In our latest edition of Praescient’s Employee Spotlight, we’re calling out another exceptional Analyst – JW Auzenne. As a talented member of the commercial team, he exemplifies our unique approach to analysis, technology integration, and software engineering. JW and I spoke during a telephone interview:
Charlotte: Praescient has recently expanded our business into the commercial space. Some of the services we’re most excited about offering include risk assessment, financial fraud investigation, healthcare analytics, and support to the energy industry. What about our commercial work interests you the most?
JW: For me, the most interesting part about switching to the commercial space has been the expanded flexibility and efficiency that comes with working in this sector as opposed to the government. There seem to be more people who are willing to put in the extra time and we have less bureaucratic hoops to jump through, which has been a nice change of pace.
Fraud investigations play a big part in the commercial work we do. Really, this work is an opportunity for us to bring our expertise into a brand new space. One of the things our clients have been most pleased with is our approach. We approach problems with a fresh point of view and a unique skill set.
C: Before coming to Praescient, you worked with a private security consultancy. How can software tools help analysts understand the variables that can contribute to a threat picture?
J: The amount of variables one must consider are endless. It was refreshing to come to work for Praescient because, in my previous position, we had to use proprietary software that honestly didn’t work very well. We did the best we could with the platform, using it alongside basic office products like Word and Excel. At Praescient, we partner with cutting-edge technology companies whose platforms make everybody’s life a lot easier.
C: What kind of projects do you see yourself working on in the future?
J: I am very interested in continuing other new commercial work. But honestly, I like that I have the flexibility to switch back to the government if that’s where the need is.
As a commercial analyst, JW is working on some of Praescient’s newest and most exciting projects
C: You are one Praescient’s many polyglots, speaking both Spanish and Mandarin (and English). How useful has your grasp of these languages been in your work here at Praescient or in other positions?
J: I haven’t had to really on that so much in my role at Praescient so far, but that was a huge part of my previous job in doing the risk assessments that we talked about a moment ago. I was an analyst covering Latin America, so being able to speak Spanish was a requirement of that position. It’s definitely something that I’m interested in, but it might be getting kind of rusty! Should a situation present itself at Praescient where I could use my language skills it would definitely be something I would be interested in pursuing.
It was also vital to develop an understanding of the cultural differences in the regions I was looking at. Even though all these places have ostensibly the same language, there are nuances throughout the region and throughout the world. Grasping the differences between accents can be tough, so It can be a little bit easier with written language. You build experience and become familiar with the particulars of any country or region the more you study it.
C: I know you’re an avid guitar player – how did you get into that hobby? Ever consider it as a career path?
J: I started playing in college, but I don’t have as much time to play these days as I would like. I still play, but I don’t think I am going to be playing on stage and getting paid for it anytime soon. It’s not really looking like a viable career path for me – I’d really put the “starving” in “starving artist.”
Praescient Analytics is a Veteran-Owned Small Business that delivers training, data integration, platform customization, and embedded analytical services in partnership with leading technology providers. Praescient’s teams of analysts and engineers provide comprehensive solutions to federal and commercial clients engaged in critical defense, law enforcement, intelligence, cyber security, financial, investigative, and legal analytics missions.
Charlotte Stasio is Praescient’s Communications Specialist.