Angela Priest

I'm a data geek and process nerd who loves to build people up and help them grow. For 20 years, I've been turning chaos into order at companies across all stages of growth to ensure that their teams flourish. I'm now throwing my passion for helping people into helping PhDs, PostDocs, and Mid-Career Researchers get jobs in industry. My goal is simple: to help brilliant minds thrive outside the academic world and make real impact in their new careers.

Check out my website to learn more: www.alma.me

Co-Founder and COO

At Alma.Me, we help PhDs kick start their careers in industry through on-demand courses, online communities, networking, and resources to help them make the transition from academia to industry with confidence.

Data science, ML & AI @ Walmart | ex-Amazon | Mom of 👦👧 | Sharing Real Stories to Inspire Change ✨

Data Science & AI Transformation Leader | Generative AI Pioneer | $200MM+ Value Creator

As a dynamic leader in data science and AI transformation, I drive enterprise-wide adoption of cutting-edge technologies, delivering generative AI solutions that have unlocked over $200 million in measurable business value. With deep expertise in machine learning, AI strategy, and responsible AI governance, I specialize in aligning advanced analytics with strategic goals to optimize workflows, enhance decision-making, and accelerate innovation.

At my current organization, I pioneered a company-wide AI transformation, architecting robust frameworks, upskilling 200+ team members, and embedding ethical AI practices into mission-critical workflows. I thrive at the intersection of data science and strategy, developing predictive models that improved efficiency by 15% and reduced cycle times by 80%. My leadership approach cultivates high-performing teams that consistently exceed expectations and deliver measurable results.

Beyond technical expertise, my background as an educator and mentor empowers me to communicate complex concepts with clarity, fostering collaboration across engineering, product, and executive leadership teams. I hold a Ph.D. in Economics and am passionate about exploring the transformative potential of data science and AI to build solutions that shape the future responsibly and inclusively.

Specialties: Machine Learning | Generative AI | LLMs | Data Science | AI Strategy | Responsible AI | Causal Inference | Data Storytelling | Team Leadership | Stakeholder Engagement

Let’s connect to explore how data science and AI can drive transformation, optimize workflows, and deliver exceptional business outcomes for your organization.

Irena Palamani Xhurxhi Ph.D.

Raising two kids while doing my PhD taught me this:
You will never feel successful at work if home is falling apart.

They are not separate lives. They are one life. Integrate them intentionally or watch both suffer. 

Success is holistic or it’s hollow.

I am excited to be joining the AI Workflows Bootcamp as a guest speaker. I will be part of an AI Chat focused on AI leadership, where I will also take live questions from participants.

This bootcamp is designed to help data scientists stay ahead in an AI-driven market by learning how to design and automate workflows that can 10× their impact and truly differentiate them.

If you are considering joining, you can use JAN26-25-IRENA for 25% off (limited to 10 uses).

Learn more and enroll 👉 futureproofds.com

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I don’t get burned out from hard work.
I get burned out from meaningless work.

When I left academia for tech, I chased purpose—not comfort. Find work that matters to you. The hours take care of themselves.

After teaching full-time, earning a PhD, and raising two children simultaneously:
Rest is not idleness. Rest is strategy.

You can’t build a career marathon on sprint energy. Protect your downtime like you protect your deadlines.

65+ job rejections before my tech breakthrough taught me:
Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. The courage to continue is everything.

Each “no” was preparation for the “yes” that changed my career. Keep going. Giving up is the only real failure.

I applied to 65+ jobs before landing my first tech role.

Rejection after rejection taught me something crucial:
Knowing the way forward matters less than being willing to show others you are figuring it out alongside them. 

Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the foundation of trust.

Motherhood didn’t make me less ambitious.
It made me more focused.
I stopped wasting time on things that didn’t matter. I got ruthless about priority. My ambition evolved—it didn’t disappear.

Every failed job application was data.
Not about my worth—about finding the right fit.

Failure isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of intelligence. I failed my way into tech, and I would do it again.

Here is what nobody tells you about leadership transitions:
People don’t quit bad projects. They quit bad leaders.

As I moved from economist to AI tech lead, I watched this play out repeatedly. 

Culture isn’t built in all-hands meetings. It’s built in daily interactions where people feel seen.

The safest teams I have built have one thing in common:
People tell the truth without fear.

Not because there are no consequences, but because honesty is rewarded more than perfection. Create that environment first. Everything else follows.

After years in tech leadership, I have learned this:
The best leaders don’t create followers.

They create more leaders.

Every time I have invested in someone else’s growth—even when it took time I “didn’t have”—it came back tenfold. 

Your team’s success IS your success.

Work-life balance isn’t something I found.
It’s something I create—daily.

Some days it’s messy. Some days it’s beautiful. But it’s always intentional. Stop searching for balance. Start building it.

The only real mistake is the one you don’t learn from.
I made plenty transitioning from economics to AI to people science.

Each one taught me something that books couldn’t. Fail forward. Extract the lesson. Move on.

Teamwork really does make the dream work.
But here’s what they don’t tell you:
It takes intention, vulnerability, and trust-building every single day. Teams aren’t magic—they are work. Beautiful, worthwhile work.

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Irena Palamani Xhurxhi Ph.D.

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The Battle

Angela Priest

Irena Palamani Xhurxhi Ph.D.

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Irena Palamani Xhurxhi Ph.D.'s LinkedIn Performance

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