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Careers Beyond Academia: Transport for London Chief Data Officer

Event artwork for Careers Beyond Academia: Transport for London Chief Data Officer

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About this event

What to expect

How do you translate a PhD in data science or AI into a leadership role at one of the world's most complex transport organisations? This seminar features Lauren Sager Weinstein, Chief Data Officer at Transport for London, sharing her journey from strategy and business planning to building and leading TfL's entire data function from scratch.

About the Speaker

Lauren Sager Weinstein created TfL's data function formally in 2012 and now leads a team of data scientists, data software developers, and analytics translators who provide the tools to understand customer travel behaviour and operate London's transport network. She also leads TfL's development of AI strategy, tooling, and capability. With degrees from Princeton University and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Lauren has been recognised with the 2019 Alumni Award for Digital Innovation, named the 2017 UK Chief Data Officer of the Year by CDO Club, and included in The Female Lead's 20 Role Models in Data & Technology.

What You'll Learn

This session is designed specifically for PhD students and early career researchers in Cambridge who are considering career pathways outside academia. Lauren will share realistic, experience-based insights into:

  • Her career journey from working in strategy and technology development at TfL since 2002 to establishing and leading a major public sector data function
  • How to transition research skills into industry leadership roles, particularly in data science and AI
  • The skills and competencies that are valued in data-driven organisations beyond technical expertise
  • Career opportunities in the data and AI space within large public sector and infrastructure organisations
  • Building data products and services that deliver real-world value, from understanding customer behaviour to operational planning

The seminar provides a window into how transport organisations are leveraging AI and data analytics to manage one of the world's busiest transport networks, serving millions of Londoners daily. You'll hear firsthand about the challenges and opportunities of working with vast, complex datasets in a high-stakes operational environment.

Who Should Attend

This event is particularly relevant for PhD students and early career researchers working in data science, machine learning, statistics, computer science, and related fields who are exploring career options beyond a

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