Leveraging data to empower communities is my superpower. As a PSF Fellow with extensive non-profit experience, I aim to apply this expertise to enhance the PSF's global reach, member experience, and financial sustainability.

Leadership Expertise

I began by organizing local meetups for Women in Machine Learning and Data Science in Chennai, India. It was a start, but the real growth happened when I became a Community Leader for Women Who Code Python. I saw the community grow from 800 to over 3,000 members in just 1.5 years, and that wasn’t just a number – it was a testament to the workshops, study groups, and AI at the edge initiatives we drove. I had a fantastic team of 50 volunteers, and many went on to contribute to PyCon and even become PSF Fellows. This experience directly highlights my leadership in growing a community.

When I transitioned to working full-time at Women Who Code, I started to see how much more we could do with the data we were collecting. Fun fact: I saw how we collected data, and I knew there were gaps in how we could utilize this data to reach the right people, and that’s how I pitched my role to the president and got my first full-time job in a non-profit. This helped us better understand our demographics, and it importantly answered questions like whether we actually help women stay in their technical careers over the ten years of Women Who Code. That's when I realized the immense power of data to not just track progress, but to validate impact and inform future strategies. This ability to leverage data for community growth and accountability is essential for the PSF, directly addressing the question of leadership expertise by showing how I lead with data.

Throughout my journey, especially in the world of non-profits, I've discovered a powerful superpower: data. It’s not just about numbers; it's about the human stories those numbers tell, and how they can guide impactful leadership. My leadership skills, whether volunteer or professional, have been significantly amplified by my ability to interpret and utilize data.

Fundraising know-how.

Reading the PSF's announcement about pausing the Grants Program was tough. I know from personal experience the weight of a decision like that. When the grants, the very lifeblood of our non-profit, stopped coming in at Apart Research, it was a genuinely scary time—a real moment of crisis. I understand the heartbreak the PSF Board and staff must be feeling because I've been there, too. In that difficult moment at Apart Research, we leaned on the one thing we knew had immense value: our community. We had the stories of 3,500 people who had poured their time and passion into our hackathons. These weren't just numbers on a spreadsheet; they were journeys of discovery, of careers nurtured, and of talent found. So, our team rolled up our sleeves in what became a massive, heartfelt effort to piece together the human impact of our work. People responded with incredible generosity. By weaving those personal stories into a compelling narrative, we raised nearly $600,000 in just a few months. It taught me a powerful lesson: when you can show the real, human difference you’re making in people's lives, you can inspire others to support your mission.

This is the experience I want to bring to the PSF. I believe my superpower is leveraging data to empower communities, and I see a direct path to apply that to the current situation. Here is how my experience can help:

1. Telling Our Community's Story with Data: My experience at Apart Research taught me that data, when thoughtfully presented as stories, is the most powerful fundraising tool. I can apply this skill to articulate the PSF’s long-term impact, building stronger cases for the sustained funding and partnerships needed to move beyond short-term grants.

2. Connecting with the AI Sector: The PSF has rightly identified the AI sector as a largely untapped area for support. Having successfully secured funding from organizations worldwide, I have the direct experience and credibility to help bridge this exact gap.

3. Navigating a Crisis with Empathy: I have hands-on experience navigating the exact kind of funding crisis the PSF is facing. I deeply understand the challenge this pause creates for community organizers who rely on these grants. My goal is to apply my skills to get the program back on a sustainable footing so we can continue to support our diverse, international community, which is at the heart of the PSF's mission.

I know this pause is challenging, but I am confident that by working together and telling our story effectively, we can un-pause the Grants Program and build a stronger, more financially sustainable future for the foundation we all care so much about.

Non-Profit Experience

1. Women Who Code(Community Leader and Product Manager) : I began as a community leader during the pandemic, helping our Python workshops grow and aiding almost 3,000 members in upskilling and transitioning into software engineering. My learnings from this experience helped me pitch and secure my role as a Community Product Manager, focusing on leveraging data to understand demographics and validate our impact, such as helping women stay in technical careers over ten years.

2. Women in Machine Learning(Board Director): In 2022, I joined the board of Women in Machine Learning, where I've served for almost three years. My role involves analyzing financial data and social media engagement to ensure we're reaching those who need it most and securing continued support.

3. Apart Research(AI Safety, Community Program Manager). Most recently, I was with an AI safety non-profit. I learned that community isn't just about numbers; it's about the individual stories within that data, bringing together 4,000 community members to tackle critical issues like AI policy.

4. Human Rights Organisation(Thailand and Myanmar): Even outside the technical realm, I've seen data's power: I worked with human rights organizations in Thailand and Myanmar, managing data from refugee camps to ensure vital information was collected and analyzed to protect human rights.

Event-Organising

For me, organizing events isn't just about logistics; it's about creating a space where people feel they belong and can grow. Seeing someone's face light up when they grasp a new concept or connect with a mentor is what has always driven my work in community building. It's been an enriching journey, and I've had the privilege of leading some truly impactful initiatives.

Here's a little more about my experience:

• Women Who Code: I had the honor of leading the organization of 30-40 Python-focused events. We welcomed between 3,000 and 5,000 participants, many of whom were looking to change their careers or upskill in software engineering. It was incredibly moving to see so many people take brave steps toward a new future and to be a small part of their journey.

• Women in Machine Learning: As a board member, I took on significant event responsibilities, including organizing a large workshop during the pandemic. I led a team of 20 volunteers to ensure that everything ran smoothly online for our influential speakers and all the attendees. That experience really drove home how crucial strong, reliable processes are, especially when the community is counting on you.

