Shattering Stereotypes, with Lauren Maffeo

Lauren Maffeo's journey shatters the myth that you need a STEM degree to thrive in tech. This former journalist pivoted from covering tech startups in London to working as an industry analyst focused on AI and business intelligence to designing data governance systems - an unlikely path that proves the sky's the limit for those willing to embrace lifelong learning.

With raw honesty, Lauren exposes the microaggressions and biases that plague women in technical fields. From being blatantly ignored in meetings to having her expertise dismissed as "not technical enough," her experiences lay bare the uphill battle faced by those who defy rigid stereotypes. Yet Lauren occupies this in-between space with grace, using it to bridge divides.

Her mantra? Never put all your eggs in one basket. Surround yourself with a diverse network that challenges you to grow. Success means constantly readjusting expectations as you achieve the unexpected while falling short on self-imposed metrics.

Above all, Lauren's story is one of relentless reinvention. From writing a practical guide on designing data governance systems to teaching a LinkedIn Learning course on the same topic, her achievements redefine what's possible when you follow your passion fearlessly into uncharted territory. She is living proof that non-traditional paths not only have merit, but are vital for the evolution of emerging fields like AI. Her story prompts us to challenge our preconceptions of who belongs in tech, and implores the incoming generation to avidly blend disciplines with the courage to continually reinvent themselves.

Dive into our conversation and get inspired to light your own trailblazing path.

Show Notes:
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Designing Data Governance
01:29 Meet Lauren Maffeo: A Multifaceted Career
02:44 Insights on Data Governance
04:40 Unconscious Bias in AI Data Sets
07:21 The Publishing Journey
11:02 From Journalism to Data Science
15:09 Challenges as a Woman in Tech
22:12 Advice for the Next Generation
24:56 Reflections and Future Plans
33:13 Conclusion: Lighting the Way Forward

Guest Bio:
Lauren is an award-winning author, analyst, and designer of data systems for the U.S. Federal government. She currently supports the U.S. Coast Guard's first Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO), where she leads design activities to align data mesh, governance, AI, and analytics with the Coast Guard's key priorities. Her first book, "Designing Data Governance from the Ground Up", was published by The Pragmatic Programmers and adapted into a LinkedIn Learning course.

Lauren is a founding editor of Springer’s AI and Ethics journal and a former area editor for Data and Policy, an open access journal with Cambridge University Press. She has presented at venues/with partners including Princeton and Columbia Universities, the U.S. State Department, and Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters.

Prior to joining Steampunk, Lauren was an associate principal analyst at Gartner, where she covered the impact of emerging tech like AI and blockchain on small business owners. Lauren has written for Harvard Data Science Review, Financial Times, and The Guardian, among other publications. She has also peer reviewed technology research and books published by the GovLab at NYU, O’Reilly Media, and The Atlantic Council.

Lauren is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a former member of the Association for Computing Machinery’s Distinguished Speakers Program, and a member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, where she helps judge the Webby Awards. She is on 2 nonprofit boards and volunteers with The Linux Foundation.

Learn more about Lauren’s work and connect with her:
LinkedIn
Book: Designing Data Governance From the Ground Up
Course: Designing Data Governance

Additional Resources:
Transcript