Emily Pastewka
About Emily Pastewka
Emily Pastewka serves as the Senior Director of Data Products and Machine Learning at Rent The Runway, where she has worked since 2020. She has a strong background in data science and analytics, with previous roles at Uber and a solid educational foundation in computer science and economics.
Current Role at Rent the Runway
Emily Pastewka serves as the Senior Director of Data Products & Machine Learning at Rent the Runway. In this role, she leads a team focused on integrating machine learning models across various business areas, including customer experience, buying and merchandising, and transportation and warehousing. Since joining the company in 2020, she has been instrumental in developing and deploying models that utilize diverse technical domains such as recommender systems, personalized search and ranking, computer vision, dynamic pricing, and natural language processing. Additionally, she has contributed to building a scalable platform to support the company's rapid business growth.
Previous Experience at Rent the Runway
Prior to her current position, Emily Pastewka worked at Rent the Runway as the Interim Head of Data Engineering from 2021 to 2022. During her 11-month tenure, she oversaw data engineering initiatives that supported the company's data-driven strategies. Her experience in this role laid the groundwork for her subsequent leadership in data products and machine learning.
Experience at Uber
Emily Pastewka held multiple roles at Uber from 2016 to 2020. She began as a Data Scientist and Tech Lead in Strategic Finance, where she worked for four years. She then transitioned to the role of Strategy & Planning Lead for Global Community Operations for one year, followed by her position as Data Science Manager for the Customer Engagement Product for three months in 2020. Her work focused on enhancing customer engagement through data-driven insights and analytics.
Education and Expertise
Emily Pastewka has a strong academic background in computer science and economics. She earned a Master of Science in Computer Science from Columbia University. Additionally, she completed non-degree coursework in Computer Science at Stanford University and participated in Executive Education at Harvard Business School, focusing on leadership, strategy, and culture. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science & Policy from Duke University.
Early Career and Other Roles
Emily Pastewka began her career as a Research Assistant at Duke University's Economics Department in 2010. She then worked as a Growth Lead at Acceleprise for three months in 2012. From 2013 to 2015, she served as a Senior Analyst at Opower, contributing to data analysis and insights. Her diverse experiences have equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of data science and analytics across various industries.