Guest article written by Catherine Kay Magsino, board member of Diversity in Data Science
This year, the Women in Data Science (WiDS) Puget Sound 2025 Conference proudly partnered with WiDS Worldwide to host our very first hybrid conference, blending an in-person experience with a virtual livestream. With 200 attendees gathering at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center and over 300 tuning in online, this event brought together a vibrant community of data science professionals, enthusiasts, and allies from across the region, country, and around the world.
While also being our first conference that was fully captioned by a live transcriptionist, the hybrid format not only expanded access but also deepened our shared commitment to advancing women in data science through inspiration, education, and meaningful connection.
Inspiring Talks and Insightful Panels
Keynote: Chisoo Lyons on Human-Centered Data Science
Our keynote speaker, Chisoo Lyons, Executive Director of WiDS Worldwide, delivered a powerful message that challenged the traditional emphasis on technical prowess. She emphasized that the most enduring skills in data science and AI are communication, empathy, relationship-building, and the ability to translate complex models into clear, actionable insights. Through a personal story of a project that nearly failed despite technical excellence, Chisoo showed how involving stakeholders early, listening deeply, and simplifying explanations won their trust and ultimately made the project successful.
Her talk proposed the reframing of “soft skills” as critical, essential skills, especially in an AI-driven world, and ended with a call to action: be a mentor, because change happens when someone notices potential and supports it.
“Complexity in the science, simplicity in the solution.”
Other Noteworthy Sessions
- Heather Whiteman inspired us to use our data skills for impact, especially in places where silence, stigma, or outdated systems have allowed harm to persist.
- Alexandra Ralevski’s talk was a powerful example of how AI can amplify humanity in one of the most emotionally charged fields: healthcare. In the context of end-of-life conversations, the need for empathy–and the means to practice expressing it–were especially clear.
- The Beyond the Buzz: What GenAI Really Means for the Future of Data Science panel (featuring Tao Tao, Sonakshi Pandey, Cornelea Carapcea, and Akriti Chadda) demystified AI jargon, underscoring that true AI progress lies in practical, ethical applications rather than hype.
- The Level Up: Navigating Compensation Conversations with Clarity and Confidence panel (featuring Tristan Orford, Laura Kuehl, Lucas Petto, and Ella Hale) showed us that mastering compensation conversations isn’t just about money. It’s about preparation, knowing your worth, and communicating with clarity and confidence to shape your career trajectory.
- Emma Rosenthal and Pranidhi Prabhat shared the method of Encouragement Design when A/B testing isn’t possible.
- Pam Wang demonstrated how bridging academic rigor with business pragmatism unlocks the unique strengths of academic-trained professionals, enabling them to contribute meaningfully and thrive in industry environments.
- The Careers in Data Science panel (featuring Jeny DeFigueiredo, Madison Swain-Bowden, Malvika Singh, and Vaishali Khandelwal) emphasized that there is no single path to success and that diverse experiences and continuous learning shape fulfilling careers.This discussion highlighted the growing possibilities for individuals without engineering backgrounds to play key roles in the field of data science.
- Jessica Lundin spotlighted a critical issue: closing language gaps in AI requires culturally relevant datasets and multilingual approaches to build truly inclusive models. This talk illuminated the challenges we face in fostering equitable access to the perks of widespread AI tools.
Connecting Beyond the Stage
Attendees enjoyed several opportunities to connect beyond the talks. The team trivia was a standout, blending rounds about WiDS history, notable women’s achievements, and fun personal facts like languages spoken and travel experiences, sparking lively conversations, collaboration, and new connections across tables.
The Early Career Speed Mentoring session brought students and early-in-career professionals together with experienced mentors for rapid, small-group discussions on topics like interviews, career transitions, LLMs, and MLOps. It was a high-impact session full of real-world advice.
The conference also featured lightning talks where five students each had just under a minute to present the results of their data science projects. These bite-sized pitches sparked curiosity that carried into the happy hour and poster session, where attendees connected directly with the presenters to dive deeper into their work.
Many also appreciated the chance to get professional headshots taken onsite, giving attendees a chance to update and enhance their professional profiles.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 WiDS Puget Sound Conference showcased the power of hybrid events to amplify voices, share knowledge, and build a stronger community. With inspiring talks, engaging panels, and dynamic networking, attendees left energized and excited about the experience.
We are grateful to all the speakers, attendees, volunteers, partners, and sponsors who made this event possible and look forward to growing this vibrant community in the years to come.
View the recordings of the talks and panels at the link below, and stay tuned for future Diversity in Data Science events taking place throughout the year. Follow us on LinkedIn or subscribe to our mailing list at diversityindatascience.org.
Photo credit: Christine