider three goal types and set one or more. The first is to ask yourself, what do you want to happen immediately? If you want more clicks or views, this is an immediate goal. If you have a finite amount of time to generate leads, say fourth quarter of a given year, you may wish to set a campaign goal. And if you want to project net revenue or lead quality, you’ll want to set a long-term goal. Ready to optimize your conversion rate in your job search? Harnham may have a role for you. If you’re interested in the Digital Analytics, Data & Technology, or Machine Learning just to name a few, Harnham may have a role for you. Check out our current vacancies or contact one of our expert consultants to learn more.  For our West Coast Team, contact us at (415) 614 - 4999 or send an email to sanfraninfo@harnham.com.  For our Mid-West and East Coast teams contact us at (212) 796-6070 or send an email to newyorkinfo@harnham.com.  

Joe Gibbs

Joe Gibbs

25. February 2021

Black History Month: Ethical AI and the Bias Within

According to Brigette Hyacinth’s 2017 book entitled, The Future of Leadership, the author suggests this when considering the ramifications of AI. “Using AI to improve efficiency is one thing, using it to judge people isn’t something I would support. It violates the intention on the applications of AI. This seems to be social prejudice masquerading as science…” How often have big tech companies backtracked their facial recognition software? What are the ethical implications of moving forward and leaving AI unchecked and unregulated? 2020 was in no way a traditional year amassing change on our daily lives at near lightspeed, or so it seemed. But what was brought to bear were unrest and tensions boiled to the breaking point. And when you look at it from the perspective of AI in our daily lives. What might the world look like in another year? When Social Sciences and Humanities Meets AI “To err is human, to forgive, divine.” Humans make mistakes. Biases are unmasked with and without intent. But, when it comes to AI, those unintentional biases can have devastating consequences. From 2015 to 2019, use of AI grew by over 250 percent and is projected to boast a revenue of over $100 billion by 2025. As major businesses such as Amazon and IBM cancel and suspend their facial recognition programs amidst protests against racial inequality, some realize more than regulatory change is needed. Since 2014, algorithms have shown biases against people of color and between genders. In a recent article from Time.com, a researcher showed the inaccuracies of prediction for women of color, in particular. Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Serena Williams skewed as male. Three of the most recognizable faces in the world and AI algorithms missed the mark. These are the same algorithm and machine learning principles used to challenge humans at strategy games such as Chess and Go. Where’s the disconnect? According to one author, it may be time to create a new field of study specific to AI. Though created in Computer Science and Computer Engineering labs, the complexities of human are more often discussed in the field of humanities. To expand further as well into business schools, race and gender studies, and political science departments. How Did We Get Here? At first blush, it may not seem comparable to consider human history with the rise of artificial intelligence and its applications. Yet it’s human history and its social construct which explains the racial and gender biases when it comes to ethics in AI. How deep seated are such biases? What drives the inequalities when AI-enabled algorithms pass over people of color and women in job searches, credit scores, or assume status quo in incarceration statistics? Disparities between rational and relational are the cornerstone from which to begin. Once again, in Hyacinth’s book, The Future of Leadership, the author tells a story of her mother explaining the community around the simple task of washing clothes. Though washing machines now exist and do allow people to do other things while the clothes are washed, there is a key element recounted by her mother washing machines lack. The benefit of community. When her mother washed clothes, it was her and her surrounding community. They gathered to wash, to visit, and connect. A job was completed, but the experience lingered on. And in the invention of a single machine, that particular bit of community was lost. But it’s community and collaboration which remind humans of their humanity. And it’s from these psychological and sociological roles, artificial intelligence should learn. Create connections between those build the systems and those who will use them.  BUILDING AI FORWARD Voices once shuttered and subjugated have opened doors to move artificial intelligence forward. It is the quintessence of ‘those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it’. The difference within this scientific equivalent is there is no history to repeat when it comes to technology. And so it is from the humanitarian angle AI is considered. The ability to do great things with technology is writ in books and screenplays, and so are its dangers. While it isn’t likely an overabundance of ‘Mr. Smiths’ will fill our world, it is important we continue to break out of the siloes of science versus social sciences. If AI is to help humanity move forward, it’s important to ensure humanity plays a role in teaching our machine learning systems how different we are from each other and to consider the whole person, not just their exoskeleton. If you’re interested in the Data Sciences, Data and Technology, Machine Learning, or Robotics just to name a few, Harnham may have a role for you. Check out our current vacancies or contact one of our expert consultants to learn more.  For our West Coast Team, contact us at (415) 614 - 4999 or send an email to sanfraninfo@harnham.com.  For our Mid-West and East Coast teams contact us at (212) 796-6070 or send an email to newyorkinfo@harnham.com.  

Stephanie Brooks

Stephanie Brooks

18. February 2021

Puzzle and Problem-Solvers: Software Engineers Drive Business

Software. It’s the drivers to your printer. It’s the word processor on your PC. And it’s the concept behind your productivity tools, your CRM systems, and your social media programs. Software engineers are to software what Data Engineers are to Data.  Software Engineers are the creators, builders, and maintainers of software systems and programs, so business runs smoothly. Now, that the majority of businesses have shifted online, it’s more important than ever to keep things running smoothly. These engineers must take into account not only what businesses might need to run, but also the limitations of the program. It’s a balancing act of software, hardware, limitations, and possibilities. If you took apart watches as a kid to see how they worked, Software Engineering might be for you. Are you a problem solver? Do you love putting the pieces of a puzzle together whether it’s on a board or in a crossword? Software Engineering might be for you. What Kind of Software Engineer are You? While there are a variety of roles to consider, below are some of the more popular paths taken. So, let’s say you want to build computer applications that affect what the end user sees. If you know programming languages such as Python and Java, and understand the mechanics of how to make a program work, then you may fit the classic example of a Software Engineer. If you’re more interested in the focus of robotics or automation, you may want to consider a role in Embedded Systems. You’ll still be designing, developing, and maintaining but your projects will be hardware and software used for a specific task.   Want to keep information secure? You may lean toward Security Engineer. In this role, you’ll ensure there are no security flaws. How? By operating as a ‘white-hat’ ethical hacker to attempt breaking into existing systems to identify threats. Technical Skills are Essential. Soft Skills are Important.  For anyone in the Data professions, technical skills are paramount. This not only gets your ‘foot in the door’, but ensures you know the basics. And for those who’ve been in the game a bit longer, also gives businesses confidence you can meet any challenges which may come up. Technical skills for Software Engineers include knowing programming languages like C++, Python, Java, and others like them. In this role, you’ll need to understand development processes as well as additional technical concepts. Technical skills are a standard requirement. And as important as it is to have a good portfolio and experience, you’ll want to show the business, you have the technical know-how to take on anything which may come your way. Now that cross-functional teams across departments are regular occurrences and C-suite executives are in the know, soft skills are just as important as technical skills. What are Soft Skills? In a nutshell, soft skills are communication skills. In the past, Data professionals may have been siloed away from other teams, and a liaison of sorts might have translated Data information into actionable insights. Now businesses and professionals have found it’s much more efficient to have the Engineer speak directly to their team, their leadership, or stakeholders. So, it’s imperative your soft skills are on par with your technical skills. Scope of Work for a Software Engineer According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Software Engineer employment growth is expected to grow 21 percent by 2028. Now that we’re working, studying, and socializing online more than ever, is it any wonder? Add to this the changing needs of organizations as they shift their practices into the cloud, and it’s more important than ever to have professionals who can design and maintain software to meet the needs of an organization. Whichever avenue you choose, whichever business you join or career path you follow, the full scope of work will be broad. You could be in charge of creating, developing, and maintaining a full product or just a single component of an app. Regardless of your scope of work, though, you’ll most likely be working with developers, cross-departmental staff, executives, clients, and stakeholders to mold, shape, and fulfill a design envisioned for their product. If you’re interested in the Data Science, Data Technology, Machine Learning, or Software Engineering, Harnham may have a role for you. Check out our current vacancies or contact one of our expert consultants to learn more.  For our West Coast Team, contact us at (415) 614 - 4999 or send an email to sanfraninfo@harnham.com.  For our Mid-West and East Coast teams contact us at (212) 796-6070 or send an email to newyorkinfo@harnham.com.  

Calum Reid

Calum Reid

11. February 2021

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