DataKind’s success ultimately comes down to the quality, timeliness, and effectiveness of our Data & AI for Good projects. As an instrumental part of the Programs Team, Technical Leads are responsible for overseeing a portfolio of volunteer-led projects using cutting-edge technology to help mission-driven organizations worldwide make an even greater impact.
That’s why we’re excited to have longtime volunteer Emily Yelverton onboard as our newest Technical Lead. In this highly visible and high-impact role, she’ll harness her deep experience as a data scientist and manage a set of long-term DataCorps projects from start to finish, staffing teams of talented pro bono data scientists with the right skills to get the work done, and building strong relationships with our project partners, ensuring everyone has a great experience in the process.
Read more about Emily below and join us in welcoming her to the team!
What were you up to before DataKind?
Truthfully, there isn’t much of a “before DataKind” for me — I received my Master’s degree in 2015 and I’ve been involved with this organization since early 2017, first as a DataCorps volunteer and then as a consultant. Before that (and then concurrently for several years after I started volunteering and consulting), I was honing my analytical skills on the data science team at Kaplan Test Prep.
Why are you excited to join DataKind?
Nonprofit tech companies are fairly rare, so that’s one reason. But the primary reason is that I get a lot of satisfaction from being able to facilitate volunteer data scientists putting their skills toward the greater good! (Also, DataKind has a great benefits package!)
What do you like to do in your free time?
Before COVID-19, I was a huge indie rock and electronic music fan, and seized every available opportunity to go to shows in NYC. I still am a fan, of course, but these days, I’m most often found playing new records in my living room while cooking some sort of (chiefly Chinese or Indian) food. My next big cooking project is to try and tackle from-scratch soup dumplings!
