Booz Allen’s Haejin Hwang: Finding Opportunity in Math, Data Science, and Social Impact

School—a state-wide algebra exam, to be exact—set Haejin Hwang on the path to a career in data science at Booz Allen. 

She didn’t expect to do well on the test. But after spending hours preparing, she earned a perfect score—and learned a valuable lesson.

“This experience helped me gain confidence in my abilities,” Hwang said.

Pursuing data science—and becoming a leader

Today at Booz Allen, Hwang works with the civil government team to help clients work through challenges with people, processes, and technology. This includes using change management, high-impact automation, and data analysis to improve business operations.

Hwang helps others pursue similar career paths through involvement with Booz Allen’s Women in Data Science (WiDS) initiative. She started by volunteering for a gender equality “design-a-thon” and now helps lead the group’s education committee. In this role, she’s developed programs, such as brown bag lunches, through which Booz Allen employees can exchange expertise and catalyze collaborative learning and mutual growth.

Carrying on a family tradition of selflessness

Hwang learned the value of giving back to others early in life. She watched her parents raise three children while juggling their own educations after moving to the United States from South Korea.

Hwang has applied this spirit of selflessness and hard work to internships at several nonprofits while at Cornell University, Oxford University, and to her volunteer work at Booz Allen. She’s helping Development Solutions Organizations address data intake challenges to improve the accuracy of data representing underserved populations and through Compass Pro Bono is helping another nonprofit optimize its use of data.

Read more about Haejin Hwang and data science at Booz Allen.