WIDS Puget Sound 2025 Volunteers

Overall Leads

 

I am a data analyst instructor at Skillspire and I enjoying helping people learn the skills necessary to extract insights from data. I have also volunteered with WiDS Puget Sound in the past where I have had the opportunity help host previous conferences.

Swathi Guruduth

Irina Virnik

Harsheeta Venkoba Rao is a founding software engineer, AI researcher, and advocate for diversity in technology. She previously led the first poster session at the WiDS Worldwide Conference at Stanford University. Passionate about mentorship and inclusion, she has guided aspiring AI professionals on Topmate and has worked on full-stack AI applications, model optimization, and cloud-based solutions.

 
 

Content Team

 

Nimisha is a data scientist turned Product Manager having worked at Uber, Microsoft and Instacart. Named as one of the top 50 PMs in US by VentureBeat, she helped start the first ever WiDS conference in Seattle way back in 2017. She is passionate about championing for deserving women in tech and believes in giving back to the community as much as possible. 

I'm currently in people analytics, and my work is aimed at understanding a variety of topics from onboarding to attrition, and everything in between like low vs. high performance, promotion, compensation, and work experience in general. What I really like about my job is that I get to use my research experience in psychology and training in data science and I get to see the impact of my work on my colleagues' work experience and well-being.

Hello, my name is Amrapali Samanta, I am a recent masters graduate from Seattle University in Business Analytics. I love data and had been playing with it since starting of my career. Was working into analytics domain before and planning a transition to data science now. I love talking to people from similar background and learning about their experience and WiDS is a great platform for that. Attended the last year Puget Sound conference and excited to volunteer this year.  Looking forward to meet you all! 

 
 

Louisa is an Advisory Consultant at Deloitte. Currently, she works on a data lake team where she leverages her data science skills to solve problems in cyber security. Her career interests and expertise include NLP, ML, MLOps, and data visualizations. However, she originally started her career as a chemist, possessing both a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Gonzaga University and a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Washington. During her Master's degree, she decided to pivot to data science after completing an NLP research project. In her free time, she enjoys lifting weights, gardening, playing DnD, and walking her dog.

I am a Masters of Data Science student at Seattle University. After completing my undergraduate degree in Economics, I worked as an economics researcher for two years specializing in labor economics in the  Middle East and North Africa. This experience sparked a deep passion for transforming complex data into insights that drive meaningful social and economic change with evidence based understanding. This is my first year volunteering for WiDS and I am excited for the opportunity to contribute to an organization that champions empowering women in the field! 

Sarah first became interested in data science during quantitative research courses in her master's program (a dual degree in public policy and German and European studies), and followed up on that interest through a fellowship with The Data Incubator. Since then, she has worked as a data scientist on an innovation team in the freight logistics space. She attended the virtual editions of WiDS in previous years and is thrilled to join the planning team for the upcoming conference and give back to this community.

Martha is a data scientist instructor. She loves giving back to her community. She desires to travel around the world and one fun fact about her is, she loves law and advocacy as well, such a blend with Tech.

I am Soundarya Abirami, a passionate data professional with a strong background in analytics and business intelligence. I am currently pursuing MS in Data Science from Boston University, with a prior MBA from India, I enjoy transforming complex data into actionable insights that drive business success.

As a firm believer in the power of mentorship, diversity, and community engagement, I am excited to contribute to Women in Data Science (WiDS) by sharing my knowledge, supporting aspiring data professionals, and fostering an inclusive data-driven community. My goal is to inspire and empower more women to explore the dynamic world of data science and analytics.

I am a Data Scientist based in Seattle, WA. I hold a Master's in Computer Science from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. I'm strongly committed to building robust data-intensive applications, and bring expertise in ML/AI, cloud technologies, and computational biology to my work. Prior to Cartography, I interned at the Vector Institute for AI as a machine learning researcher, where I developed and published statistical and ML methods for time-series in healthcare. During my undergrad, I conducted and published computational biology research work at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

I regularly share insights and technical expertise through my technical blogs (https://uptodata.substack.com/). You can explore my coding projects on my GitHub profile (https://github.com/kopalgarg), and my research publications on my Google Scholar profile (https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=0iZls38AAAAJ).

I am a passionate leader in Data Engineering and Data Governance, driving digital transformation through AI-powered decision making. With a proven track record of building scalable data platforms and fostering data-first cultures, I thrive on leveraging technology to unlock business value. A firm believer in giving back, I actively contribute to the Women in Data Science community to empower the next generation through STEM education and mentorship.

Dhanshika is an undergraduate Junior in Data Visualization at the University of Washington. She is passionate about leveraging data to create impact, whether by developing interactive visualization systems, extracting meaningful insights from complex datasets, or improving online discourse through data-driven analysis. In her free time, she enjoys teaching bharatanatyam, performing Silamabam(South Indian Martial Arts), and cooking!!

I’m Srinithi, working as a Data Scientist at Microsoft. It’s been a great journey with WiDS Puget Sound. Looking forward to collaborating with like-minded folks!

Srinithi Srinivasan

 
 

Marketing Team

 

Modupeola Fagbenro - CoLead

Teresa currently lives in Boise, Idaho, as an environmental data analyst for Alta Science and Engineering, Inc. She credits her love for using data to shape decisions and tools for protecting the environment and human health to her first post-college gig as a foresty technician in Olympia for a U.S. Forest Service research station. The post-docs, scientists, foresters, and fellow technicians has taught her R programming language, the impact of climate change on trees, and the importance of communicating scientific findings to the public. Inspired and encouraged by that job, Teresa obtained a MNR in Environmental Education through University of Idaho and a MS in Data Science from the University of Denver. 

