Emma Louise Bødker Espersen is a Senior Architect at Copenhagen Data. She graduated with a BSc in Physics & Mathematics from Aalborg University and a MSc in Astronomy & Astrophysics from DARK; Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen.
Please give a description of the work you do in your current position.
I am working as a Senior Architect at Copenhagen Data, which is a data and cloud consulting firm. My job activities span everything from cloud infrastructure and security, data warehousing, data modeling, API integrations, and data science. In essence, I work with data; I help clients orchestrate- and derive value from their data, using state-of-the-art technologies, through architecting and implementing solutions customized to their business needs.
What motivated you to study physics or engineering in the first place?
I have always been fascinated by astronomy – I got my first book on the Solar system at 4 years old. The long starry nights from my time as a girl scout further fuelled my curiosity for the world – and the Universe – we live in. When I enrolled in HTX, I had the coolest physics teacher who encouraged me to pursue a career in physics, which was an excellent choice for me, and I then started my BSc in physics at Aalborg University.
What made you decide to pursue a career in the private industry?
I finished my MSc during Covid-19. Though my original plan was to pursue a PhD (I already had a contract ready at Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg), I had a feeling that academia was not the way to go for me – at least not at this point in my life. I then looked into what job offerings were suitable for me, my capabilities, and my personality, and I landed in the consulting industry. This field is a fast-paced environment with great learning possibilities that not only allow for but encourage, creative thinking in combination with problem-solving skills.
How do you use the skills you learned as a physicist or engineer in your work?
My solid background in math, statistics, and data analytics are all competencies I utilize (almost) daily. Moreover, the methodology and solid problem solving skills, along with a logical, data-oriented outlook are strong forces in this area. Additionally, the technical capabilities, in particular in relation to coding skills, are also very useful.
What does being a physicist mean to you?
For me, physics teaches you to form the bond between curiosity and analytics; the combination of which allows you to apply theory to practical problems, and find pragmatic solutions to the issues at hand.
What advice would you give to young people (in particular women and minorities) with a background in physics who would like to pursue a career in the private industry?
Don’t let the gender gap scare you, and don’t fear the corporate environment. I was a bit hesitant at first, as I feared that there would be no space for my love for analytics and diving deep into subjects. Time and time again, I have seen how this is not the case; in fact, it is very interesting and fulfilling to work with people of a very different (i.e., non-science) background. I feel that I can both utilize my skills and learn more about how I can apply them in other, more practical scenarios while drawing from the capabilities of my colleagues.
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