Meet Mark Ho, Senior Data Analytics Consultant at Allstate Northern Ireland. Since joining as an intern back in 2021, Mark has built a career in People Analytics, using data to help improve the everyday experience of employees. We caught up with him to find out more.
What does your typical day look like?
I spend my days exploring employee data and figuring out what the numbers are really telling us. Whether it's hiring, retention, engagement or career progression, I use tools like SQL, Python and Power BI to uncover patterns, answer workforce challenges and help leaders make better decisions. What I enjoy most is connecting the dots across the employee lifecycle, uncovering the human stories behind the data, and using those insights to ultimately improve the employee experience.
What are you currently working on?
Right now, I’m working on a project focused on the experience and career progression of our early career talent, including interns, placements and graduates. By analysing workforce data, we're looking to better understand what helps people succeed, where challenges may exist, and how we can continue improving our early-career programmes. The goal is to use data-driven insights to create an even stronger experience for employees at the start of their careers and help them build long-term success at Allstate.
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What inspired you to join this company in particular?
I joined Allstate in 2021 as a Business Analytics Consultant Intern within Allstate's Data, Discovery and Decision Science organisation. What attracted me to Allstate was the opportunity to work for a global organisation that makes a real difference for millions of people when they need it most. From day one, I was trusted with real responsibility, and I've been fortunate to have brilliant mentors who have guided and challenged me along the way. The opportunities I've had across different teams and projects have broadened my perspective and helped shape the direction of my career.
Did you always want to work in this industry (tech)?
Not really. Like a lot of people, I wasn't completely sure what I wanted to do. I tended to follow subjects I enjoyed and say yes to opportunities as they came along. After finishing my degree, I realised many of the jobs that interested me involved coding and data modelling skills, which led me to complete a master's degree in Business Analytics at Queen's. That opened the door to an internship at Allstate, and over time I've built experience across a range of analytics roles. Today, I work in People Analytics, which I find particularly interesting because it combines data with understanding the people and experiences behind it.
What's your favourite part about your work?
I enjoy the process of taking lots of disconnected pieces of information and gradually turning them into a clear story. Data can tell you what's happening but understanding why is often the more interesting challenge. It's especially rewarding when those insights help leaders make decisions that improve the experience of employees.
What would you say to other people considering a job in this industry (tech)?
Technology is a great industry to be in because it's constantly evolving. You don't need to know everything from day one. In fact, learning is part of the job. The skills you develop are highly transferable and can open doors across a wide range of industries and roles. If you're naturally curious, enjoy solving problems and like learning new things, it's a really rewarding field to be part of.
How do you see this technology impacting our lives?
Technology is already part of everyday life, and its impact will only continue to grow. Many organisations have used technology and data to better serve customers and improve business performance, and I think we're now starting to unlock the same potential for supporting employees. That's one of the things I find most exciting about People Analytics, using data and technology to help build workplaces where people can thrive.
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Who inspired you to work in this field?
I wouldn't say there was one person who inspired me to work in this field. It was more a gradual progression of things I enjoyed. I've always liked computers, numbers and figuring things out, which led me towards Excel and data analysis. As I got more interested, I started picking up tools like SQL, R, Python, Tableau and Power BI. What kept me interested wasn't learning the tools themselves but being able to use them to answer questions and understand why things were happening. Over time, that interest turned into a career in data analytics.
What do you consider to be the most important tech innovation or development in recent years?
Easily the widespread adoption of AI in everyday life, both personally and at work. What fascinates me most is how quickly it has become part of normal life. I've probably used it more times to shorten these answers than I'd like to admit!
What tech gadget could you not live without?
Noise-cancelling headphones. Game changer for travelling!
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