#FollowAthenaAnalytics
This week we are joined by Emily Brick, Founder of Athena Analytics based in Kerry. Anyone who has a What’s App group called ‘Mathletes’ is worth a blog post in our book. Her fascination for data, science and maths was the basis for founding her own business in EdTech using mathematics and computer science to support schools in analysing their data.
Q1. How would you describe yourself in 6 words or less?
(My business – Athena Analytics) Software for schools to track student's unique potential.
(Myself) Energetic, optimistic, mathematical.
Q2. What prompted you to start your business?
Throughout my own studies in statistics and my data science career, I have wanted to set up a business solving some “Big Data” problem, taking large volumes of data and transforming them into meaningful results for the end user. The key was to find a “Big Data” problem faced by many similar organisations.
I came to the opportunity in education when a Principal asked me to do some analysis for him. I then realised that schools had no formal way of reviewing their results. This became our first product and is what I started the business doing in 2017.
Through working with schools on these reviews, it became clear that what schools were really looking for was a tool that identified each student’s own unique strengths and weaknesses and tracked their progress in a way that was individual to each student as opposed to comparing all students to the same norms. This led to building the Athena Tracker which is the company’s main product today.
Q3. Can you tell us a bit more about you?
I studied Financial Maths and Actuarial Science followed by a Masters in Statistics both in University College Cork. I went on to work in various Data Science roles including at Betfair and Musgrave Wholesale Group, both in Dublin. I then moved to Melbourne where I worked in the Department of Education. In 2017 I moved back to Tralee, Co. Kerry where I am from and set up the business.
Being back in Kerry has been great; I enjoy outdoor sports like cycling, surfing and hiking and Kerry is a great place for all of that.
Q4. How are you feeling about 2021?
I am hopeful in general and I try not to think about the negatives too much. Since the start of the pandemic, I have tried to avoid the news as much as possible. This makes easier to keep working away on the business and focusing on what I can control myself every day. Our customers are schools who have had to carry on throughout, so this attitude is important in supporting them.
Q5. How has being part of the AwakenHub community helped your business?
AwakenHub has been a great networking opportunity during a time when networking opportunities are difficult to come by. They have had great speakers which have been very motivating and educational. The sessions are well organised, professional, and always enjoyable.
Connect with Emily and Athena Analytics using any of the following links.
Twitter: @emilbee89 and @athena_schools) / Athena Analytics
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-brick-016ab230/
Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athenaanalytics
Website: www.athena.ie
