Every professional has their own approach to work. In her role as a data analyst, Sarah Ehinmetan organises her tasks, overcomes challenges, and shares tips that help others succeed. Here’s what she has to say:
Daily Workflow
I begin by reviewing my ongoing projects or datasets and checking for any pending tasks or updates. If it were in a company setting, this would translate into reviewing dashboards, monitoring key metrics, or checking emails/Slack for any data-related requests.
Tools and Technologies
From my experience with real projects, the core tools I rely on are:
Excel → for quick analysis
Power BI -dashboards
SQL for querying data directly from databases.
But I use Excel and Powerbi most often.
Challenges and How I Overcame Them
One of my biggest challenges is procrastination. At times when I see a large dataset or a task that feels overwhelming, I’m tempted to put it off. What helps me is breaking the task into smaller steps, like first exploring the data, then cleaning a few columns, and finally moving to analysis. This way, I keep the momentum going without getting stuck.
Favourite Aspect of My Work
I enjoy building dashboards and telling stories with data. For me, it’s not just about making charts, it’s the process behind them. By the time you design a visualisation, about 80% of the work has already been done: cleaning, structuring, and analysing the data. The dashboard is the reward.
What I love even more is the storytelling aspect, giving the data a voice in a way that people without a technical background can understand. That’s when numbers become meaningful, and you can see decisions being shaped by insights.
Wrapping Up the Day
I like to end my day by reviewing what I accomplished, documenting any insights or challenges, and setting priorities for the following day. This helps me stay organised and avoid starting the next day feeling lost. If I’m working on a project, I make sure my work is saved, and easy to pick up again.
Advice for Aspiring Data Analysts
Start small, be consistent, and stay curious. I won’t lie ooo😂😂😂. Consistency is one of the hardest parts. There will be days when you don’t feel like working, times when you feel stuck, confused, or as though you’re not making progress. Please don’t give up. Those moments are part of the journey, and they’re exactly what help you grow.
Focus on the fundamentals: Excel, Power BI (or another visualisation tool), and SQL. Don’t rush to “know everything.” What really makes a good analyst is not how many tools you’ve mastered, but how well you can ask the right questions and translate data into something useful for others.
Also, practice with real datasets as much as possible. The more you explore real-world data, the faster you’ll build confidence.
And remember: challenges such as messy data or even procrastination are normal. The key is to focus on progress, not perfection.
Finally, build your progress in public. Share what you’re learning and working on. You never know which of your posts, projects, or insights could open doors for you.