Women in Data Science

By Professor Margot Gerritsen, Chisoo Lyons

What's Women in Data Science about?

Leading women in data science share their work, advice, and lessons learned along the way. Hear how data science is being applied and having impact across domains— from healthcare to finance to climate change and more. Hosted by Professor Emerita Margot Gerritsen from Stanford University and Chisoo Lyons, Chief Program Director of Women in Data Science Worldwide.

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Women in Data Science episodes:

04.19.2024
The Power of Linguistics in Large Language Models and AI
Listen to Karin Golde, a linguistic expert and AI entrepreneur, as she discusses the rise of large language models (LLMs) and the impact of ChatGPT. Karin reflects on the unexpected popularity of LLMs and the role of OpenAI. The challenges...
02.22.2024
Applying topological data analysis and geometry-based ML
Margot Gerittsen speaks with Colleen Farrelly, Mathematician at Post Urban Ventures and Author of The Shape of Data: Geometry-Based Machine Learning and Data Analysis in R. Colleen is known for network science, topological data analysis, and geometry-based machine learning. ...
01.25.2024
Using Curiosity, Mentorship, and Education to Build a Career
Listen to the incredible and inspiring journey of Avalon Baldwin’s career journey. A self-described data nerd, she was not only the first in her family to attend college, she went on to get a graduate degree. Today she is an...
11.29.2023
Fighting Crypto Crime with Data Science
In this episode, Margot Gerittsen speaks with Kim Grauer. Kim is the Director of Research at Chainalysis, where she examines trends in cryptocurrency economics and crime. Listen as she talks about her obsession with fighting fraud in the cryptocurrency market.
10.19.2023
Using Storytelling to Communicate with Stakeholders
Michelle Katics, CEO and co-founder of BankersLab, emphasizes the significance of merging technical, business, and soft skills in risk management training. She stresses the value of simplifying complex ideas through storytelling and encourages women to engage in data science and...
09.29.2023
Data Science Leadership: Creating Meaningful Impact
In this episode, Mary Krone explores her career shift from a PhD in chemistry and biochemistry to data science, where she builds financial credit models. She highlights her work’s tangible impact and discusses the challenges of work-life balance. Mary’s passion for...
08.29.2023
Kate Kolich on Mentorship, Data Ethics, and Leadership
Kate Kolich serves as the Assistant Governor and the General Manager of Information Data and Analytics at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. With an extensive background in the financial sector, she also has significant public sector experience. Throughout her...
07.20.2023
Breaking Barriers to Entry & Success for Women in Tech with Telle Whitney
In this podcast episode, Margot interviews Telle Whitney, a highly accomplished woman in the tech industry. Telle is best known for her 15 years as CEO of the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, also known as AnitaB. Anita...
06.22.2023
Srujana Kaddevarmuth | Opening New Realms of Data Science and AI
Srujana Kaddevarmuth is the current senior director of the Data and Machine Learning Center of Excellence at Walmart. She has had an illustrious career in the tech industry, having also worked as manager of data and machine learning and AI...
05.18.2023
Veronica Edwards | The Bridge Between Dance and Data Science
Veronica Edwards is a dancer and choreographer who, after finding that physics was not in fact the major she wanted, studied sociology at Princeton University. In her words, she stumbled into her first job after graduation, which was with the...
04.20.2023
Jane Lauder | Using Data Science to Create Aspirational Products
Jane Lauder, Chief Data Officer at Estée Lauder, explains how Estée Lauder combines data science with creativity to connect with their consumers, create aspirational products and support the longevity of their brands.
01.04.2023
Priya Donti | Using AI to Fight the Climate Crisis
Priya Donti, Executive Director of Climate Change AI, explains multiple ways that machine learning and AI can be used to mitigate climate change. Her work at the intersection of climate change, computer science, and data science led her to co-found...
11.10.2022
Lesly Zerna | Teaching and learning data science in Latin America (Spanish)
Lesly Zerna, Google Developer Expert at Universidad Privada Boliviana, is a Bolivian researcher, teacher, mentor, content creator, and software developer. Shares her passion for learning and teaching data science and artificial intelligence. Lesly says learning works best when you know...
10.14.2022
Leda Braga | Applying data science to investment strategies
Leda Braga is the founder and CEO of Systematica Investments, a hedge fund known for using data science-driven models to support its investment strategies. She explains how systematic investment management is data science applied to investment and how she believes...
