Future TalentEd Summer Term 2020 Summer 2020 | Page 8

EMPLOYEE PROFILES
STUDENT RESOURCE
Gatsby Benchmarks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
FROM
ENGLISH LITERATURE
TO...
DATA PROTECTION
ANALYST
Firyal Lodhi explains how studying
English literature led to a law degree and
a cutting-edge role protecting privacy
rights at fintech industry disruptor, Curve.
So, what do you do all day?
It may be a bit of a mystery to many what a data protection analyst
does day to day! In my role at Curve, I have had the incredible
opportunity to work on a range of key data protection projects,
and some legal areas, from the get-go.
I’m accountable for various tasks relating to data protection law,
such as creating company policies and working with the data
protection officer on the GDPR (General Data Protection
Regulation) project, so I spend a lot of the day working very closely
with different departments and with individuals at different levels
of the organisation. Every day brings a new challenge, opportunity
and solution.
What key skills are invaluable to your role?
As you spend a lot of your time with other departments, it’s critical
that your interpersonal skills are honed to get the most out of
your work. You need legal drafting skills for the policies subsequently
created to bridge any departmental gap with GDPR compliance
and attention to detail to ensure policies are accurate (and, of
course, to be as sharp as Harvey Specter in Suits!)
A skill that may be overlooked, but is critical is creativity. Finding
ways to accommodate the needs of the business with the
requirements of the law (particularly those without years of caselaw
precedent!) requires you to find creative solutions that work
both within the confines of the law and for your organisation.
Why did you choose to study English literature?
I wanted to pursue law from a young age, and by studying English,
I was able to develop some of the fundamental skills required in
the legal field, such as attention to detail and creating structured
writing, backed up with evidence for all points made. Writing
coherently and in a cohesive manner, is incredibly important in
my role, as employees across the company read these documents.
By the time it came to studying law at a university, I realised there
were emerging sectors within the profession, such as data
protection, that have the potential for spectacular growth. It gave
me an opportunity to understand the legal industry and be part
of the trailblazers rethinking and creating the pathway for future
legal careers away from the traditional methods.
“By studying English, I was able to
develop some of the fundamental
skills required in the legal field”
What further qualifications would you need for
your role?
A law degree is not necessarily required for the role, but any
additional data protection qualifications would certainly enable
you to excel. I would suggest looking at the Information
Commissioner’s Officer website for in-depth details around GDPR
to gain a better understanding of what to expect when pursuing
a data protection qualification such as the The Certified Information
Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E) by the International
Association of Privacy Professionals.
What qualities help you thrive?
The willingness to facilitate change in a company as required by
data privacy laws and being able to explain the concepts and
relevance of GDPR to people at all levels of the organisation. Most
importantly, wanting to protect fundamental rights is a quality
that ultimately allows you to thrive as that is at the forefront of
every aspect of the role.