Gef’s 30 Under 30 Winners: Q&A with Alexandra Koyfman

Ten categories. Thirty young visionaries making their mark on the Isle of Man. Introducing the all-new #Gef30Under30 winners: the next generation of our island’s leaders.

The Zurich Innovation winners are some of the island’s sharpest young people, making strides in their careers while always prioritising growth and learning.

What is your name and age?

Alexandra Koyfman, age 28.

Job title or role in the community?

Senior Business Analyst at PDMS Limited.

How did you start your career or role in the community?

I was introduced to PDMS through University College Isle of Man for a work placement for my master’s degree. PDMS first tasked me with launching the First Point Community Portal, a community initiative to help the emergency services provide better care to vulnerable people in times of crisis, while also empowering vulnerable people and providing peace of mind to carers. After leading the successful launch and pilot for the FirstPoint as a master’s student, I won an Awards for Excellence Young Achiever of the Year Award in 2018 and, soon after, PDMS offered me a full-time role in the analyst space.

Tell us about your business/industry, is there something interesting about it that most people wouldn’t expect?

Business analysts seek to understand and investigate businesses’ problems and then help solve them, often with technology. Not a lot of people know about this career path outside of the IT sector, but it’s a great role for anyone with natural curiosity and who enjoys solving problems, whether they have a background in IT or not. I was able to transfer the general knowledge and skills I learned in university to start my career. The rest I learned through training courses and experience in the workplace.

Tell us about why you think you won the category you did?

I think I won the award for Innovation because I’m always seeking out ways to improve my knowledge and skills to bring back to my business analysis practice. I’ve also led several workplace seminars on business analysis techniques to share what I’ve learnt. I encourage others to share knowledge through the events I organised for the Business Analyst Network (Isle of Man), where business analysts across organisations were encouraged to share innovative workshop techniques. Additionally, I’m aiming to bring international business analyst initiatives to the Isle of Man, such as BA School Day, where business analysts are encouraged to speak to students about the business analyst role.

Who are your role models, either on-island or off, in your sector or outside of it?

My biggest role model is my dad. He immigrated to the United States from the Soviet Union in his 20s. He had to start his life over in a different country, but he eventually progressed to the role of Senior Project Manager in a large electrical engineering firm. My entire life, he’s encouraged me to always try my hardest and do my best. The work ethic and high standard he modeled for me has translated into how I approach my work as a business analyst.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

I’ve received a lot of great advice in my career. Two pieces that have particularly stuck out are to not be afraid to challenge the status quo and, if you progress in your career, do your part to help the next person do so, too.

What are your plans for the future?

I’ve spent most of my career developing my own skills as a business analyst, which I will continue to do. However, I now want to focus more on helping others grow and develop in the workplace. Outside of work, I am on the senior leadership team for Young Business Analysts (YBA), a volunteer-led worldwide professional network of over 2000 business analysts under the age of 35 and have served as a business mentor for Junior Achievement Isle of Man’s Company Programme. Through both of these voluntary roles and my professional role, I hope to encourage more young people to consider a career in business analysis, as well as empower aspiring and early career business analysts to seek out every opportunity to reach their goals.

What, for you, are the benefits of staying on or moving back to the island for young people under 30?

The Isle of Man is a great place for young people to start a career in technology after high school or university. There are a variety of opportunities to explore different roles such as business analysis, software development, software testing, and many others.

What does being a Gef 30 Under 30 winner mean to you?

I’m honoured to have been named a winner. I moved here 5 years ago and this island has given me a lot of opportunities. Now that I’ve won this award, I want to focus more of my attention on giving back.