Meet Wagestream: Lauren Thomas, Senior Data Scientist

Relocation, what you need to know

As part of our spotlight sequence, we’ve been catching up with members of our tech team to share their journeys, lessons learnt and advice that has helped them through their careers to date. In this piece, we hear from one of our Senior Data Scientists, Lauren Thomas, to learn more about her journey from the States, and any advice she may have for aspiring digital nomads looking to relocate.

Tell us a bit about yourself; what inspired you to get into technology??

My journey into tech actually started with a class in political science called Comparative Politics, and a book named Freakonomics, which is basically a manual on how to apply economics to interesting, but unusual questions. That combined influence helped me realise that I wanted to pursue a career where I get to work on socially impactful problems, and where better to apply that in a professional setting than tech.?

I gained my bachelors from 美国西北大学 in Politics and Economics, minoring in Maths, which is a pretty typical combination for that school. During this time, I cut my teeth in the world of politics, playing a part in the student government, which laid the foundation for future interests.?

At Northwestern, I was lucky enough to study abroad in Paris, one of my favourite experiences from undergrad, where I fell in love with European culture. From that time, I could already see myself potentially moving for a longer-term experience.?

After graduating, I joined the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as a research analyst on a graduate scheme intended for people interested in pursuing a PhD afterwards. However,? over time I became less interested in the academic route, mainly due to the slow pace and lack of short-term impact in academia. It wasn’t a great fit for my temperament.?

With my year abroad experience still lingering in my mind, I returned to France to study for a master’s in Economics at the Université Lumière Lyon 2 with the support of a Fulbright Scholarship funded by the US Department of State. The Fulbright is a great exchange programme for anyone from the US looking to experience another culture while continuing their academic research. For me, the programme represented a crossroads in my life. I was torn between returning to the states to start a PhD in Economics at the 美国加州大学伯克利分校 or staying in Europe. At that point, all I knew was that I wanted to explore Europe further.?

With two terms back in France under my hat I wanted to try the UK, which felt like it could be a better culture fit than France. It had always been an aspiration of mine to study at The 英国牛津大学 , not just because of the reputational prestige but also their approach to postgraduate study.? One of their master’s courses actually combines social science and data science, which was a perfect fit for my interests. So, at the peak of Covid, with my mask on, accompanied by several suitcases, I made the journey across the Channel, welcomed straight into 14 days of quarantine.?

Arguably, 2020-2021 was an exceptionally difficult time to be a student. In addition to virtual study, which I struggled with, we were unable to participate in all the traditional rites of passage that come with studying at Oxford, such as the balls, dinners and college rituals, but despite all this I still had a truly incredible time. Oxford is able to combine all the best aspects of undergrad and post-grad experience; it was a magical place, such a welcoming culture and rich with intellectually curious people.

As a keen orator and public speaker, what are some of your highlights so far??

One of my first? public speaking experiences was back in New York aged 24. I attended a rally for a housing development intended for support low-income seniors from LGBTQ+ groups as it was experiencing lots of opposition at the time. I was able to speak at the steps of NYC’s City Hall alongside city counsellors, which was a really empowering experience.?

Since moving to the UK, I’ve been fortunate enough to speak in front of the UK House of Lords while working as an economist at Glassdoor , testifying about the post-covid labour market shortage. And more recently I featured at the Autumn Liberal Democrats Conference to provide context on realistic methods to add more housing in the UK.?

I love to share knowledge where I can, and so I really enjoyed my first lunch and learn for Wagestream .. And being given the chance to run a similar session with students from Northwestern’s journalism school as a guest speaker for one of their master’s programmes was brilliant.?

Social impact has been a natural vocation for you, where does that motivation come from?

I wanted to have a deeper societal impact through my professional career and my voluntary pursuits. Working with Glassdoor as a labour economist and senior data scientist, I was able to provide insights and hopefully?invoke change in labour policy. Through my role at Wagestream, I’m focused on creating the best tools possible to bring financial wellbeing to the workforce, aiding in the eradication of the poverty premium for millions of front line workers worldwide.?

