From Data to DEI: A Story of Strategy, Identity and Impact

A path shaped by curiosity… and ADHD

Elliot's story starts with a twist of circumstances and a resilient spirit. "I graduated with a deep understanding of why I couldn’t find a job," they reflect, having entered a tough job market in 2009 with an economics degree.

Along the way, Elliot was also learning how to navigate life with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) — a neurodivergent condition that affects focus, impulsivity and energy levels. Though they weren’t diagnosed until later, ADHD played a significant role in shaping the way they approached decisions, work and change.

That resourcefulness carried Elliot through many roles before they were even aware of how deeply ADHD was influencing their decisions. They describe how their brain constantly sought novelty and avoided repetitive tasks, which made conventional career planning difficult. "With the benefit of hindsight, I can see that having ADHD has really shaped my career in ways I didn’t expect. Looking back now, I go, 'Oh yeah, that tracks.'" The struggle to fit into rigid roles often pushed them to explore more dynamic environments where variety was at the core — like consultancy.

Finding a calling in consultancy

But the road to consultancy was hardly direct. After moving to London, Elliot's first role was in recruitment. "I was truly terrible at recruitment, but I learned so much about the digital industry, what I was good at, what roles existed." Afterward, they moved into marketing roles where they began to refine their skills and explore more creative and strategic work.

That foundational exposure sparked a desire to deepen their skills and seek out agency roles that offered them the chance to work on many different projects.

This mindset brought them to Valtech (then AmazeRealise) in 2018, and Elliot found themselves repeatedly drawn into projects that involved data. They began collaborating closely with the data team, gradually building fluency in the tools and frameworks.

Back then, we didn’t really have 'data strategy' as a function, it was just my passion that helped carve out the role.

Over time, their consistent curiosity and willingness to cross-train led to a hybrid role, and eventually into a fully defined position as a data strategist. Now, they’re part of a growing team of peers, shaping the discipline across Valtech.

Unbreakable pride

It’s Pride Month, and this year it carries added weight as solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ communities matters more than ever. Elliot reflects what it means to show up and stand firm against regressive change. "This year feels especially raw. I’m an out, non-binary trans person. I came out in 2017, started medical transition in 2019, and have been out the whole time since then. But now, for the first time in my lifetime, my rights are being taken away."

Their fears are both personal and systemic. "There are travel advisories. I can’t safely visit family in the U.S. anymore." The concern doesn’t stop at international borders. In the UK, where Elliot is a citizen, they point to a recent UK Supreme Court decision which, if turned into legislation, could significantly change human rights protections for trans and non-binary people. “The ruling sets out to define ‘sex’ to mean ‘biological sex at birth’ for the purpose of applying the Equality Act 2010 protections. This ruling has caused some confusion around the access to single sex spaces.

For Elliot, there are real social consequences from these ongoing legal changes, “For example, the EHRC’s interim guidance suggests that in some circumstances, it would be appropriate to ban people like me from both men’s and women’s single sex spaces, which would leave us with no options.”

There are multiple ongoing legal challenges to the EHRC guidance, and the media coverage of the situation has led to a lot of anxiety for Elliot, but they remain steadfast — “You can’t erase me. I refuse to go quietly. I’m here. I will continue to be out, to be trans. I don’t need permission to exist and this will not break me.”

Safe to be human

Activism has long been part of Elliot’s role at Valtech. Since 2019, they’ve helped build UK DEI structures from the ground up.

“I have helped co-author key initiatives, across areas such as transitioning-at-work policies and benefits. This work, which focused and was designed for trans people, ended up benefiting wider groups, in particular, those with a chronic illness or post-surgery recovery.”

Elliot has also led global affinity groups for LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent employees, always aiming to create space and momentum for inclusive change.

Inclusion in workplaces used to focus a lot on pronouns. For me, it’s now about psychological safety. When someone gets my pronouns wrong, I want to trust they didn’t mean harm and they should trust I won’t derail the conversation over it. We all make mistakes, and I want to help create a culture of support, growth and understanding where it’s safe to learn from them.

That culture, Elliot says, is something they’ve found at Valtech: a place where it’s safe to be human.

People-powered, client-focused

This culture of care extends to client relationships. "In many consultancies, it’s all about sales making the account as big as possible, selling the most services. That’s not how I like to work. I want to get it right for the client. I don’t think of myself as working for Valtech all the time rather I think of myself as working for the client.”

And for Elliot, Valtech isn’t just a workplace; it’s a community.

"What’s kept me here are the people. That sounds cheesy, but it’s true. I know that when I’m on a project, I’m working with people who are passionate not just about delivery but about getting it right."

That client-first mindset pairs naturally with Elliot’s love for strategy. "My job is to solve problems, bringing the client with me on that journey, as a team."

Building the next path

Elliot has always embraced the unfamiliar. As data strategy continues to evolve, they’re exploring how to grow within it. Through Valtech’s Elevate program, they’ve paired with a mentor from another department to help shape what comes next.

But uncertainty doesn’t feel like a setback. It’s the next opportunity. "That’s been the theme of my career: follow the path until it stops, then grab a shovel and keep digging."

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