Having worked in data recruitment for the past 12 years, I have first-hand experience of the challenges faced by the industry in building diverse and inclusive teams. I have also seen the lack of knowledge and awareness among young people regarding the vast array of opportunities available to them in the data industry.Since 2014, I have been the driving force behind various programmes to support commerce and education in the data and analytics space. These efforts have been rewarded and I have been privileged to attend prestigious events at Downing Street for International Women’s Day, appeared as a guest on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, and launched a short educational film created by The Rankin Group at the BBC.Motivated by these experiences – and fuelled by my sheer passion for working in education, especially supporting young people in finding a fulfilling career path – I founded the Data Inspiration Group. Our mission is to promote career opportunities offered by the data industry and, through our Digdata programme, we are setting out to build a strong relationship between educational establishments and industry partners to build awareness and develop future talent.My team and I are thrilled at the prospect of providing young people with the knowledge and skills required when considering a career in data. By connecting students with relatable role models in the data industry, we can help dispel the myth that data careers are only for those with a maths or STEM background. A truly successful data and analytics team is filled with diverse individuals possessing many different talents, and we are passionate about encouraging students of all ages, abilities and disciplines to realise their full potential in this exciting and fast-growing industry.“My vision is to create a permanent relationship between educational establishments and the data industry, opening young people’s minds and giving them the tools to become the next data pioneers."Rachel Keane, Founder and Chief Data Inspirer, Data Inspiration Group