I was born in Aarhus, Denmark but I finished my high school studies in Switzerland before coming to Madrid for my bachelor's degree. Before Switzerland, I also lived in Ukraine, Hungary and the US.
I’m currently working in Barcelona on the European data platform development team at PepsiCo. I joined the company right after graduating from the first Bachelor in Business & Data Analytics class in the summer of 2022.
Initially, I joined to pursue my Bachelor in Behavior & Social Sciences. However, after sharing first-year classes with students from the Bachelor in Business & Data Analytics for one semester, I decided I was more inspired by the latter and the potential that the topics offered me. The program gave me a chance to understand some of the state-of-the-art techniques for leveraging data—like AI and ML—and my affinity for technology allowed me to passionately learn about these topics.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ ABOUT DATA PROTECTION?
“Data protection” has become quite the buzzword in the modern world. Most of us have heard the term and tightened up the privacy settings on our social media pages, but what is data protection´s role in business and legislation? Karl Juhl explained his experience with data protection legislation, his personal investment in this field and why it is so crucial today.
THE PROJECT
Juhl’s passion and expertise lie in global data protection legislation. His Capstone Project tackled the technicalities of data protection legislation worldwide—an expansive topic inspired by his studies on data in business and the rapid advancements of AI and analytics. For Juhl, alongside the digitization of the world and people, these transformations mean that we are only just getting to know what our personal data is and what our rights are. But at the same time, businesses around the globe are doing their best to take advantage of people´s data in order to create value for their bottom line.
After taking a vested interest in the different approaches to legislating data protection, Juhl decided to focus his project on the comparison of European, Chinese and American data protection laws. He documented in depth each country’s legal approach and created a visual resource for each region.
Juhl graciously shared a few astute takeaways he gained throughout his project. From a geo-political dimension, he noted that the research provided him with a strong understanding of the importance of data ethics, following those respective rules and what the limitations mean for commercial data analytics and profiling. However, he was surprised by how few training resources exist for business leaders, who should consider data protection a core principle.
A STEP INTO THE FUTURE OF DATA REGULATION
As Juhl is both industrious and perceptive, he saw this need and took action. He recognized that his 60-plus-page paper structuring different legal approaches to data protection is not very useful for most people, so he created beginner-friendly infographics to inform them of the key points. Juhl’s work served to inform both regular citizens and those in the relevant industry how to adhere to the respective regulations. It also provided him with insight into the future development of data regulation.Juhl shared that the main takeaway from his project was the sheer prevalence of data protection in the business world. His conclusion? “In the past decade, data protection has been introduced by governments in different ways, but one thing is for sure—data protection is here to stay. There is a great need for experts to consult companies based on the current status of data protection laws and how to ensure the business remains compliant.”
WHAT ADVICE WOULD JUHL GIVE FELLOW IE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS?
He implored students of the Bachelor in Data & Business Analytics to get to know their professors, as most have jobs in the field apart from teaching. A simple conversation can develop into an invaluable relationship that can benefit students in the long term.Juhl also encouraged them to actively engage in work related to the program, even if it might not be in line with the career they imagine for their future. “The Bachelor in Data & Business Analytics does a great job at offering the breadth of concepts that benefit various data science disciplines—from data management, governance, and project management to network science, data visualization and ML applications.”Noting that the future is fluid, he adds, “In reality, the ideas you pick up in all of the other courses will only help you later, as all of these pieces belong to the same puzzle that makes up data science.” Juhl shared that at his current job at PepsiCo, the majority of the work he does is related to data modeling. “I’m glad I paid equal attention in my databases course at IE University,” he said.Lastly, Juhl encourages students to document the fully completed projects they have done and create a portfolio that can display their abilities. Furthermore, they can take part in datathon competitions as well to showcase both their passion for analytics and their ability to work in a team. “Doing these things will give a great boost to your candidate profile when you enter the job market.”Congratulations to Karl Juhl and all of his fellow graduates from the Bachelor in Data & Business Analytics program. His passion for data protection legislation and technology will certainly take him far.
“In the past decade, [data protection] has been introduced by governments in different ways, but one thing is for sure—data protection is here to stay.”