Neha has earned her Master of Science in Business Analytics from the University of Washington, Seattle, building upon her foundational Bachelor’s in Engineering. She is currently working as a Business Analyst at Tetra Pak, where she applies her passion for business intelligence, data visualization, and storytelling to transform data into meaningful insights.

Outside of work, she enjoys baking, hiking, and exploring new places. She is also deeply committed to volunteering and giving back to the community.

Neha Rachapalli - CoLead

Megan Smith is a Data Analyst at Funko, specializing in e-commerce analytics, marketing insights, and customer behavior analysis. Previously, she worked in education, where she discovered an interest in data-driven practices, leading her to seek opportunities to further her analytical expertise. Megan earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon with dual majors in Music and Political Science & Government, followed by a Master of Education from the University of Puget Sound. She is currently pursuing an MS in Business Analytics at the University of Washington, with an expected graduation in June 2025. Outside of work and school, Megan loves reading, playing wind instruments, and spending time with her cat.

Ananya Upadhyay

Dana is a recently retired data scientist, project manager, mechanical and aeronautical engineer and lean practitioner.  This is her fourth year working on the organizing team for the WiDS Puget Sound conference.  Other interests include sewing, knitting, reading, traveling and playing in a handbell choir. 

I’m a Data Scientist with a PhD in Industrial Engineering and a strong foundation in analytical research. Through self-study, hands-on projects, and participation in data science programs, I’ve built expertise in machine learning, predictive modeling, recommendation systems, forecasting, and recently, Generative AI. I’m proficient in Python and SQL, and I’m passionate about solving real-world problems through end-to-end data solutions. I'm now seeking opportunities to contribute, grow, and make an impact in the field.

 
 

Sponsorship Team

 

I joined the data science field after 6 years working with environmental nonprofits. Since my passion for volunteering still needs an outlet, I leapt at the opportunity to get involved with the Women in Data Science Puget Sound conference. After DS boot camp and a year of consulting, I joined the small, but mighty team of data scientists at Trupanion. My dog greatly appreciates his insurance benefits. Excited to experience another year of knowledge sharing with WiDS!

Kelly Stroh - Lead

As a volunteer for the Women in Data Science (WiDS) Puget Sound conference, contributing to the Sponsorship Team, I help to secure and nurture corporate partnerships that support the event’s mission of empowering women in data science. My role involves outreach, relationship management, and ensuring that sponsors have a seamless and impactful experience.

In my professional career as an Independent Travel Agent at Dreamport, I have honed skills in business communication, client engagement, and partnership management—all of which directly translate to my work with WiDS. Successfully handling travel arrangements requires attention to detail, clear communication across multiple channels, and the ability to align client needs with business offerings—skills that are equally valuable when coordinating with potential sponsors.

Additionally, my experience in adhering to company standards, managing expectations, and maintaining long-term relationships has strengthened my ability to craft compelling sponsorship proposals and foster meaningful corporate collaborations. I am excited to bring my expertise to WiDS Puget Sound, helping to build strong sponsorships that enhance the conference’s reach and impact.

Yash is passionate about using data to bring positive change. Her areas of interest include application of analytics in the field of healthcare, public administration, urban development, and smart city projects. She works as a data analyst in the healthcare industry and got her masters in Analytics from the University of Washington, Seattle.

Aishe is a data professional fascinated about the applications of data science in public health and medicine. She got her Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington and currently works at Washington State Health Care Authority.

Satenik is a Customer Success Engineer at Redis, specializing in leveraging real-time data solutions to drive business growth and operational efficiency. She specializes in helping teams make better decisions and improve processes using AI and data-driven insights. Satenik is passionate about harnessing the power of AI to create tangible business value and drive innovation across industries. In her free time, she enjoys testing out new recipes while listening to science fiction books.

Chinmaya Gayathri

 
 

Experience Team

 

Cecilia is passionate about diversity and gender inclusion in the technology field. She is the co-founder of the Mozambican Women in Technology Association, a co-organizer of Django Girls, and an active member of PyLadies. Currently pursuing a PhD in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence at Gaston Berger University, her research focuses on Artificial Intelligence and Education, with a special interest in Educational Data Mining and intelligent systems in education.

Cecilia Tivir - Lead

Research associate passionatate about the crossroads of biology and data.

Wanling Kratzman

Margaret is a Senior Risk Analyst and former Economist with experience developing data products, expertise in forecasting and passion for the open source community. Outside of work, you can find her near the water either rowing in Lake Washington or volunteering at local surf camps. As a second time volunteer and annual conference attendee, she is looking forward giving back to such an inspirational organization.

Anand Malpani is the Director of Data Science at Surgical Science. He is building a new data science org within Surgical Science to transform how surgeons and healthcare professionals are trained. Prior to this, Anand was at The Johns Hopkins University as an assistant research scientist within the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare. This was after he finished his PhD studies at JHU in Computer Science. During this time his research focused on the development of technology using machine learning, virtual reality, and crowdsourcing for augmenting surgical skills acquisition. He is passionate about human learning and has enjoyed collaborating across the disciplines of medicine, education, arts, sciences, and engineering. He obtained a B.Tech. degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay (India) before pursuing graduate studies. He enjoys mentoring and is a learner eager to improve his skills. Beyond this he loves every moment of interaction with his kids and explores new recipes in the kitchen with his wife.

Karen Vargas Lyu is a former Meta Data Engineer with five years of experience building and optimizing data pipelines. At Meta, she developed real-time fraud detection systems that saved thousands in leakage losses, increased data availability for improved fraud monitoring, and collaborated with legal teams to ensure compliance with EU regulations. Skilled in Python, Spark, SQL, and NoSQL, Karen delivers data-driven solutions that enhance business outcomes.