Meet Christel…
Christel is the CEO of Quantexa's new Education Partner, Xander Talent. We caught up with her to hear more about Xander Talent and her role as CEO, how Xander is helping diverse talent break into the tech industry, and what the partnership means.
Who are Xander Talent?
We are Quantexa’s first Education Partner! We find and train people from diverse backgrounds and place them with clients who need Quantexa certified engineers. We also work with the Quantexa Academy to support clients and Partners through the Data Engineer Velocity Program and the Xander Scala & Spark Bootcamp.
Our consultants stay with us for up to two years, after which they can transition to the client and become permanent members of the client's Quantexa team.
Xander Talent is a B-Corp, so we are committed to ensuring our consultants represent society and provide equal opportunities to people who may not traditionally consider a tech career.
What is the mission of Xander Talent?
We want to change the way businesses think about and approach talent, including where they recruit from, how they plan, and how they identify the skills needed now and in the future. Our mission is to help think beyond “diversity” to ensure that people feel included in the workplace and that opportunities awarded are equal.
What does the Quantexa partnership mean for Xander Talent?
As a small business, this is a big deal. Showing the market that a company like Quantexa is trusting us is invaluable. Working alongside Quantexa to increase client self-sufficiency, with the help of our consultants and our training programs, will allow us all to grow together.
Molly Hutcheon, our Quantexa Sales Lead and trailblazer, has worked incredibly hard to get us to this stage and continues to do so, driving the partnership forward. Seeing the opportunities and results is a big motivator for the Xander team and shows what we can achieve.
What do you love most about Xander Talent?
Xander Talent was the first in our industry to recognize the importance of prioritizing and supporting people formally. Being the first tech consultancy to certify as a B-Corp two years ago was a big and important commitment.
However, the ultimate highlight is following our consultants from when they start in the Academy, onboard with clients, and then leaving two years later with brand new careers. It is what drives everyone on the team.
What are your main goals as a CEO?
We are ensuring that more people from diverse backgrounds get access to a career in technology. With the rise of AI, we need diversity more than ever—different perspectives to promote, build, and challenge.
And short term – placing our certified Quantexa consultants with clients and seeing them become part of their teams. We need to grow to have an impact!
How would you describe a typical day?
I have yet to have a typical day at Xander, which is partly why I think leading this business is a privilege. Having said that, leading a people business can be intense, as there are many moving parts, so I am trying hard to ensure I have a routine and stick to it.
My day is typically split into three parts:
- Spending time working with our consultants
- Speaking with clients and prospects
- Discovering and discussing what is impacting our business
My schedule is always bookended by spending time with my family and finding time to exercise. As a leader of a people-focused business, I try to role model a healthy work-life balance.
What do you enjoy most in your role as CEO?
The people. Our consultants, the incredible team I am lucky to look after, and the people I meet along the way. Everyone brings a perspective, an idea, or a challenge to solve together.
Can you share a success story about how Quantexa has helped your customers?
We are still early in this journey! So far, though, I’m extremely proud to say we’ve trained more than 30 consultants. As they are starting to approach the end of their two years with Xander Talent, it is a real privilege to see them being placed with clients and within Quantexa as permanent members of teams. This is a testament to our consultants' skills and ambition and the accomplishment of our mission.
In March, Xander also delivered the first international Spark & Scala Bootcamp, with all 12 participants passing the course in the allotted five days.
If you’re interested in expanding your team or training existing employees, please reach out to Molly Hutcheon.
