Culture & the Future of Work

Xpeople Stories: Trine - Solution Specialist

Written by TimeXtender | December 6, 2024

"My name is Trine Stuhr. I'm 32 years old and live in Silkeborg, Denmark, with my boyfriend Emil and our dog Charlie. When I'm not working, you'll often find me running. I've completed several half-marathons and even a full marathon a few years ago. These days, I mostly run with Charlie. He’s full of energy, but our runs together are a bit shorter than those marathon days! I also love to travel, and my next big adventure is a three-week trip to Peru. I’ll kick off the new year in Lima and then explore the country with Emil.

 

1. What sparked your interest in data, and how did you get started?

My journey into the world of data began at my previous job at Bestseller, a large Danish fashion company. I worked as an analyst in the IT planning department, where we built a demand and forecast application for all demand planners across the different brands. This project generated a wealth of data that was perfect for analytics. We created a data cube in collaboration with the BI team, applying business logic to make sense of the data. However, most of the technical work was code-heavy, and I often found it challenging to translate business needs into solutions quickly.

When I came across TimeXtender, I was amazed to discover a product that could manage the entire data estate without needing to write code. It felt like it was made for people like me—those who understand the business side of data but aren't coding experts. I joined TimeXtender 3.5 years ago as a BI Analyst, became the BI Lead, and eventually transitioned into my current role as a Solution Specialist, helping our partners and customers make the most of our solution.

 

2. What does a typical workday in your role look like?

My workday is always varied, which I love. It ranges from diving deep into technical cases with partners and customers to staying on top of the latest trends and technologies, such as Microsoft Fabric. I spend time in educational activities, ensuring I'm up to speed on new advancements, and I often travel to conferences, workshops, and events where I showcase and demo our product. A big part of my role is about evangelizing TimeXtender, sharing my story, and demonstrating how low-code automation can streamline data management. And of course, I work closely with our partners to ensure mutual success in delivering the best solutions to our customers.

 

3. What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?

I find it incredibly rewarding to see the impact of our product on both partners and customers. When a partner gets excited about what TimeXtender can do or when a customer realizes how much time they can save by automating tedious data tasks, it’s fulfilling. I also love the collaborative nature of my work—building strong, mutually beneficial relationships with our partners is a key highlight. It’s about working together to find the best ways to make our customers successful and happy.

 

4. Can you walk us through a project or task that you found particularly challenging or exciting?

One of the most exciting and challenging projects I’ve worked on—and continue to work on—is staying up to speed with Microsoft Fabric. It has gained huge attraction in most markets, and understanding how TimeXtender integrates with it is crucial for our customers. This has been and are involving a deep dive into its technical capabilities, testing various use cases, and understanding how our solution can best complement Fabric's features. It's a constant learning process, but It’s the type of challenge that keeps me engaged and sharpens my skills, and I enjoy turning that knowledge into value for our customers.

 

5. How do you stay up to date with the trends and skills needed for your role?

Besides attending, and representing, TimeXtender at various dataevents, I actively connect with and follow data enthusiasts on LinkedIn both in Denmark and internationally. I also rely on YouTube for deep dives into new topics— I love the channels like 'Guy in a Cube' and latest 'Data Ascend' by Maarthe Moengen, I think she is a real data power woman. When I find something of interest, I immerse myself in tutorials and educational content to try to keep up with the greatest and latest advancements. Finally I am really lucky to be surrounded by highly skilled people, both internally at TimeXtender, and at my partners, so they help me stay on top of what is demanded in the market and where I should put my focus. 

 

6. What personal traits do you believe have helped you succeed in your role?

I believe being humble has been a key trait in my career. For me, it’s about being open to learning and recognizing that no one can know it all, especially in the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of data. At the same time, I think it’s important to be bold—dare to speak up, put yourself out there, and fight for opportunities. It’s a balance of trusting that you know enough to make a difference while staying humble and curious to keep growing.

 

7. How are you currently using AI in your role, if at all?

AI has become an essential part of my daily work. I rely on ChatGPT and Perplexity for brainstorming, creating presentations, generating use case examples, and even for coding when necessary. While I’m all in for low-code solutions like TimeXtender, there are still situations that require custom code, as for instance when working in TimeXtender (it also allows for that flexibility) and when testing other more code heavy based technologies, and ChatGPT helps bridge that gap. Beyond that, I use AI video applications to quickly create product videos and recordings, which makes it much easier to share updates and insights with customers and partners. It’s like having a creative assistant on hand whenever I need it, speeding up many of my tasks.

 

8. How do you envision AI transforming your role or the industry in the coming year?

AI is all about driving greater automation, efficiency, and precision in data management. Earlier this year I joined the Microsoft LEAP in Seattle and when I read this question I couldn't help think about a comment I heard at one of the presentations - AI will not replace any developers, but AI will replace developers that are not using AI. 

For a product like TimeXtender, this means even more opportunities to automate data integration, cleansing, and preparation tasks, freeing up time for more strategic work. But as AI becomes more advanced, it also places a spotlight on the importance of reliable, clean, and high-quality data. To successfully build AI models and machine learning applications, you need a solid data foundation. That’s where TimeXtender fits in perfectly—helping businesses streamline their data processes and ensure they have the right and high quality data in place to power their AI ambitions.

 

9. What advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing a similar role?

Don't be intimidated by the technical aspects of the data field. I initially wanted to pursue a Master's in Business Intelligence but was scared off by the focus on statistics and mathematics. I eventually realized there’s room in this industry for people with a strong business perspective, especially with tools like TimeXtender that make data more accessible through low-code solutions. While hardcore data scientists are essential and will for sure continue to be, you don’t have to be one to make a big impact. And with AI advancing so rapidly, we all need to leverage it to boost our efficiency. Explore the low-code options out there—they can empower you to drive data transformation in your organization."

 

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