Laura Mahalel
About Laura Mahalel
Laura Mahalel serves as the Head of Engineering Education at Two Sigma, where she has worked since 2018. She has a diverse background in technical writing and education, with previous roles at companies such as Microsoft, Intel, and BNY Mellon.
Work at Two Sigma
Laura Mahalel has served as the Head of Engineering Education at Two Sigma since 2018. In this role, she has focused on enhancing the onboarding processes for new employees and interns, streamlining these processes to accommodate up to 300 individuals annually. Mahalel has implemented customized training programs that have significantly reduced ramp-up time by 60%. Additionally, she has orchestrated the engagement of 300 internal volunteers to deliver approximately 30 peer-led classes and talks each month, promoting a culture of knowledge sharing and upskilling within the organization.
Previous Experience
Before her current position, Mahalel held various roles in notable companies. She worked at BNY Mellon as a Senior Technical Documentation Specialist from 2015 to 2016. Prior to that, she was a User Experience Writer at Microsoft from 2007 to 2011. Mahalel also served as a Technical Writer at Credit Suisse and as a Content Strategist at UBS Investment Bank. Her early career included a decade at Intel Corporation as an Information Developer, where she defined and implemented product documentation standards for internal software products.
Education and Expertise
Laura Mahalel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy from Barnard College, which she completed from 1988 to 1992. She furthered her education with a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995. In 2023, she completed executive education programs at Columbia Business School, focusing on Leading Strategic Growth and Change, as well as Persuasion: Influence without Authority. These educational experiences have equipped her with skills in leadership development and strategic growth.
Achievements in Engineering Education
In her role at Two Sigma, Mahalel has created tailored leadership development initiatives for technical managers and staff engineers, achieving a high 'would recommend' rating of over 90%. She introduced specialized programs in critical subjects, which received an 80% approval rating and increased exploration of new topics among engineers. Mahalel also expanded the offerings of the Hacker Lab, doubling unique participants and fostering innovation. Her targeted coaching for over 200 instructors and speakers annually resulted in a 30% increase in engagement and knowledge retention.