Cathy (.
About Cathy (.
Cathy is a Senior Manager at Oportun with a strong background in data science and analytics, having previously held positions at Deloitte and Discover Financial Services. She holds multiple advanced degrees in engineering and data sciences and possesses extensive skills in programming and project management.
Work at Oportun
Cathy currently serves as a Senior Manager at Oportun, a position she has held since 2022. Prior to this role, she worked as a Manager at the same organization from 2020 to 2022. In her current role, she applies her extensive project management skills and expertise in data analysis to drive initiatives within the company. Oportun focuses on providing accessible financial services, and Cathy's contributions are aligned with the organization's mission to support underserved communities.
Previous Experience at Deloitte and Discover Financial Services
Cathy worked at Deloitte as a Data Analytics Fellow for the Deloitte Foundation from 2016 to 2017. This role was based in the Washington D.C. Metro Area and lasted for nine months. Following her time at Deloitte, she joined Discover Financial Services as a Lead Data Scientist, where she worked for three years from 2017 to 2020 in the Greater Chicago Area. In these positions, she developed her analytical skills and gained experience in data-driven decision-making.
Education and Expertise
Cathy holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Medical Engineering/Sciences from the National University of Singapore, where she studied from 2011 to 2015. She also earned a Master of Science (MS) in Analytics - Data Sciences from Georgetown University between 2015 and 2017, and a Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology from 2020 to 2023. Additionally, she obtained a Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology - BME from Zhejiang University from 2006 to 2010. Her educational background supports her specialization in optimization, machine learning, applied statistics, and database management.
Technical Skills and Proficiencies
Cathy possesses proficiency in several programming languages and tools, including R, Python (with libraries such as Pandas, Numpy, and scikit-learn), SAS, SQL, Scala, Hadoop, MapReduce, Spark, Linux, and AWS. Her technical skills are complemented by over five years of experience in mathematical computation and data analysis. This expertise enables her to effectively tackle complex data challenges and contribute to her roles in project management and data science.
Background and Early Career
Cathy began her career as a Financial Management Program Intern at ING in Hong Kong in 2010. She later worked as a Technology Consultant and PhD Researcher at the National University of Singapore from 2011 to 2015. These early roles provided her with foundational experience in technology and research, shaping her career trajectory in data science and analytics.