Interview conducted by Alexandra Wiltshire, Pricing & Underwriting Talent Partner at Direct Line

Throughout her career, Julie Ballard has turned curiosity into impact, from automating entire pricing workflows to helping shape how data science is used in underwriting. We sat down with her to talk about her journey, the challenges she’s faced, and her advice for anyone looking to follow a similar path.

Born and raised in Switzerland, Julie spent years immersed in mathematics, earning her PhD in 2016, but after graduating, she found herself at a crossroads. With the help of a career coach, she began exploring new paths and soon discovered data science, a field that perfectly combined her love of problem solving and programming.

While attending an extra schooling class, Julie received a life changing call: a job offer from BGL in the UK. Three weeks later, she packed her bags, moved to Peterborough, and began a brand new chapter.

Fast forward to 2021, Julie joined Direct Line Group as part of the Pricing & Underwriting chapter and has been a key member ever since, helping to drive innovation and shape how we do things differently.

The rest, as they say, is history…

I sat down with Julie for a quick Q&A to find out what it takes to get a career off the ground as a woman in the world of P&U.

What first got you interested in data science, and how did that lead you into pricing and underwriting?

Throughout my maths studies, I always dreaded the question: “But how will you use this in real life?” That’s actually part of what drew me to data science.

And then there was the coding — I’ve always loved programming in languages like C and Java. The deeper I got into data science and the kinds of investigations you can do with data, the more I fell in love with it. It feels like being a detective solving mysteries — except my cases are a lot less bloody.

Looking back, what have been some of the biggest turning points or challenges in your career so far?

I can think of three major turning points in my journey.

First, I had to learn data science from scratch after completing my PhD. I loved the challenge, but it was a huge undertaking right after finishing such an intense research project.

Second, getting my first job in the UK was a breakthrough — I had spent nearly a year trying to find a role in Switzerland, but no one was giving me a chance. I still thank my lucky stars for the opportunity I was given all those years ago.

And third, discovering that data science in Python offered so much more than what I had previously experienced in R was eye-opening. I had to relearn a whole language quickly, but it opened up a new world of possibilities.

Can you share a project or moment you’re particularly proud of where your work made a real difference?

One of my very first projects as a Data Analyst was to understand the pricing methods used by the team I had just joined. At the time, everything was done in Excel, with lots of manual copy-pasting (and errors).

After two weeks of asking “why?” at every turn, I proposed to my manager that we automate the entire process using R. He took a chance on me — and it paid off.

I transformed a three-week manual workflow into a ten-minute automated pipeline, eliminating copy-paste errors entirely. That simple automation became the foundation for the entire pricing pipeline. It’s something that would never have worked if we’d stayed in Excel.

What’s it been like being a woman working in pricing and underwriting?

As a woman working in Pricing & Underwriting, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with some truly amazing people over the years — including other women.

Of course, there were moments when I felt unheard, especially when a comment I made was ignored until a male colleague said the same thing and suddenly it was accepted. But I’ve learned not to take it personally. It’s okay to say “I told you so” — just don’t let it make you feel like the whole world is against you.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was: “No one woke up this morning with the goal of annoying you.” I live by that. Stand your ground — don’t let people walk all over you — but there’s no need to go to war over every disagreement. Your manager and support networks are there to help. Just be yourself.

What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out and wants to combine data, analytics, and business thinking in their career?

We live in a world where AI can support you in so many ways — from researching a company you’re applying to, to preparing for interviews, improving your coding skills, or deepening your industry knowledge. There’s so much you can learn just by Googling or asking AI. Use these tools.

And most importantly, learn to ask why. Why is that model behaving the way it does? Too often, new analysts say, “The model said so.” But that’s not an answer. Let your inner Sherlock Holmes out. Investigate. Be curious. That’s where real insight begins.

Interested in joining our Pricing & Underwriting team?
We’re always looking for curious minds, problem solvers, and data enthusiasts who want to make a real impact. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, there’s a place for you at Direct Line.

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