Meet Jieying Yan our Team Lead Cognitive AI

Welcome, Jieying, we’re very happy to have you! Could you please start by telling us about your current role at Hypatos and what it entails?  

I currently serve as the Team Lead for Cognitive AI at Hypatos. My role combines technical and managerial responsibilities. On the technical side, I focus on research, conception, and implementation of solutions powered by Large Language Models (LLMs). On the managerial side, I handle tasks typical of a team leader, ensuring that the team functions efficiently and effectively as a cohesive unit within the organization.

Can you share a bit about your journey before joining Hypatos? What led you to your current career path, and were there any pivotal experiences that shaped your professional trajectory?

Before joining Hypatos, I followed a diverse professional path. Starting as a BI Product Manager, I developed a passion for BI and data analytics, transitioning to roles as a Data Analyst and then a Data Engineer. After four years as a Data Engineer, I shifted to research and machine learning, joining Hypatos in 2020 as part of the Data Science and Machine Learning team.

At Hypatos, I’ve explored advanced topics like transformer models and deep learning while also taking on managerial responsibilities. Even after four years, the constant learning and growth opportunities remain one of the most rewarding aspects of my journey.

What ignited your interest in Machine Learning / AI?

My interest in Machine Learning and AI stems from the way it transforms advanced mathematics and computing into practical, real-world applications. It’s fascinating to work with data, build models, and uncover patterns that lead to meaningful insights. What excites me the most is the ability to drive optimization and improvements through ML and AI. I find immense satisfaction in those moments when data and models come together to deliver significant advancements and tangible results.

Over the past couple of months, I know that you’ve worked hard on a transition from a technical role to team leadership—what drew you to this path, and how has the shift been so far?

Early in my career, I focused on honing my technical skills and enjoyed being an individual contributor. But as I took on bigger projects, I realized that success required more than just technical expertise—it also meant navigating ambiguity, communicating effectively, and collaborating across teams. This inspired me to step up and take on a leadership role.

The transition had its challenges, but it’s been a rewarding journey. With great support, especially communication coaching from HR, I was able to grow both personally and professionally, building stronger communication skills along the way.

Reflecting on your four-plus years with us, how has it felt to see the company grow, and how have you grown alongside it?

Reflecting on my four-plus years with the company, I’ve witnessed remarkable growth. The organization has expanded significantly, with more specialized teams focusing on distinct areas. It’s inspiring to see how the company’s vision and strategy have evolved, and how effectively they’re being implemented through a structured and dynamic approach.

This growth has also provided me with opportunities to explore new and interesting challenges, keeping my work engaging and fulfilling. Staying at the forefront of cutting-edge technology has been a constant motivator for me to keep learning and evolving alongside the company.

What’s been the most rewarding or standout moment for you at Hypatos?

One of the most rewarding moments was leading the development of Hypatos Insights about two and a half years ago. I had the opportunity to drive the creation of our advanced analytics platform from inception to execution. Working closely with senior leadership like Uli and He, I was fortunate to receive their sponsorship and support for this initiative.

What stands out to me about Hypatos is its openness to new ideas and innovation. This experience was especially meaningful because I feel it contributed to making the organization more data driven and forward thinking.

Were there any key challenges in moving into a management role, and how did you tackle them?

Transitioning into management taught me the importance of communication and listening. Unlike my technical roles, where I mainly focused on coding, I now engage with diverse perspectives and value ideas that differ from mine.

Aligning research with business needs has been another challenge, requiring collaboration across teams. I’ve found that regular one-on-one check-ins and follow-ups are key to keeping things on track.

Balancing research’s experimental nature with the need for stable, production-ready solutions has been difficult but rewarding. While occasional issues arise, they’re part of the innovation process, and the results make it worthwhile.

What’s one thing about leading a team that you’ve come to really enjoy or appreciate?

I truly enjoy the sense of accomplishment we achieve together as a team. The AI team works on a variety of fascinating and innovative topics, with each member often exploring different areas. It feels like assembling a puzzle, with each piece sparkling with potential. I love diving into the unknown alongside the team, collaborating to fit the pieces together and discovering how they combine to create a bigger, cohesive picture. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our individual efforts come together to achieve something remarkable.

How would you describe the Hypatos culture, and what’s a team moment that made you smile?

Diversity and openness are the words that come to mind. At Hypatos, diversity goes beyond just being from different countries or regions; it’s about embracing and valuing a variety of perspectives and opinions, even when they differ from our own.

One of my favorite aspects is the team's sense of humor—our quirky, nerdy jokes never fail to make me laugh. Over time, we’ve even developed our own “team language,” which adds a unique and fun dynamic to our interactions.

Lastly, what are your aspirations for the future, both within your role at Hypatos and beyond?

During my master's studies, I focused on information system and business process automation, which sparked my interest in how technology can improve efficiency. After graduating, I spent several years working in data engineering, and as we enter the era of LLMs and AI agents, I see the potential for data engineering to play an even more critical role in business process automation. I aspire to combine my expertise in AI, process automation, and data engineering to help build the next generation of automation applications, driving innovation and making impactful contributions to the future of this field.  

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