I grew up on a farm in Iowa, where I witnessed firsthand how advancements in technology rapidly changed the way we work and earn a living—and in turn, the overall success of a community. Additionally, I was homeschooled throughout my childhood, which gave me a unique perspective on self-directed learning and out-of-the-box thinking.

I hold degrees in piano performance, psychology, and data science, but at my core, I have always been a teacher. In 2014, I transitioned from working in a neuroscience lab—where I studied emotional learning and memory—to a career in data science. During my time as a data scientist, I led data science teams and consulted for Fortune 500 companies in AI.

I am the Founder and CEO of the Human Machine Collaboration Institute (HMCI), which pioneers research and education to optimize human and machine interaction in the new era of knowledge work with AI. We serve leading public and private organizations around the globe. Prior to founding HMCI, I established Women in Data™, a nonprofit organization now representing 55 countries and a community of over 70,000 data professionals. Women in Data™ has been recognized as a Top 50 Leading Non-Profit and as the foremost community for Women in AI and Tech in 2021.

My journey from neuroscience research to over a decade in data science and AI strategy reflects my diverse expertise. I have been honored as one of DataIQ’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Data (2024), one of Dataleum’s 30 Outstanding Women in Data (2023), and one of the Top 30 Women in AI (2022). I was also named a Top 10 Most Admired Businesswoman (2021), a Top 21 Influencer in Data (2021), and one of the Top 30 Most Inspiring Women in AI (2021). In 2019, I received the Outstanding Service Award from UC Davis.

In addition to my work at HMCI, I served on the White House Council for Data and AI Training and have educated over 700,000 individuals through my data science and AI courses offered at UC Davis, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning.