Collaborator Interview– Anne-Laure Lemaitre, Internship Data Engineer !

Anne-Laure Lemaitre joined the Sharvy adventure in April 2024, as a Data Engineer intern. Learn more about her and her profession in this interview!

Hello Anne Laure, can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background before joining Sharvy?

Hello, my name is Anne-Laure and I am a data engineering intern at Sharvy, which I joined on April 25! Before this, my academic background was focused on psychology, specifically neuropsychology. This discipline explores the relationship between the brain and behavior, analyzing how neurological pathologies such as strokes or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s affect intellectual functions and individual behaviors.

My interest in research led me to pursue a PhD in neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience which I started in 2015. My doctoral research focused on assessing the recovery of intellectual and behavioral capacities in patients who had undergone awake brain surgery to remove brain tumors. The aim was to understand to what extent these interventions could impact certain intellectual faculties and behaviors or emotions, with the goal of improving their care and quality of life.

In addition to my thesis, I worked as a clinical neuropsychologist in a neurosurgery department for seven years, and as a research engineer and then associate researcher within a research team. This experience has allowed me to develop solid expertise in the field, expertise that I now bring to my role at Sharvy.

What attracted you to the field of data engineering and why did you choose Sharvy for your internship?

My interest in data engineering began during my PhD, through my introduction to programming. To successfully carry out the research projects I was working on, it was necessary to collect and analyze data, program appropriate statistical analyses, and create visualizations to ultimately publish the results in scientific journals. It was this constant immersion in data that piqued my curiosity and gradually led me to become increasingly interested in data in general, and particularly in data engineering. This field particularly attracted me due to its potential and the many possibilities for growth, both in terms of personal skills and varied applications across different sectors.

I decided to take the leap in 2024 and switch to this field by starting an internship with Sharvy in partnership with Diginamic school. I chose Sharvy for several essential reasons: the innovative aspect of their parking management solution, the project around data, and its potential. Sharvy also stands out for the positive impact of its solution on optimizing parking, simplifying the daily lives of users. For me, this reflects the importance of working on a product that provides a tangible benefit every day.

What did you particularly appreciate when you arrived at our company?

Upon my arrival at Sharvy, several aspects particularly struck me and contributed to a very positive integration. First, the warm welcome from the entire team and my manager Sébastien, the technology director. From the very first moments, the friendly and welcoming atmosphere made me feel comfortable, thus facilitating my transition into a new professional environment.

Moreover, I was surprised by the availability of everyone. Regardless of their role or hierarchical level, all colleagues were approachable and ready to help. Finally, the onboarding process was extremely well-structured, allowing me to meet different teams and understand how the company operates as well as the details of the solution we offer. This not only facilitated my understanding of Sharvy’s challenges and goals but also accelerated my ability to effectively contribute to the project.

Can you describe a typical day for you at Sharvy? What are your tasks?

My typical day at Sharvy begins with a simple but essential ritual: I check messages on Teams to stay updated on the latest discussions and catch up on anything I might have missed from the previous day. This helps me start my day well-informed and ready to tackle my tasks.

After this update, I dedicate myself to my subjects. I often start by reviewing the work from the previous day, which allows me to approach problems with fresh eyes and have clear ideas for the day. My days are punctuated by exchanges with the development team, which are especially valuable as I am in the learning phase of my apprenticeship, particularly with Sébastien, Nicolas, and Gauthier, the two R&D developers, as well as Sarah, the second R&D developer intern. I also have regular exchanges with Stéphane and Sébastien to build the Data project. These interactions often include practical advice, brainstorming sessions, and sometimes meetings. Of course, there are also breaks, like the morning coffee break and the lunch break, which is a real moment of conviviality and relaxation at Sharvy.

Regarding my tasks, since I am at the beginning of my internship and working on a “new project,” they are not yet completely defined. The goal is to develop a significant “data” project for Sharvy, which involves a lot of thought about the data infrastructure, the choice of tools to use, and how to structure the project effectively. So far, I have worked on creating reports and visualizations to familiarize myself with the database and understand how to optimize our workflow for future tasks.

As a data engineer, my main responsibilities include designing pipelines to collect, transform, and store data in a way that makes them clean and usable. This facilitates analysis, allowing for the creation of visualizations, dashboards, and reports. Overall, my missions during the internship will include these different stages, which requires a good understanding of the Sharvy solution in order to best grasp the data. My initial tasks are mainly focused on creating reports and dashboards to enable a preliminary analysis of the data and also on cleaning certain data, such as that related to electric charging, to reduce the amount of data stored and make processes more efficient.

How would you describe the atmosphere at Sharvy?

The atmosphere at Sharvy is truly unique and stimulating. It is characterized by an ideal mix of challenge and conviviality, creating a work environment that is both dynamic and warm. At Sharvy, we are constantly encouraged to excel and explore new ideas, which brings an exciting dimension to our daily lives.

This sense of challenge is supported by a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, where every team member is approachable and ready to collaborate. This combination not only fosters strong motivation among us but also enhances the sense of cohesion and mutual support.

For me, working at Sharvy means enjoying a setting where professional challenges are met with a smile, in an environment where good humor prevails!

What do you like about being an apprentice?

What I particularly appreciate about the apprenticeship is the opportunity to be immersed as close as possible to the realities of the field. This allows me to directly confront the daily challenges and specific issues of the data engineer profession.

Being faced with the real challenges of the profession from the start of my career is extremely enriching. It forces me to apply and adapt the theoretical knowledge I acquired during my training in a concrete and immediate way, which accelerates my learning and significantly strengthens my skills.

Moreover, working at Sharvy not only allows me to benefit from the support and advice of colleagues but also enriches my professional experience through a constant exchange of ideas and techniques. The team spirit is very motivating and contributes greatly to my integration and professional development.

Finally, the apprenticeship offers an excellent platform to build skills in a structured and measured way. Each project, each task is an opportunity to learn something new or improve an existing skill.

What has been your most memorable moment?

The most memorable moment for me since I started at Sharvy was definitely my first day. Upon my arrival, a breakfast had been organized by the team to welcome me. It was a really touching gesture, as each team member took the time to introduce themselves and welcome me personally. It wasn’t just a simple hello; there was a real effort to make me feel welcomed and to establish a connection right from the start.

This breakfast allowed me to feel immediately integrated, creating a sense of belonging and reinforcing the idea that I was now part of the Sharvy team! This gesture demonstrated Sharvy’s corporate culture, where importance is placed not only on professional skills but also on human relationships and team cohesion.

This warm start highlighted the friendly atmosphere and mutual support that characterize Sharvy, giving me confidence in my choice of company for my apprenticeship and excitement about contributing to projects with these new colleagues!

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