Driving Data with Purpose: Meet Christian

What makes up Monthio? Data expertise, banking experience, innovative vision, programming and development talent? Yes - but most of all, it’s our team.

We believe that the exceptional talent we see in our team is key to our ability to create advanced data models that fuel user-friendly applications and provide valuable insights to our clients in the financial sector. Attracting the right talent is no simple task - it’s a complex challenge that requires looking beyond conventional profiles and embracing diverse backgrounds.

That's why we’re excited to introduce Christian Simon, one of our key team members whose unique and unconventional journey exemplifies what makes Monthio special.

Let’s start with today

In his current role at Monthio, Christian is driving the company’s data vision - building a foundation that transforms data into insight and fuels smarter decisions across the company. His path to mastering data has been far from conventional, involving a mix of roles in pensions, scientific consultancy, vaccine development, and a PhD. While his background may seem diverse, Christian’s skills and cultural fit align perfectly with Monthio’s values. To understand how Christian’s journey shaped his role at Monthio, let’s take a step back.

From Academia to Data Science Leadership

Christian’s career began in academia, studying Biotechnology at DTU before earning a Master’s in Systems Biology and Bioinformatics. He earned a PhD and completed postdoctoral research at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research at Copenhagen University, where he worked on innovative health data analysis, including research related to diabetes trajectories and treatment. If you’re confused about what this has in common with Monthio’s data and credit modelling, you’re excused - the answers will become clear further down!

Christian recalls that academia was highly competitive, with a constant focus on cutting-edge research. What made it even tougher was knowing that your closest peers were also your biggest rivals for funding and publications. So, after years in this field, Christian found himself open to trying something else.

"I enjoyed the research, but the environment was tough and inefficient. For instance, I became hesitant in sparring with colleagues in fear of them snatching my ideas, or taking credit for my research. Pressure and competition defined my daily work life, often at the expense of trust and collaboration. I wanted something different," Christian says.

He transitioned to a large pension company, where he deepened his experience with automation and learned a lot about finance relating to pension and health insurance products. Despite the surprisingly many similarities to his academic work, he also found that the commercial setting allowed for more data-driven decision-making and collaborative problem-solving. He realised that aiming for perfection is not always a realistic business goal - speed in delivery and execution are likewise important targets.

It was Monthio that ultimately captured his interest. A former colleague introduced him to the team, and Christian was impressed by Monthio's flat hierarchy, openness to new technologies, and its 'We can' attitude. In October 2022, Christian joined Monthio as the company’s first Lead Data Scientist, bringing his expertise in this particular field and a fresh perspective to the team.

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A Culture of Collaboration and Innovation

One of the key reasons Christian thrives at Monthio is the company’s supportive and collaborative culture. “Everyone is friendly, open, and welcoming. There’s a great mix of people, technical experts in different fields, and people with highly diverse interests,” Christian explains. "Also, we spend time together outside of work, and that positive, casual atmosphere carries over into our professional interactions. It makes collaboration easy and productive."

Christian particularly values Monthio’s approach to innovation and its open, supportive environment. The team encourages experimentation and allows people to fail fast, learn, and iterate, which helps foster an environment where new ideas can thrive.

“It’s about lifting each other up,” Christian says. “I was hired as a Data Scientist, but I quickly gained the trust of my team and was given the chance to drive initiatives and lead a team.”

A Unique Skill Set Applied to Finance

Coming from a scientific and healthcare background, Christian’s transition to the finance sector was a challenge - but one he was ready for. While working with noisy biological data in his previous roles, he found that finance offered cleaner, more structured data, which posed its own set of challenges and opportunities.

“Data in finance is much more fact-based compared to biology, where we often deal with noisy data,” Christian notes. “I brought my scientific approach to data analysis, and I saw the value of applying these methods in the financial space. The structured approach we’ve developed here at Monthio has been a huge advantage as we’re expanding internationally."

Christian has been instrumental in not only shaping Monthio’s data-driven mindset but also streamlining our data management processes. His attention to detail and ability to bring clarity to complex data sets has helped improve the accuracy and the speed of the team’s outputs.

Empowered to Innovate and Lead

Since joining Monthio, Christian’s role has expanded beyond technical aspects of data science to encompass leadership responsibilities. Today, he spends much of his time guiding his team and other colleagues and supporting their development. His transition from specialist to leader is something that Christian has embraced with enthusiasm, further demonstrating his commitment to Monthio’s growth and success.

“Management has become a bigger part of my job than I expected,” he says. “I’ve stepped back from writing code, and now I focus on coaching my team and ensuring they have everything they need to succeed.”

What Makes Monthio Unique

Monthio’s innovative approach and team-first mentality are the core values that have shaped Christian’s experience here. He believes that Monthio’s ability to foster collaboration and create room for new ideas is what sets the company apart from others in the industry.

“Monthio’s flat structure allows people to take ownership of their own work, and the culture encourages everyone to bring their ideas to the table,” Christian says. “There’s a huge emphasis on learning and growing, and the people here are genuinely curious and competent. It’s a place where you’re trusted and empowered to do your best work.”

Christian Simon’s journey to Monthio highlights how a blend of specialised expertise and a passion for collaboration drives meaningful impact. His transition from academia to the corporate world, his leadership at Monthio, and his unique approach to data science are just a few reasons why he’s such a valuable member of the team.

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Thank you, Christian, for your contributions and for being an integral part of Monthio’s success!