A career journey is an exciting ride filled with challenges, growth, and unexpected opportunities.
Originally from China and raised in New York City 🗽, my path has been anything but ordinary—a journey fueled by curiosity, resilience, and a love for understanding human behavior 🧠.
Early Exploration (2012-2015)
With a background in psychology (BA) and social psychology (MA), I’ve always been drawn to how people think, act, and make decisions. This passion led me to apply research and data analytics to uncover insights, solve problems, and create positive change. 
While in graduate school, I sought out diverse experiences 
—working in financial firms, startups, and even 
the United Nations.
A transformative chapter came when I spent time as a field researcher in 
Nairobi, Kenya, broadening my perspective, deepening my love for research, and reinforcing my belief in the power of data-driven decisions.
Each step of my journey, from HR analytics at a Fortune 500 company to UX research in fintech, has shaped who I am today. Every challenge has been an opportunity to learn, every decision a step toward growth, and every experience a reminder that embracing change leads to remarkable outcomes.
Building Data Foundations at Canon (2016-2021)
Returning to 
New York, I joined Canon USA as a data analytics specialist, excited to 
build analytic capabilities from the ground up and merge behavioral science with data to solve business challenges.
Over five years, I laid the groundwork for HR data analytics, developed dashboards that enhanced hiring and performance, and uncovering key trends and leveraging my background in organizational psychology to drive data-informed HR decisions.
Diving into UX Research at SumUp (2022-2023)
I wanted to expand my skill set beyond HR and explore different applications of data in business and technology. I joined SumUp, a fintech company, where I worked as a product and market researcher.
This role provided the opportunity for me to provide insights that evaluated product performance and assessed market readiness for payment and CRM products. I played a key role in shaping product strategies, driving innovation, and enhancing user experiences.
- I led product research for feature validation
- collaborated with designers to refine prototypes
- partnered with data science teams to analyze user trends and improve customer experiences.
- My work in market research and pricing studies supported product expansion,
- while NPS monitoring ensured user satisfaction.
This journey was inspiring and transformative, allowing me to work with talented cross-functional teams, tackle challenging user problems, and contribute to meaningful product advancements.
It reignited my passion for data science, especially when working alongside data scientists who used advanced analytics to solve complex business challenges. My experience in UX research strengthened my collaborative mindset, analytical thinking, and data-driven decision-making—laying a strong foundation for my transition into data science and analytics with confidence and excitement.
My journey took an unexpected turn when I became part of the massive tech layoffs in mid-2022. What first felt like a setback soon became an invaluable opportunity for my self-reflection, growth, and transformation.
Career Break (2022-2024): Reflecting, Recharging, and Learning
This pause allowed me to focus on my well-being, reassess my goals, and ultimately set a new course toward data science and analytics. This time off became one of the most enriching chapters of my life—filled with learning, clarity, and renewed purpose.
