How an LSE Data Analytics Career Accelerator Alumnus Advanced His Career at Adidas
- Marisa Crous
When Jip Sanders joined Adidas, he was driven by curiosity and a desire to improve how things worked. In his role managing product launches across European marketplaces such as Zalando and ASOS, he made sure each release went live smoothly. Yet even with his growing exposure to data, he sensed a gap.
I felt like there was something missing, that I didn’t have the fundamental skills to really show that I can do this, and for that I needed to have these data analytic skills….”
He was seeking a structured approach to learning – one that combined academic credibility with practical, hands-on experience. That search led him to the LSE Data Analytics Career Accelerator, developed in collaboration with FourthRev.
Over six months, Jip developed the technical fluency and professional confidence to move into Digital Sales – Product Launch & Optimisation at Adidas. Today, he leads automation projects that simplify data workflows across European marketplaces and contribute to smarter, faster launches.Jip shared his Career Accelerator experience with us during a live Ask Me Anything event.
Building data confidence and collaboration
When he started the Career Accelerator, Jip quickly saw how well it fit around his work. It was designed for professionals like him, people eager to grow while managing full-time careers.
You start off the programme learning about Microsoft Excel. You really learn about what data is, what the different types are, how to read each type of data, and you start at the very first stepping stone and week by week you grow into an individual that understands it.”
For Jip, the Employer Project was the most rewarding part. It brought everything together: technical skill, collaboration and real-world impact.
What I’m most proud of is definitely wrapping up the Employer Project at the end. This is the fourth module, and in this you work together with a group of fellow students… we wrapped up the presentation with a super good feeling. We jumped on a group call, and we celebrated together…”
Working with peers from Amsterdam, the UK, and the UAE on a live brief – forecasting ice cube sales in Spain – showed him how powerful shared problem-solving can be.
To learn how to work as a group is something that was very unique to me, and I think that’s also one of the best qualities of this programme, is that you learn how to work as a team on a data-oriented project.”
The experience mirrored real industry life, where collaboration and communication matter as much as technical expertise. It also gave him a clearer sense of how to use analytics to tell stories and drive decisions.
Career progression and credibility
After completing the programme, Jip’s progress was soon recognised internally. His stronger grasp of Python and SQL, paired with his ability to translate data into business solutions, opened doors to new responsibilities at Adidas.
It’s definitely given me more autonomy to lead on advanced automation projects.”
He soon stepped into Digital Sales – Product Launch & Optimisation, leading automation initiatives that improve how product data flows through Adidas’ European systems.
The credibility of the Certificate of Competence from LSE also made an impression.
When I tell my colleagues that I did a programme at the LSE, they’re like ‘Wow, no way, it’s such a prestigious university.’”
Jip’s story reflects a wider Career Accelerator trend: 87.5% of learners achieved a desired career goal within six months of completing a Career Accelerator (FourthRev 2023/24 Completers’ Survey).
Mindset, support, and advice
Beyond career growth, Jip’s perspective on data changed completely while on the programme. He no longer sees it as a technical process, but as a creative tool for solving problems and shaping ideas.
What this programme really teaches you is that data is not just ones and zeros. There’s a lot you can do with it, and you can really shape it in a certain way, and it can be quite magical... Without this programme, I wouldn’t have been taught that, and I would have put limits on what I believed was actually capable.”
This new mindset has shaped both his work at Adidas and his personal projects. He has built Python scripts to optimise workflows. He continues to explore ways AI can enhance automation and data visualisation tasks — skills also reinforced by the programme’s dedicated AI & Data Analytics Learning Track.
Jip credits the programme’s support system as one of its greatest strengths, saying: “The support system can only be described as excellent. I think you guys are always on standby, ready to answer questions.”
Advice for future learners
Jip acknowledges that starting a new programme alongside work can feel daunting, but he urges others to see it as an investment in their own potential.
I would recommend this to anyone who wishes to shake things up in the world. If you want to learn how to use data and use it to your advantage, or how to change up the ways your organisation works, then this is something that will totally help you.”
Jip’s Accelerator journey is a reminder that data confidence can transform not only a career, but how you think, collaborate, and lead.
Like Jip, you can gain industry-ready skills and an LSE credential that sets you apart. The LSE Data Analytics Career Accelerator, developed in collaboration with FourthRev, equips you to lead with data in any industry – from retail to finance, healthcare to tech.
Ready to take the next step in your data career? Download the programme brochure to see the curriculum, tools and next cohort details.