09.15.2022
Jessica Bohórquez | Using AI for leak detection in water pipelines (Spanish)
Jessica Bohórquez, a researcher at the University of Adelaide in Australia and an industry consultant, is using AI and pressure transients to inspect and monitor water pipelines to detect leaks. She discusses her PhD research, working in industry and her...
08.11.2022
Karolina Urbanska | Using data science to study human behavior
Dr. Karolina Urbanska, a data scientist working for Teach First in the UK, has spent her career using data science to better understand human behavior. She discusses her work as a data science and psychology researcher, her decision to leave...
06.15.2022
Welcoming our new podcast co-host, Cindy Orozco
WiDS Co-Founder Margot Gerritsen welcomes her new podcast co-host Cindy Orozco, as they interview each other about their career paths to data science, coping with the imposter syndrome, and successfully juggling busy lives.
12.09.2021
Tahu Kukutai | Advocating for indigenous data sovereignty
Tahu Kukutai, a professor at the University of Waikato in New Zealand and a Māori woman, is leading data sovereignty initiatives that advocate for indigenous data ownership, guardianship, and governance.
11.11.2021
Allison Koenecke | Researching algorithmic fairness and causal inference in public health
Allison Koenecke, currently a postdoc at Microsoft Research and soon to be assistant professor at Cornell, discusses her decision to pursue a career in academia focused on algorithmic fairness and causal inference in public health.
10.07.2021
Karina Edmonds | Building bridges between business and academia
Karina Edmonds, Global Head of Academies and University Alliances at SAP, has spent her career building bridges between business and academia. She is passionate about promoting fairness in data science by bringing more young people, women, and underrepresented groups into...
09.09.2021
Fatima Abu Salem | Applying data science for the public good in Lebanon
Fatima Abu Salem, a professor at the American University of Beirut, talks about how the conflict in the region has shaped her life journey and motivates her to apply data science for the public good to address challenges in Lebanon.
08.12.2021
Louvere Walker-Hannon | Gaining skills and overcoming barriers to a career in data science
Louvere Walker-Hannon, Application Engineering Team Leader at MathWorks, teacher and STEM Ambassador, talks about acquiring skills and overcoming barriers to work in data science.
07.15.2021
Menglin Cao | Data science in fintech and financial services
Menglin Cao, Senior VP and Head of AI and NLP Model Development at Wells Fargo, discusses the central role of data science in fintech and financial services, and best practices for success.
06.10.2021
Karen Hao | Covering AI and Ethics Washing in the Tech Industry
Karen Hao, Senior Editor at MIT Technology Review, discusses her experiences covering the latest research and social impacts of AI, and ethics washing in the tech industry.
05.06.2021
Cecilia Aragon | Aerobatic Pilot, Author and Data Scientist
Cecilia Aragon, a professor in the in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, explains how overcoming her fears to become an aerobatic pilot propelled her forward in her career as a...
02.09.2021
Kristian Lum | Applying Statistics to Promote Fairness and Transparency
Kristian Lum, a statistician and research assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania, describes how following her interests has led her on an everchanging career path across business, public service, and academia.
12.03.2020
Lillian Carrasquillo | Using Human-Centric Data Science at Spotify
Lillian Carrasquillo, Insights Manager for Spotify’s Personalized Home team, explains how Spotify uses human-centric data science to create meaningful experiences for their listeners and creators.
10.27.2020
Femke Vossepoel | Applying Data Assimilation Tools to COVID Forecasting Models
Femke Vossepoel, Professor in Geoscience and Engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, explains how data assimilation tools can be used to improve COVID-19 forecasting models.
08.20.2020
Francesca Dominici + Rachel Nethery | Using Data Science to Study Air Pollution Effect on COVID-19 Outcomes
Francesca Dominici and Rachel Nethery, from Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, are working to inform public health policy through research at the intersection of environmental health science, data science, climate change and health policy.
07.16.2020
Manisha Desai | The Importance of Data Integrity in COVID-19 Clinical Trials
Manisha Desai, professor of medicine and biomedical data science at Stanford University, shares some insights about the challenges and progress of current COVID-19 clinical trials.
06.03.2020
Newsha Ajami | Improving Urban Water Systems Through Data Science, Public Policy and Engineering