In a voluntary capacity, I’ve been a housing activist for several years, involved in campaigning for more homes in the UK and the US. When I moved to the UK, I made connections within the housing activist space getting involved in the political scene and campaigning groups and I now hold a voluntary role as a research manager for a campaign group based in London trying to reduce the London housing shortage.?

How did you come to be in your current role with Wagestream?

The way I found Wagestream was quite funny, actually – I was looking to switch off a Skilled Worker Visa to a different type that would allow me to not be dependent on a company for my right to live somewhere. Wagestream is on the list of companies eligible for the Scale-Up visa visible via the government website. There’s only roughly 30 companies in the UK that qualify so I was fortunate to see a suitable role come live after keeping my eye out!?

Tell us about your role at Wagestream??

I sit in a cross pollinated exploratory product team as a senior data scientist working on a lot of interesting greenfield projects, thinking about how we can best service front line workers - including new and interesting ways to do so.?

It’s all about analysing data and showcasing it in insightful ways to various stakeholders across the business to form business cases and drive product development.

What inspired your move to the UK/London??

Studying in France across two sittings was the catalyst for my desire to live in Europe, and from what I knew about the culture, it seemed to better match up with my personality and ideals than other European countries. I’m very American in my mentality but pretty British in my lifestyle so the environment suits me well.?

The obvious factors, such as English being my native language and the compatible working cultures with the US really helped too. But in my opinion, the UK has one of the best tech communities in the world and attractive visa schemes, which really drew me in.?

Have you noticed a difference in working cultures between the UK & US??

The UK prioritises the work/life balance more; time off is important. You can get paid well on both sides but I would say there’s more high-income roles available in the US due to the size of the labour market. British companies are also more relaxed than American ones; talking about your life outside of work seems to be more encouraged.?

When thinking about relocating overseas, what are the fundamental considerations??

Firstly, you need to think about timescales and visa routes. My experience was quite unusual because I moved from another European country rather than the US but it depends on how you make the move. If your intention is to be a student, you need to think 1-2 years ahead; taking the time to consider where you want to be, the university you want to attend and the course that’s right for you. All in time to be accepted for the coming year to start in September.?

Becoming a student is the easiest way for most people to make the move via the student visa first and then the graduate visa. This allows you to stay for 2-3 years after your degree, and you don't need sponsorship. It’s important to mention that policies can change. This visa was axed by David Cameron’s government under Theresa May as Home Secretary, but brought back by Boris Johnson in 2021, so make sure you keep abreast of government policy as this may affect your timeline and route into your destination.?

Things to avoid?

My number one tip is DO NOT come straight off undergrad from the States. Moving straight away before gaining professional experience makes you vulnerable. Most of the time if you want to stay in the UK, you need a sponsored job, which means you need to be specialised. If you move straight away before gaining professional experience as a fresh grad, you’re not going to be there yet, so give yourself time to get stuck in with some proven experience. I worked two years in America and that set me up for long term success in the UK and Europe.

It’s also much easier to get experience in your home country, and if you rush the move you can end up taking a job that is available but not one you actually want; try and think long term. Making the move is important but also be sure? to prioritise your career advancement.

At the same time, if you wait too long, it makes the move much harder as you start to make a life where you live. So my advice is don’t wait too long!

What if you’re unsure about living abroad??

Doing a degree abroad is a really great way to dip your toes into the water - it's only a year long, and many degrees are cheaper than in the US. It’s a simple application, giving you special visa privileges and then you’re more employable as you're already in the country. You will need to apply for your visa a few months in advance before your course starts.?

What are other potential routes you can explore to gain your UK right to work? ?

