By Gia Katwa, Editorial Intern

“I am a strong advocate for diversity and inclusivity in AI. In my leadership role, I've maintained an equal gender ratio within my team, and I actively champion policies that support underrepresented groups.” Today’s woman dreamer, Debasmita Das is a woman leader to know in data science and technology, with experience at Mastercard, J.P. Morgan, and EXL. In her current role, she leads a data science team at Mastercard that is developing AI-driven products for the global Mastercard network. She has authored papers and patents within the finance domain, and is particularly motivated by the positive impact of AI in addressing global challenges. We are excited to share her journey on Women Who Win!

1. Tell us your story. Right now you lead a team of data scientists at mastercard and have experience in finance and AI. How did you get to this point and what was your journey like ?

My professional journey spans over 8 years and encompasses a diverse range of roles and achievements within the fields of Finance and Data Science. I graduated from the Indian Institute of Management in Lucknow in 2015 and have worked with great companies that promote learning and innovation such as EXL, J. P. Morgan, and now Mastercard. 

I've focused on areas like fraud detection, anti-money laundering, HR analytics, and risk assessment for credit cards and mortgages. In my current capacity, I lead a data science team at Mastercard, where we develop AI-driven products for the global Mastercard network. I've had the privilege of authoring papers and patents within the finance domain. I've been particularly motivated by the positive impact of AI in addressing global challenges, such as anti-money laundering by developing AI and graph-based solutions that protect businesses and consumers from financial losses and security risks. I believe AI's potential to augment human capabilities and enhance decision-making is reshaping the financial sector. The applications I've been involved in, including detecting fraudulent activities during COVID-19, underscore AI's capacity to transform industries and contribute to positive change. Additionally, my work on generative AI has broader applications in enhancing customer support, personalized marketing, anomaly detection, and synthetic data generation. These efforts have led to resource savings and revenue generation within the industry. The influence of remarkable mentors has been pivotal in my journey, contributing to shaping my leadership style, technical expertise, and personal brand. Their guidance and support have empowered me to excel and drive innovation in the AI landscape. 

I am a strong advocate for diversity and inclusivity in AI. In my leadership role, I've maintained an equal gender ratio within my team, and I actively champion policies that support underrepresented groups. By participating in events like Girl4Tech, I contribute to increasing representation of women and diversity in AI. 

Additionally, I have my friends who never get tired to support and motivate me. They are also a valuable part of my journey.

2. It’s quite incredible all the work you’ve done, from developing and implementing AI-based cybersecurity solutions, resulting in multi-million-dollar revenue generation and leading projects such as Fraud and Anti-Money Laundering Solution Suite resulting in substantial fraud reduction and time savings…you go girl !! - Tell us about your process in coming up with such innovative solutions and how you effectively manage your team and showcase yourself as a strong leader.

The key is to always try to solve something in an innovative way and always keeping an eye open for the end results – the value that the solution will deliver. In the industry, we work closely with different stakeholders to identify challenges, working with cross-disciplinary team explorations to develop multiple proof of concepts before finalizing the end solution through iterative testing. But to top everything, I focus on keeping myself up-to-date with the latest researches and technologies. It is super difficult but I try to keep aside some dedicated time in a week for my personal studies.

To manage my team effectively, I emphasize a sense of personal accountability, transparent communication, skill growth, and recognizing achievements. I lead by example and advocate for my team's needs, ensuring their contributions are visible through regular updates and participation. 

3. We were excited by the type of projects you work on in your current role. Is this career path something you’ve always wanted to do or did a turn of unexpected events lead you into this position?  

I didn’t have anything planned out when I started my career. I always loved coding so when I landed a job in analytics out of campus, I wasn’t unhappy and was open to exploring. What I would call a turning point in my career – I also consider it a very lucky encounter is joining J. P. Morgan in 2017. Honestly speaking, before 2017, I had only heard the word “machine learning” one or two times. I was introduced to the field of AI by Sandeep Yerapotina, MD, JP Morgan Chase when I was working as an analyst in the firm, and I owe my overall career trajectory to his amazing one-to-one mentorship. I was thrilled by the machine's ability to learn, adapt, and improve over time, enabling it to solve complex problems, uncover hidden patterns, and generate innovative solutions having a higher edge over existing ones. Apart from the technical guidance, he taught me to ‘love my work’ (I can’t put this in any better way) – which later I realized, has installed in me the intrinsic motivation and willingness to invest time and effort in going the extra mile – that translates to a higher quality of work, increased creativity, and desire for continuous learning and improvement. That is also something I want to impart to my team.

