Navigating Curiosity to Leadership in Tech

Navigating Curiosity to Leadership in Tech

Author: Professor Margot Gerritsen, Chisoo Lyons December 18, 2024 Duration: 15:56
In this episode, we chat with Maritza Ebling, a seasoned software engineer and leader, about her unconventional journey from a theoretical math and neuroscience major at Wesleyan University to leading teams in the tech industry. Maritza reflects on how her curiosity and passion for problem-solving guided her career path, starting with computational neuroscience work at Mass General Hospital, where she discovered her love for software engineering. Maritza shares key moments from her career, including the challenges of breaking into the tech field without a traditional engineering background. She credits pivotal mentors and peers who took chances on her potential and helped shape her skills through collaboration and support. She also discusses the transition from being a hands-on engineer to becoming a leader focused on empowering others.

Hosted by Professor Margot Gerritsen and Chisoo Lyons, Women in Data Science Worldwide is a conversation with researchers and practitioners at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field. Each episode moves beyond abstract theory to explore the tangible, often surprising, ways data science is applied. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of analytical work creating change, whether it’s developing new models for patient care, building equitable financial systems, or parsing complex climate datasets. The discussions are grounded in the professional journeys of the guests, who offer practical advice and reflect on the challenges they’ve navigated. This podcast provides a direct audio connection to a global community of experts, highlighting the diverse thought and innovation driven by women in the discipline. Listening reveals the human story behind the algorithms and the collective effort shaping the future of technology across every sector. It’s an ongoing series for anyone curious about the real-world impact of data, from students to seasoned professionals, offering perspective and insight naturally through each guest’s experience.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Women in Data Science Worldwide
Podcast Episodes
Karolina Urbanska | Using data science to study human behavior [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:55
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,…
Welcoming our new podcast co-host, Cindy Orozco [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:08
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 liv…
Tahu Kukutai | Advocating for indigenous data sovereignty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:17
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.
Karina Edmonds | Building bridges between business and academia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:02
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 y…
Menglin Cao | Data science in fintech and financial services [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:52
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.