Newsha Ajami, director of Urban Water Policy with Stanford University’s Water in the West, focuses on improving urban water systems through interdisciplinary research combining data science, engineering and public policy.
05.14.2020
Andrea Gagliano | The Intersection of Arts and Technology
Andrea Gagliano, Head of Data Science, AI and Machine Learning at Getty Images, works at the intersection of art and technology — using machine learning to inspire creativity, and the arts to comprehend technology.
04.15.2020
Ya Xu | Using Data To Create Economic Opportunities For All Members Of Global Workforce
Ya Xu, head of LinkedIn’s global data science team, explains how the company takes responsibility for data privacy and creating economic opportunities for all of its members.
01.16.2020
Susan Athey | Bringing an Economist’s Perspective to Data Science
Susan Athey, Economics of Technology Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, brings an economist’s expertise and perspective to machine learning and data science.
12.12.2019
Montse Medina | Lessons Learned Building a Data Science Startup
Montse Medina, a successful data science entrepreneur, is currently a partner at Deloitte in Spain responsible for the firm’s advanced analytics and asset-enabled business.
11.14.2019
Bonus Episode: Margot Gerritsen | How to Get More Women Into Data Science
Women face many roadblocks to careers in data science and other STEM disciplines. One Stanford professor is out to change perceptions and realities for women in these fields.
10.23.2019
Timnit Gebru | Advocating for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethics in AI
Timnit Gebru, a research scientist and technical co-lead of Google’s Ethical Artificial Intelligence Team, explains the importance of advocating for diversity, inclusion and ethics in AI.
10.03.2019
Christiane Kamdem + Lama Moussawi | WiDS Ambassadors Bring Education and Role Models to their Communities
Christiane Kamdem and Lama Moussawi discuss the importance of role models, mentors and giving back to empower women and girls to pursue data science careers.
09.12.2019
Sherrie Wang | Applying Machine Learning to Solve Global Food Security Challenges
Sherrie Wang, a fourth year PhD student at Stanford’s Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering (ICME), explains how she applies machine learning methods to help solve global food security challenges.
08.28.2019
Marzyeh Ghassemi | Applying Machine Learning to Understand and Improve Health
Marzyeh Ghassemi, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, is focused on Healthy ML—applying machine learning to understand and improve health.
08.15.2019
Shir Meir Lador | Using Data Science to Keep Financial Data Secure
Shir Meir Lador, data science team lead at Intuit in Israel, develops machine learning models for security, risk and fraud in products like Quickbooks, Turbo Tax and Mint.
08.01.2019
Natalie Evans Harris | Creating A Shared Code Of Ethics To Guide Ethical and Responsible Use of Data
Natalie Evans Harris, a leader on ethical and responsible use of data, explains how building trust through a shared vision and data “code of ethics” is essential to promote both innovation and privacy.
07.17.2019
Meltem Ballan | Mission Impossible, Fingerprint Recognition, and Connected Cars
Meltem Ballan, a data scientist working on Connected Cars at General Motors, explains how data science is transforming the automotive industry.
12.10.2018
Chiara Sabatti | Algorithms and the Human Genome
Chiara Sabatti, professor of biomedical data science and of statistics at Stanford University, discusses trends in data science in genetics.
12.03.2018
Elena Grewal | From Education to Head of Airbnb Data Science
Elena Grewal, Airbnb’s head of data science, discovered the key to making successful career jumps: “Often it’s more about words being different than about skills being different”
11.26.2018
Sonu Durgia | Optimizing the Online Shopping Experience
Sonu Durgia, Walmart Labs group product manager, mines the store’s massive backlog of digital interactions to engineer a better e-commerce experience.
11.20.2018
Megan Price | Data Science and the Fight for Human Rights
The executive director of the Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) discusses how data science is being used to combat injustices in Central America and the Middle East.
11.12.2018
Eileen Martin + Nilah Monnier Ioannidis | Data in Seismology and Genomics Research
Finding new ways to collect data – and a willingness to share it – are the hallmarks of a career in academia for two data scientists at Stanford.
11.05.2018
Janet George | The Multifaceted World of Data Storage
From manufacturing to product development, Western Digital’s chief data officer discusses how data science plays an important role in the storage industry.
10.19.2018
Jennifer Widom | Math, Computers, & Music
Dean Jennifer Widom has seen computer science--and data science-- evolve from a narrow, specialized field into an interdisciplinary field that touches on broad swaths of society and is capable of solving important global problems.

