The latest installment in our Q&A series with women leaders in data features Prerana Singhal, founding engineer at Traceable. (Read our previous Q&A here.)

Prerana Singhal loves a good puzzle, so it’s no surprise that she began her career as a coder, with an interest in deep learning and natural language processing. A founding engineer at Traceable, she currently focuses on data protection, threat detection, and security policies, but she’s all about “getting my hands dirty with anything in tech – product-planning, problem-solving, managing, mentoring, designing, coding, debugging, testing.” You can follow Singhal on LinkedIn and read more about her thoughts on women in engineering here.

What inspired you to choose a career in data and become a leader in the field?

I started my career as a passionate software developer – a hardcore coder. When we write algorithms, we account for all corner cases, even at the cost of complexity and resources. But eventually, my experience in the industry taught me that more often than not, real data does not behave in accordance with the theoretical simulation. This fascinated me – understanding the behavior and characteristics of different types of data and favoring the practical analysis of data as opposed to the theoretical numbers. Now, I enjoy the fusion of coding algorithms, data analysis, and machine learning to develop useful tools and visualize the direct impact.

Where do you see the future of women in data?

In recent times, more women have been stepping up to pursue careers in data, not just as helpers in data analysis – which used to be the trend – but now getting more involved in the tech aspects and striving for leadership roles in the world of data. Time and again, women have proved that they are just as capable of excelling in data and tech departments as their male counterparts. With proper encouragement, more female minds will be making sizable contributions.

What has been your biggest challenge as a woman in data?

There have been instances when I wasn’t given the career advancement I deserved as compared to my peers or my opinions were not acknowledged – especially when they contradicted the general direction. Such instances have eventually been recognized either with some excuse or a subtle apology with promises for the future. I have always tried to get past these issues with more vigor and determination, conveying my thoughts with more conviction and making sure that my work speaks for itself in the long run.

Fun fact about yourself?

I love playing and solving any kind of puzzle. One time, I got bored solving 3×3 Sudokus, so I started playing – and eventually creating – 4×4 Sudokus. 

Did you know? We produced our first Women in Data Management and Governance half-day conference at Enterprise Data World 2024. Hear the live recording and join the community by signing up for our Women in Data Management and Governance newsletter.