A journey in Publishing with Ingunn Jones

Ingunn Jones is the Head of Data & Integration at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. She is responsible for a technical team that curates datasets for a number of purposes, such as customer analytics, financial modelling or quality control of exam results. The role also involves developing integration solutions that allow customer facing platforms or websites to retrieve data e.g., about the books we publish.

To celebrate Work in Publishing week we asked Ingunn some questions about her journey in the publishing industry.

Hello! First up can you tell us a little bit about your current role at Cambridge University Press & Assessment? What does your usual day look like?

A normal day has a number of meetings with colleagues both in Cambridge and in other parts of the world. Most meetings are about new insights that we would like to get from data, such as “how could we understand more about the authors that submit open access articles for peer review” or “how many learners are we reaching with our learning and assessment products and services”. I also spend time quietly analysing data myself, to build up an understanding of various aspects of the business.

How did you get into publishing and how would you describe your journey to your current role?

As a child I wanted to be an author, and as a student I had a part time job managing the library for a research foundation. It was great to have access to so many books and journals, and the team I worked for were constantly looking for new and relevant material. Since then, I’ve had a squiggly career and worked in public sector, consulting and retail, before I joined Cambridge University Press & Assessment. I was drawn towards the reputable brand, and also quite curious about how publishing would be changing in the digital age.

As someone working with data and insight, I enjoy the intellectual curiosity of the people working in this industry. I also appreciate the attention to detail and visual design; these are things publishing have in common with my profession.

How would you describe the publishing industry and what do you enjoy most about working in publishing?

The publishing industry is in some ways steeped in tradition; and at the same time there is a lot of change and innovation going on. As someone working with data and insight, I enjoy the intellectual curiosity of the people working in this industry. I also appreciate the attention to detail and visual design; these are things publishing have in common with my profession. I love having, holding and reading beautiful books myself, and appreciate how the written word can unlock so much potential for learners and researchers all around the world.

Do you have a memorable achievement or moment from working in publishing that you can share?

My proudest achievement is to have recruited and mentored others to work in this industry, and seen them thrive. Many times when interviewing new candidates, they have vivid memories of the books they studied in school; both how the books looked and felt, and the impact of the words inside them.

What advice or top tips would you give to someone who is considering a career in publishing?

I think anyone considering a career in publishing needs to be passionate about the content – and obsessed about quality. They also need to be prepared for constant change and will need to learn new skills throughout their career. Whichever role they are aiming for, they will need to be digital and data savvy, to help them make the right decisions.

For Work in Publishing week, Cambridge University Press & Assessment colleagues have shared how they got into publishing and how work at Cambridge University Press & Assessment has helped them to pursue their potential. Read more about how to get into a career in publishing and where can it take you here.

When you think of jobs in the publishing industry, technology and digital careers may not be the first that come to mind. At Cambridge University Press & Assessment, innovation and making improvements for customers through digital technology are a hugely important part of what they do and central to their vision for the future. Find out more about their jobs in technology and working in publishing here.

This interview with Ingunn Jones at Cambridge University Press & Assessment was written for Work in Publishing week for publishers.org.uk.

Find out more about Work in Publishing week here.