Infinite Careers is a collaboration between Career Services (CAPD) and the MIT Alumni Association to explore career paths and the non-linearity of career decision making. Read profiles of alumni with unique career paths, hear their stories and network at a series of talks.
Education
- MIT – Bachelor of Science, 15-2 – Business Analytics
- MIT – Bachelor of Science, 6-14 – Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science
Bio
Lydia is experienced in building data science and machine learning solutions within a variety of fields, ranging from finance and real estate to academic research and consulting. She currently works as a data scientist at Visa, where she builds the deep learning fraud detection models that all Visa card transactions go through. Prior to this role, she worked at IBM Consulting where she developed machine learning solutions for a variety of external clients and helped lead the initial movement towards GenAI product development on her team. She is passionate about constantly learning new skills, building strong teams, and empowering women in tech.
What motivates you to do the work that you do?
The level of scope and impact that the models my team builds keeps me motivated every day. I love that I can use my data science skills to help protect billions of people making billions of card transactions every day, and the constantly-shifting field of fraud means that there is always something new to learn. Everyone on my team is incredibly smart and passionate about what they do as well, and they inspire me daily to continue learning and growing in my role.
What professional development experiences or opportunities shaped your early career?
I keep myself open to any opportunity that comes my way, and I never say no to having a chat with anyone, whether they are a colleague, recruiter, or potential mentor/mentee. Many of the best experiences and relationships I’ve had in my early career (such as opportunities to speak at conferences, mentorship, and projects at work where I learned valuable skills I never knew I needed) came unexpectedly from sending or responding to a cold DM to chat with someone new.
What professional development activities do you find really useful these days?
I enjoy attending local meet-ups for women and professionals in data science and tech. Not only am I able to learn something new about what’s going on in the industry at these events, but more importantly, they are great opportunities to meet others in the field in person and build a support system of professionals to get career advice from. I find many events through organizations I am involved with, such as RTC (Rewriting the Code) and ODSC (Open Data Science Conference), and there are many other similar organizations that are free for people at any stage of their careers to join.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun/relaxation/inspiration?
I love to travel and explore new places or visit friends in other cities, and lately I have loved hiking in different national parks with my friends. When I’m not traveling or working, I love taking long bike rides along the river, checking out new restaurants and bars with friends, and inviting people to my place to chat over a home-cooked meal.
Do you participate in any volunteer/community service activities? If so, how do you balance your professional and personal responsibilities?
I volunteer as a mentor for WiDS (Women in Data Science) and RTC (Rewriting the Code), two amazing organizations that empower and inspire women in tech. Work-life balance is a big priority for me, and I make sure to maintain a consistent work schedule with clear boundaries I’ve set with my team on my availability. I’ve found that I have so much more time for myself and my personal hobbies and passions after graduating, which has been great for getting more involved within my community, and finding a team that also values work-life balance was a priority for me when applying for jobs.
Last edited: April 2025