I love coding and mathematics and the ample scope of research and innovation opportunities in Mastercard provided a motivation to explore newer algorithms, ideas, theories, and concepts and try to implement those to solve existing problems in the financial industry. I am also happy to see the impact of my work, which is deployed bringing in positive responses for business and revenue for the company.

Also, I am very lucky to have worked with some of the best leaders in the industry as mentors who have inspired me by providing valuable guidance, support, and encouragement throughout my professional journey; offering a safe space for open communication, constructive feedback to embrace challenges, and learning from my failures to reach my fullest potential. I got mentors who made me understand the importance of a strong personal brand in today's competitive professional landscape. I am continuously working on my personal traits that define me and set me apart from others and focusing a lot on establishing credibility and building trust.

I also want to mention Joe Kaczorowski whose one statement had a great impact on my personal leadership style; I have two main duties: facilitating my boss's success by providing necessary resources and enhancing their image, and creating opportunities to showcase and nurture the abilities and accomplishments of my reportees.

4. It’s no news that the finance and technology industry is very male dominated, did you ever feel intimidated by this ? How did you push yourself to get your voice and ideas out there ? What advice would you give young girls who are beginning their careers in these industries around putting yourself out there ? Were there any situations where people doubted you and your abilities and how did you overcome it and prove them wrong? 

Ever since I began my journey in the finance and technology sector, it was evident that the field was largely male dominated. However, I learned some invaluable lessons: I found it crucial to identify good mentors. I am lucky to come across very good mentors who offer guidance, share their experiences, and help me find my footing in a challenging landscape. Second thing I always pep-talk myself with "Believe in yourself." I always keep a list of my achievements, which became my source of reassurance on those tough days. And have a clearly drafted vision board of where I see myself down the line. Early on, I recognized the importance of asserting myself and voicing my opinions. It wasn't always easy, but I practiced in more intimate settings, which eventually gave me the confidence to share in larger gatherings. To stay ahead, I invested time in continuous learning. If you want to keep up with the game, you've to stay curious. With the dynamics of tech and finance always changing, there was always something new on the horizon. By keeping myself updated, I could contribute meaningful insights during discussions, reinforcing my value to the team.

Networking is very important - engaging with peers in the industry, attending seminars, and joining organizations that supported women in tech and finance provided me with a robust support system. Whenever I encountered doubt, either from myself or others, I used it as fuel to push forward. I believe it’s about how to nurture the personal filter mechanism and only focus on the positives. Always eager to improve, I actively sought feedback. While praises boosted my morale, constructive criticism provided a roadmap for personal and professional growth. I'd say to anyone stepping into the tech or finance arena: Understand and embrace your unique value. You bring a fresh perspective, one that can drive innovation. And remember, every setback is not a defeat but a lesson. Embrace it, learn from it, and let it propel you forward.

5. You’ve had such a successful career thus far, but if you could go back, what advice would you give to your younger self? Is there anything you would do differently?

One thing that would do differently from an early age is reframing failures as invaluable learning opportunities. I understand now but in my earlier years, I sometimes allowed setbacks to deter me, but I've since learned that each stumble is a stepping stone towards personal and professional growth. While I value the path I've walked, perhaps I would have explored more opportunities, I would take more risks - I've learned that these moments of adversity are where the most profound growth occurs. Maintain a healthier work-life balance and proactively invest more on personal health, fitness and well-being. 

One thing that would do differently from an early age is reframing failures as invaluable learning opportunities. I understand now but in my earlier years, I sometimes allowed setbacks to deter me, but I've since learned that each stumble is a stepping stone towards personal and professional growth. While I value the path I've walked, perhaps I would have explored more opportunities, I would take more risks - I've learned that these moments of adversity are where the most profound growth occurs. Maintain a healthier work-life balance and proactively invest more on personal health, fitness and well-being. 

Thank you Debasmita for sharing your story with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!