• Apart Research: At this AI Safety non-profit, I guided a community of nearly 3,600 members and organized over 30-40 hackathons in a single year. My belief is that research, just like technology, should be accessible to everyone, no matter their background.

• Current Research Community: I am currently leading a community of 50 researchers who are focused on prompt optimization research. We have ten different projects, and there are no barriers to entry besides a genuine interest in AI research. It's truly incredible to watch people from all walks of life pitch their ideas and contribute to research without needing traditional qualifications to hold them back.

Speaking and Teaching Experience

For me, getting up to speak has never been about just being on a stage. It's always been about something more: helping other people find their own voice and share their story. There's honestly no better feeling than seeing someone's confidence click into place when they realize they have something important to say.

That belief is really what's been behind all my work.

1. PyCon India Diversity & Inclusion Committee: My time with PyCon really stands out for me. I've spoken at and reviewed for several of them, from India to Singapore and Malaysia. But my seven years on the PyCon India Diversity and Inclusion committee were special. My favorite part wasn't being the one speaking; it was helping first-time speakers get ready for their moment. We'd do dry runs, I'd help them work through the nerves, and we'd find the core of the story they wanted to tell. Watching someone go from nervous to confident is what it's all about for me.

2. LinkedIn Learning Courses Instructor : This idea that tech and AI should be for everyone is a huge passion of mine. It's why I poured so much energy into creating over five courses for LinkedIn Learning on topics from AI safety to Tiny Machine Learning and LLMOps. It's wild to think that those courses have reached between 20,000 and 25,000 students. It feels good to know I'm helping create an accessible starting point in a field that can sometimes feel intimidating.

3. Community Workshops: But it's the hands-on workshops that keep me connected to what's happening on the ground. I've probably run between 100 and 150 seminars over the years, typically one or two per month. I just truly enjoy talking to people and staying in the mix of the community. Honestly, if I know something, I want to make sure other people have the chance to learn it, too

Techncial and Day Job Experience:

My career path might seem varied, but there's always been a common thread: using technology to connect with people and make complex things easier to understand. It all started back in India.

1. Research AI Engineer (Chennai, India): My journey really began as a research AI engineer in Chennai back in 2017. Even then, I realized my job wasn't just about the engineering. It was about being a translator---taking complex AI concepts and making them understandable to different departments. That early experience is where I first saw the vital role of the Python ecosystem in everything we did, and it really laid the groundwork for all my community work to come.

2. AI Engineer and Data Scientist (Continental & DHL) My next move took me into corporate roles, first as an engineer at Continental Automotive and then as a data scientist at DHL Express. This is where I really sharpened my technical skills, especially in data analysis. I learned how to pull meaningful insights out of massive datasets , and that ability to understand data became a cornerstone of how I approach building communities.

3. Community Manager at Women Who Code and Apart Research: That experience with data was what actually led me to jump full-time into the non-profit world. I pitched and created my own role as a Community Product Manager at Women Who Code , and later worked with the AI safety non-profit, Apart Research

4. Developer Advocate (Aleph Alpha)Now, I'm a Developer Advocate at Aleph Alpha, a German AI company. I was so drawn to them because of their commitment to transparency, trust, and fostering open-source development here in Europe. It feels like the perfect blend of my technical side and my passion for community. My role lets me work with cutting-edge AI while also advocating for open-source initiatives and the Python community. I get to be embedded in both worlds, ensuring the insights from my technical work can directly inform and support the open-source community I care so much about.

Vision and Goals

When you look at my background, what I bring to the PSF board is a unique blend of data expertise and a deep understanding of community building, especially in challenging times. As I've seen at Women Who Code and APART Research, data is truly a superpower. It's not just about numbers; it's about telling the compelling stories of individuals and communities. This sets the stage for my vision and goals for the PSF.

The PSF has an incredible history, spanning over 20, perhaps even 30 years. Throughout this time, it has touched countless Python developers and community members worldwide. My vision is to help the PSF tell this powerful story more effectively, especially to donors and partners. We need to articulate why the PSF's mission is so vital and why its work must continue. My experience at Women Who Code, where we used data to showcase the impact on almost 350,000 members globally, has shown me how instrumental data can be in securing support and demonstrating value.

The Python community is incredibly diverse and global. I've personally experienced this journey, starting in India, moving to Singapore, and now living in Europe. Python developers, like myself, often move and carry the community spirit and the ecosystem with them. It's crucial to highlight these global narratives to donors and organizations. This human-centric approach, backed by data, can truly demonstrate the enduring impact of the PSF.

I'm aware that the PSF, like many non-profits, faces funding hurdles, especially with current grant challenges. I genuinely believe my experience in leveraging data to bridge these funding gaps, as I did with APART Research, can be incredibly valuable to the PSF. My goal is to apply this skill directly to:

• By using data to articulate the PSF's long-term impact and reach, we can build stronger cases for sustained funding and partnerships, moving beyond short-term grants.

• Through data-driven insights into member needs, preferences, and engagement patterns, we can tailor programs and resources to directly enhance their experience and foster a more vibrant community.

• My experience in DEI initiatives and creating accessible educational content, informed by understanding audience demographics through data, will directly contribute to expanding Python's reach to underserved communities globally.

I'm confident that my data-driven and community-centric approach will help the PSF continue to thrive in the coming years, directly addressing my vision and goals for the organization.