Ancestry Visa or Citizenship? - Assuming you’re not British and you don't have a British partner, make sure to check your ancestry as it might be eligible. For instance, If you have Irish parents or grandparents you could be eligible for Irish citizenship, which would allow you to work in the UK.?

High Potential Individual Visa . This visa allows you work in the UK without needing sponsorship, conditional on having graduated from one of the top 50 universities in the world in the past five years. This visa will allow you to stay and work for up to 2 or 3 years, depending on the degree you received.?

Youth Mobility Scheme - This is a great option if you’re under 30 (or 35 if you’re from New Zealand) and coming to the UK from a certain set of countries.??

Scale-Up Work Visa - If you’re wanting to join a fast growing UK business, this is the right option for you. After six months working for a qualifying company on the visa, you will no longer need sponsorship and can work for any company you please. You can continue to renew the visa or qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain so long as you earn above a certain minimum threshold. Wagestream is one of very few companies with the ability to offer this visa.

Global Talent Visa - This is the visa I’m currently on! It is a discretionary visa. You have to provide specific examples regarding your skill set to support how you help push tech forward. The UK government wants to see evidence around your potential or success as a leader within your field.?

To receive the visa, you need to be endorsed by an organisation that works with the UK government. It is definitely one of the best visas you can have in the UK because you can't lose it, it's tied to you and you alone, offering freedom of employment. After three or five years on the visa, you can qualify for indefinite leave to remain. There are no vocational restrictions; you can study or work (part-time, self employed or even multiple jobs). This is a huge feather in the UK’s cap for pulling the best global talent; very few countries offer anything comparable.

Any important considerations when securing employment?

If you’re looking to work in the UK, picking the right legal counsel is crucial to ensure the visa process is as efficient as it can be, and expedite the process if you can. After you’ve accepted an offer, the process can take between 5-8 weeks, depending on the visa.?

What tips would you give to someone who’s just landed??

There’s a serious housing shortage in London in particular and the UK in general so the renting market is very volatile. Do your research to work out the best areas to base yourself compared to your office and when you find the right place, be prepared to move fast.??

Settling in a new place has its difficulties. The Brits love sports clubs, so that’s a great place to socialise. I’ve found a lot of my closest friends in the UK through climbing.?

Remember, you’re foreign, so you will make faux pas. It’s all a learning process.?

What are the challenges you’ve experienced??

Naturally, I’ve missed my family and friends that are based elsewhere but I’m fortunate that my family has really encouraged me to follow my dreams. My nearest and dearest are already spread across the US due to my constant relocations so I'm used to travelling long distances. My childhood best friend actually moved away when we were nine, and we kept up our friendship through every method of communication from letters to phone calls to text messages now to FaceTime. I always like to joke that our friendship prepped me well for the challenges of long distance communication – it’s certainly a lot easier now than it was when I was nine and writing long letters!

?I don’t really have a single “home” location – my parents have moved away from the town I grew up in so even there isn’t really a home anymore. There’s at least 4-5 cities across America and Europe where I have a lot of ties.?

Job security and its wider impact on your circumstances as an immigrant on a work visa can cause a lot of challenges, particularly if you’re made redundant, but that’s why picking the right role and company is so important.?

Giving my last two cents? - it's not always going to be amazing on day 1 or day 90, or even a year. It's hard. You may think the culture is similar to home but it's not. Even in the best of environments, most of life isn’t lived amongst the highlight reel featured in movies, books, and now social media, but rather the flat, boring, or downright difficult moments in between. You’ll still face a lot of the same problems you had at home.

At the same time, I don’t regret my decisions for an instant – living abroad has been an incredible experience.? es, bad things (a global pandemic, layoffs, etc.) might happen but this will bring you a measure of resilience that comes from stepping out of your comfort zone (also, everyone back home will think you’re either super cool or super odd for moving so far away). Appreciate the new, the bad and the interesting. Finally, read Watching the English by Kate Fox! She nails so many aspects of English culture that can be confusing for the newly arrived immigrant.?