Meet the Team Behind the Data: Susanne W. Hagen

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Susanne W. Hagen - Data Vendor Manager

photo: Susanne W. Hagen, Unacast's Data Vendor Manager.

Join us as we continue to get to know the Unacast team behind the data and insights. Today we chat with Susanne W. Hagen, Unacast's Data Vendor Manager.

Talk about your background and how you ended up at Unacast. 

I graduated from NTNU as MSc in Physics back in 2008, and continued my journey with an MBA from Hawaii Pacific University. The next 8 years, I worked with seismic processing in CGG, as a project manager. Although fulfilling and technically challenging, the oil industry has not really been blooming in a long time. So when I got the opportunity to go to Florida for a year, with my two kids and supporting my partner in starting up a US office for his company, I did just that. The moment I decided to leave CGG, I started preparing for a change of industries. I signed up for a Python class at NTNU, did some online courses, and started thinking about what I wanted to do when I grew up. My experience from CGG involved some programming, big data and analytics, making it a natural transition to IT. From when I first heard about Unacast, I knew this would be my dream company to work for, and the longer into the interview process I got, I was sitting in other interviews thinking about how much I wanted the job in Unacast. Easy choice!

Talk about the things about your work that interest you most.
What I enjoy the most is the continuous opportunity to learn new things, and for my role in particular, being in the intersection between tech and business. I like the complexity of our products and seemingly endless exciting use cases. Coming from a rigid international company with (at some point) 10 000 employees, it feels liberating to work in such a small and dynamic environment rapidly adjusting to the market demands.

Tell us about a project you are especially proud of!
I am especially proud of Unacast's position when it comes to privacy, always being one step ahead of the regulations. On my first day working with Unacast, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) came into effect, protecting the end user's rights when it comes to personal information. The law is applicable to California residents - Unacast applies these regulations to all of the US. I've had the pleasure of improving our internal system to ensure all our supply partners comply with all applicable regulations, building confidence that we are operating in the users' best interest, and making internal reviews easier to follow up.

Talk about the team and the culture -- what’s different about Unacast?
The people. Everyone is so passionate about their work and keeps impressing me every day. With a common wish for Unacast to succeed, it seems nothing is impossible, and products are developed in record time. The culture is well aligned with all three UNA values. Have fun, seriously!

What do you do in your spare time?
Most of my spare time I spend with my kids and family, and extended family/friends. I play volleyball and enjoy traveling although 2020 has not really been the best year for this.

What is your favorite tech at the moment?
VTVL rockets. And as I'm quite new to the industry, the power and capabilities of a cloud based framework still impresses me.


Interested in joining the Unacast team? Check out our open positions: https://careers.unacast.com/

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover how analyzing real-world movement patterns can reveal valuable trends in customer behavior, optimize business operations, and enhance strategic decision-making.

What is site selection and why is it important?

Site selection is the strategic process by which businesses identify, evaluate, and choose optimal locations for their operations. This process is paramount as the location of a business directly influences factors such as accessibility, visibility, profitability, and market longevity. For retailers, the right site can mean higher customer footfall and increased sales. In real estate, a well-selected site can promise lucrative returns on investment and tenant stability. Financial service firms leverage site selection to position their branches or ATMs in high-demand areas. Essentially, site selection plays a pivotal role in ensuring the success and growth of a business by aligning its physical presence with market opportunities and demands.

How does location intelligence enhance site selection?

Location intelligence refers to the harnessing of geospatial data to derive actionable insights, which can significantly enhance the site selection process. By analyzing data like consumer demographics, foot traffic patterns, competitor locations, trade area data, and more, businesses can make more informed decisions about where to establish or expand their operations. Location intelligence allows for a deeper understanding of market dynamics, revealing hidden opportunities or potential pitfalls. For instance, retailers can identify gaps in the market, real estate professionals can forecast property value trends, and financial service providers can assess areas with high customer demand. Advanced tools, like those offered by Unacast, further refine these insights by leveraging AI and machine learning, enabling more precise and timely decision-making.

What challenges do businesses face in the site selection process?

Unacast provides invaluable support to businesses during the site selection process through its advanced location data and analytics software, all powered and refined by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies. The company offers a suite of products designed to deliver accurate, actionable, and comprehensive location intelligence. This data proves crucial for businesses looking to understand consumer behavior, analyze traffic patterns, evaluate competitor locations, and much more. With Unacast’s robust tools, businesses in retail, real estate, and financial services can derive insightful information necessary for making strategic, informed site selection decisions. The platform not only provides reliable data but also ensures it is readily actionable for businesses, whether they are looking to open a new store, invest in property, or expand their financial services to new locations.

What types of location data are crucial for informed site selection?

Demographic data offers insights into the age, income, and lifestyle of people in a particular area, helping businesses understand their potential customer base. Foot traffic data provides information on the number of people visiting a location, which is crucial for retailers to estimate the store's potential popularity and for real estate professionals to assess an area's vibrancy and demand. Geographic Information System (GIS) data helps in visualizing and analyzing geographical details, supporting companies in identifying accessible and strategically located sites. Understanding the proximity to competitors, accessibility, and the socio-economic profile of the surrounding areas is also vital. Unacast’s platform aggregates and analyzes these various data types, providing a holistic view that significantly empowers businesses in their site selection endeavors.

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