Deirdre Monks is a business woman, a busy working mother, and she is a proud advocate for returning to education and encouraging others to pursue their ambitions.
In this blog post, Deirdre shares the story of how she made the decision to study the Higher Diploma in Science in Data Analytics under the Springboard+ initiative ten years ago, and why it was one of the best decisions she has ever made.
Can you please tell us why you decided to return to education in the first place? What was your experience prior to applying to Springboard+?
I didn’t go to college straight after school. Instead, I went straight into the career I’m still working in today. Getting a qualification was always something I wanted to do, to have that piece of paper that would give me the confidence to speak up in meetings and really feel secure in my knowledge and skills.
It was something that I’d been thinking about for quite a while before I found the perfect course at NCI. I’d looked into other colleges, but many of them didn’t take my previous work experience into account and focused entirely on the academic side. NCI was completely different.
I genuinely couldn’t believe my luck when I read the course modules. They were exactly what I wanted. I was excited about every single one of them. Ten years later, I’m still using what I learned on that course. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Why NCI? How did you know that this was the right place for you to pursue Springboard+?
I found out about NCI in an unexpected way. At the time, I was working with a graphic designer who, unbeknownst to me, also did some work for NCI. I had mentioned to him that I was thinking about going back to education and that I was particularly interested in studying Data Analytics.
One day, he sent me a flyer he was designing for a Data Analytics course at NCI, and I was immediately hooked. It just felt like the perfect fit. Even though the course was relatively new at the time, I had already heard great things about it. Something just clicked, and I knew this was the one for me.
I applied straight away and the rest, as they say, is history.
How did Springboard+ benefit you?
As a mature student already working in data analytics, I knew exactly what I wanted to achieve from the Springboard+ course, but I could never have imagined just how much more I would gain from it.
Not only did I learn practical technical skills, but I also became a far better communicator, which is just as important in this field. Being able to explain complex concepts clearly and work effectively with others has made a huge difference in my career.
One of the highlights for me was my final project, where I wrote some code that eventually became the foundation of a product we developed at my company, Full Circle Data. Even now, ten years later, and despite all the changes and advances in technology, especially with the rise of AI, that core code remains the same. It’s incredible to see how relevant and robust the skills and knowledge I gained have been over time.
Still to this day, I find myself in conversations about topics I first explored during that course. It’s a testament to how solid and forward-looking the curriculum was.
Being on the course itself was intense but incredibly rewarding. Balancing study with work and family life was challenging, but it was also energising to be learning new things and surrounded by people who shared the same drive and curiosity.
Since completing your Springboard+ course, you have co-founded a company. Can you share what that process has been like?
I can’t say that becoming an entrepreneur was always my plan, but you know what they say about the best laid plans. Doing the Springboard+ course ignited a fire in me. It made me realise that I could create my own destiny and build a job that I loved so much that it wouldn’t even feel like work. That’s exactly what I set out to do.
Since finishing the course, I’ve co-founded five separate companies, all of which are still in business today, and each one directly linked to the skills and knowledge I gained from my studies.
The process of co-founding businesses has been challenging, exciting, and deeply fulfilling. It became clear along the way that this was the right path for me, especially as I discovered how much I enjoyed turning ideas into real products and solutions. We’ve got some big plans in motion at the moment, but more on that later!
What motivates you?
Learning new things and putting them into action has always been my biggest motivator. I love the feeling of discovering something new and figuring out how to apply it in real life.
Life was very busy for me, working full time and raising two kids, so going back to education didn’t seem like an option for a long time, but eventually, I reached a point where I felt completely unmotivated in my job and I knew it was time to try something new.
Have you always been entrepreneurial or would you say that Springboard+ helped you hone or sharpen skills that you already had?
Although I already had some experience related to the course I was studying, it was nothing compared to what I gained through Springboard+ at NCI. I left the College feeling incredibly inspired by the possibilities of what I could do with all this new knowledge. Even now, almost ten years later, I still find myself referencing things I learned during that course.
I wouldn’t necessarily have described myself as entrepreneurial before, but Springboard+ definitely helped me sharpen and develop skills I didn’t even know I had. It gave me the confidence to explore new ideas, take initiative, and think creatively about where I wanted my career to go.
If you were starting the application process all over again, would you still choose Data Analytics again now?
I absolutely would choose Data Analytics again if I were starting the application process today. It was the perfect course for me because it naturally led into the world of AI as we know it now.
AI has become a huge buzzword over the past couple of years, especially since the introduction of tools like ChatGPT, but artificial intelligence has actually been around for a long time. For me, learning and understanding the fundamentals of data and AI has been crucial for the progression of my career, and I’m incredibly grateful that I chose this path.
I do hope the course has evolved to include even more on AI, because the two fields are so deeply interconnected. Data is at the heart of AI, and having a solid foundation in data analytics makes it much easier to understand how AI works and how to apply it effectively.
What advice would you give to someone at the beginning of their Springboard+ course?
If you’re starting a Springboard+ course, especially if, like me, you don’t have a previous degree and you are going back to education without really knowing how it all works, my biggest piece of advice is: ask questions.
Don’t ever think your question is silly. I can guarantee that at least ten other people in the room have the exact same question but might not have the confidence to speak up. Remember, you’re there to learn. You’ll get so much more out of your course if you ask when you don’t understand something. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s the complete opposite.
Asking questions shows curiosity, courage, and a real desire to learn.
Finally, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It might feel awkward at times, but that willingness to step outside your comfort zone will stand to you so much in the future.
Why was Springboard+ worth the challenge?
Going back to education was the best decision I have ever made in my life. At the time I started my course, I was feeling very unmotivated in my job. I wasn’t learning anything new, and I knew my experience in data was limited. It was only a matter of time before it became redundant. I realised I had to do something, because I was far too young to feel that old.
It was a big undertaking to study while working full time and raising two children, but that year gave me so much, in so many ways, that it quite literally changed the trajectory of my life. I gained confidence I didn’t know was possible. I learned so much that my mind was constantly buzzing with ideas for how to put it all into practice.
I met the most incredible bunch of people, who are still my best friends today. Our paths never would have crossed if not for college, and our friendship means so much to the four of us.
If you’re on the fence about pursuing a college education, my advice is to absolutely go for it. I’m always looking at courses for myself, hoping I’ll have time to go back again in the next few years, because you’ll never regret investing in yourself. Education is always a good idea.
If Deirdre's story has inspired you to pursue your own goals, visit NCI's Springboard+ page to find the course that is right for you.
