About Helena

Hello! I'm Helena (Qiaoshan) Yu, and thank you for stopping by to explore my corner, where data science meets impactful social change.

My story is a bit unconventional. As a young woman, my heart was set on the intersection of arts and psychology, with a particular passion for filmmaking. I was fascinated by the profound influence of storytelling – its ability to shape minds and inspire collective actions for positive social change. However, as a Chinese immigrant, the expectations set for me leaned heavily towards more "practical" pursuits. This nudged me toward dual degrees in Mathematics and Business Administration at the University of Waterloo and Wilfred Laurier University simultaneously. While this path was chosen for me, it serendipitously introduced me to the world of data science – a field where I discovered that numbers, like films, can tell compelling stories that drive change.

My professional journey has spanned various industries like financial services, technology, insurance, retail, telecommunications, consulting, nonprofits, and banking. I have led the development of ETL pipelines, state-of-the-art recommender systems, RAG-based LLM applications, as well as statistical and deep learning based models for fraud detection. anomaly detection, and forecasting. I have also led pro bono teams at Statistical Without Borders that worked on various projects – database design for Speranta Terrei, survey design, survey analysis and NLP analysis for Global Count survey in 2023, as well as data engineering and predictive models for intervening human trafficking for Prevention Now. This diverse exposure has not only accelerated my career growth but has also enriched my understanding of how data and AI can be applied across different sectors to drive business and societal impact effectively.

Despite the rapid progression in my career, the path was not without its challenges. The workplaces in settler-colonial states often amplify bias and inequalities, not just through sexism, but also classism, homophobia, racism, ageism, ableism. Women, particularly BIWOC, frequently endure greater scrutiny and discrimination compared to their male colleagues. Contributions made by women and their technical expertise are often overlooked or dismissed. Additionally, exclusive cliques marginalize BIPOC and BIWOC further and block their career paths. Furthermore, there are rigid expectations on how women should behave; deviations from these norms are unfairly judged, and at times, women are even criticized by other women for not fitting certain stereotypes.

Navigating this landscape of entrenched biases can impose a heavy mental strain, especially when striving to meet professional standards that seem designed more to stifle rather than to support diversity. My experiences of sexism, racism, ageism and ableism as a Chinese immigrant women who is neurodivergent in Canada has led me to challenge the status quo while advocating for myself and uplifting those around me, especially young women of colour, alongside other amazing leaders in the DEI and allyship space. My commitment has been to remain authentic, to forge connections with allies, and to create spaces where everyone can thrive without having to conform to ideals that keep the status quo.

Currently, as the founder and leader of the Climate Resilient Communities project at Transition Toronto, I work alongside ~30 amazing data and climate change professionals to address climate anxiety among youth and disadvantaged communities by enhancing their climate resilience through innovative programming, strategic partnerships, and data-driven solutions. Our objective is to improve the availability, access and utilization of climate data and insights they need to identify their community assets and climate vulnerabilities, and to co-create climate adaptation solutions with diverse stakeholders, with the aim to foster a more resilient, sustainable and equitable society.

Through this blog, I hope to consolidate insights into my work, explore the latest trends in data and AI, discuss how we can use data and AI for social good and share resources that empower marginalized communities. My aim is to make these topics approachable and engaging, hoping to inspire those who may not see themselves typically represented in fields of data, AI and technology.

Thank you for joining me here! I'm looking forward to sharing, learning, and growing with you. I hope you find inspiration and encourage you to connect, engage, and perhaps even start a dialogue by sharing.

Together, let's create meaningful and lasting change for a more resilient, sustainable and equitable future.

Helena's Helianthus is an independent publication launched in April 2024 by Helena (Qiaoshan) Yu. If you subscribe today, you'll get full access to the website as well as email newsletters about new content when it's available. Your subscription makes this site possible, and allows Helena's Helianthus to continue to exist. Thank you!

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