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Demet Dagdelen
Director of ML and Experimentation
Professional Background
Demet Dagdelen is an accomplished full-stack data scientist and a visionary leader in the field of machine learning and experimentation, boasting over 10 years of extensive industry experience. Currently serving as the Director of ML and Experimentation at Automattic, Demet plays a pivotal role in shaping the direction and strategy of machine learning initiatives across the organization. With a strong management background of over five years, she leads three multi-disciplinary teams focused on deploying cutting-edge machine learning techniques and experimentation methodologies to drive significant business outcomes.
Demet's expertise lies at the nexus of machine learning, causal inference, and network science, where she has successfully spearheaded large-scale projects that have demonstrably enhanced revenue and operational efficiency. By leveraging her deep understanding of data science principles, she has driven innovative solutions in marketing and sales, including uplift modeling and geo experiments that have yielded substantial financial savings and incremental revenue growth. Her leadership and strategic insights in these areas have significantly influenced Automattic's data-driven decision-making processes and business strategies.
Education and Achievements
Demet Dagdelen's academic journey reflects a solid foundation in both mathematical reasoning and media studies, equipping her with the analytical prowess necessary for tackling complex data challenges. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Media Studies from Eotvos Lorand University, where she honed her skills in effective communication and data interpretation.
Furthering her education, Demet pursued a Master's degree in New Media at the prestigious University of Amsterdam. She also embarked on a Mathematics Bachelor of Science program, further deepening her quantitative expertise before transitioning to Amsterdam to expand her academic horizons. Additionally, she benefited from an enriching experience at Harvard University, where she participated in a summer school program that solidified her interest in computational social and political science and mathematical logic.
Key Projects and Notable Achievements
Throughout her career, Demet Dagdelen has led numerous projects that have redefined how data is utilized within marketing and sales frameworks.
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Uplift Modeling: Developed predictive models for marketing and sales campaigns that effectively doubled the total annual incremental revenue by intelligently targeting only 30% of users, showcasing her strategic thinking and proficiency in data-driven marketing.
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Geo Experiments: Designed and executed geo experiments that evaluated the impacts of advertisement campaigns, resulting in cost savings of $35 million annually for Automattic, exemplifying her ability to translate complex data analyses into tangible business value.
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Synthetic Control Experiments Research: Pioneered research on synthetic control designs for understanding the effects of interventions enacted without traditional A/B testing, enhancing the robustness of experimental methodologies.
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Marketing Campaign Automation: Championed the automation of marketing campaigns through machine learning and automated experimental analyses, significantly improving campaign efficiency and effectiveness.
Demet's unwavering enthusiasm for the online ads industry, particularly in terms of measurement and incrementality, underscores her belief in the power of analytics to unveil genuine impacts in the advertising space. She approaches her work with a commitment to building comprehensive data products that are both scalable and robust, which are crucial for modern business environments.
Moreover, Demet firmly believes in fostering a culture of data maturity by demonstrating the significant value that statistical and scientific methods offer to meet diverse business needs and optimize existing processes. Her work is grounded in a robust technical skill set, predominantly utilizing Python and the innovative Hadoop tech stack.
Organizational Contributions
Demet has had a remarkable trajectory at Automattic, where she has rapidly ascended through the ranks due to her outstanding contributions and leadership capabilities. She began her journey with the organization as a Senior Data Scientist and has progressively taken on more significant roles, serving as the Principal Data Scientist in Marketing Science, and subsequently as the Director of ML.
Her previous experiences also include serving as a Lead Data Scientist at Maven Seven Network Research Inc., where she played a crucial role in driving data analysis and insight generation. Her early roles, which encompassed positions such as Data Analyst at The Next Web and Social Media Analyst at Sanoma Budapest, laid the groundwork for her future success in data science and analysis.
Demet Dagdelen continues to be a beacon of expertise and innovation in machine learning and experimentation, committed to leveraging her skills and knowledge to create impactful solutions that guide organizations into the future of data-driven decision-making.