What's Women in Data Science about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Women in Data Science episodes:

The Power of Linguistics in Large Language Models and AI

Applying topological data analysis and geometry-based ML

Using Curiosity, Mentorship, and Education to Build a Career

Fighting Crypto Crime with Data Science

Using Storytelling to Communicate with Stakeholders

Data Science Leadership: Creating Meaningful Impact

Kate Kolich on Mentorship, Data Ethics, and Leadership

Breaking Barriers to Entry & Success for Women in Tech with Telle Whitney

Srujana Kaddevarmuth | Opening New Realms of Data Science and AI

Veronica Edwards | The Bridge Between Dance and Data Science

Jane Lauder | Using Data Science to Create Aspirational Products

Priya Donti | Using AI to Fight the Climate Crisis

Lesly Zerna | Teaching and learning data science in Latin America (Spanish)

Leda Braga | Applying data science to investment strategies

Jessica Bohórquez | Using AI for leak detection in water pipelines (Spanish)

Karolina Urbanska | Using data science to study human behavior

Welcoming our new podcast co-host, Cindy Orozco

Tahu Kukutai | Advocating for indigenous data sovereignty

Allison Koenecke | Researching algorithmic fairness and causal inference in public health

Karina Edmonds | Building bridges between business and academia

Fatima Abu Salem | Applying data science for the public good in Lebanon

Louvere Walker-Hannon | Gaining skills and overcoming barriers to a career in data science

Menglin Cao | Data science in fintech and financial services

Karen Hao | Covering AI and Ethics Washing in the Tech Industry

Cecilia Aragon | Aerobatic Pilot, Author and Data Scientist

Kristian Lum | Applying Statistics to Promote Fairness and Transparency

Lillian Carrasquillo | Using Human-Centric Data Science at Spotify

Femke Vossepoel | Applying Data Assimilation Tools to COVID Forecasting Models

Francesca Dominici + Rachel Nethery | Using Data Science to Study Air Pollution Effect on COVID-19 Outcomes

Manisha Desai | The Importance of Data Integrity in COVID-19 Clinical Trials

Newsha Ajami | Improving Urban Water Systems Through Data Science, Public Policy and Engineering

Andrea Gagliano | The Intersection of Arts and Technology

Ya Xu | Using Data To Create Economic Opportunities For All Members Of Global Workforce

Susan Athey | Bringing an Economist’s Perspective to Data Science

Montse Medina | Lessons Learned Building a Data Science Startup

Bonus Episode: Margot Gerritsen | How to Get More Women Into Data Science

Timnit Gebru | Advocating for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethics in AI

Christiane Kamdem + Lama Moussawi | WiDS Ambassadors Bring Education and Role Models to their Communities

Sherrie Wang | Applying Machine Learning to Solve Global Food Security Challenges

Marzyeh Ghassemi | Applying Machine Learning to Understand and Improve Health

Shir Meir Lador | Using Data Science to Keep Financial Data Secure

Natalie Evans Harris | Creating A Shared Code Of Ethics To Guide Ethical and Responsible Use of Data

Meltem Ballan | Mission Impossible, Fingerprint Recognition, and Connected Cars

Chiara Sabatti | Algorithms and the Human Genome

Elena Grewal | From Education to Head of Airbnb Data Science

Sonu Durgia | Optimizing the Online Shopping Experience

Megan Price | Data Science and the Fight for Human Rights

Eileen Martin + Nilah Monnier Ioannidis | Data in Seismology and Genomics Research

Janet George | The Multifaceted World of Data Storage

Jennifer Widom | Math, Computers, & Music