Lila Josey James

Technologist passionate about connecting people and technology.

Technical Expertise

I am a technologist with global experience tackling human-computer interaction challenges within the fintech sector. My career highlights include:

🌍 Consulting Expertise: Advising MasterCard in São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Toronto on machine learning, databases, and APIs.
🤖 State-of-the-Art Solutions: Developing and deploying cutting-edge NLP/LLM systems with Georgia Tech, specifically optimizing information pipelines from vector encoding to prediction.
🌟 Global Collaboration: Partnering with engineers across six continents to craft bespoke software for data pipelines in large banks undergoing data migrations.

Whether guiding first-graders or C-level executives, one truth remains constant:

The success of any endeavor relies more on how a team functions together than on the sum of individual skills.

Feel free to reach out for opportunities or collaborations!

📍 Location: Brooklyn, NY

✉️ Email: lilaresearch@gmail.com

🌐 Portfolio: Resume & Portfolio

Georgia Institute of Technology (2020 – 2024)

Goucher College (2010 – 2013)

Conducted a two-year grant-funded solo multi-sited ethnography in Northern Africa, EU, and Republic of Ireland
Studied identity formation & capital fetishes

Self-Employed (Apr 2022 – Present)

Completed MSc in Computer Science at Georgia Tech
Researcher & Developer in the Design and Intelligence lab partnered with IBM Watson
🎗️ Recovered from blood cancer 🎗️
Created and taught CS courses at the Riverdale Country School
Created and led a co-op for wearable fashion tech

Unqork (Apr 2021 – 2022)

Built and deployed fintech applications using JavaScript, MongoDB, and API integrations, leading to over $1M in client contracts.
Contributed to proprietary frameworks for client onboarding and financial data analysis using NoSQL databases.

Unqork (Aug 2020 – Jan 2021)

Authored custom development tools and facilitated training sessions on their use, leveraging JavaScript and SQL to drive operational efficiency.
Recognized as a Stack Overflow Subject Matter Expert for providing scalable solutions.

General Assembly (Mar 2020 – Aug 2020)

Taught MERN Stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js) development and RESTful API design, mentoring students to build real-world projects.
Guided students in implementing full-stack web applications and best practices for modern web development.

Decoded (Aug 2019 – Mar 2020)

Engineered tools for real-time financial data processing and AI-driven analytics tailored to fintech clients.
Delivered executive training on data visualization and AI integrations using Python, Docker, and SQL for Fortune 500 companies.

Dwight School (Aug 2017 – Jul 2019)

Developed curriculum integrating Python and Java programming fundamentals, increasing class enrollment by 300%.
Implemented project-based learning that emphasized algorithm design and problem-solving with real-world applications.

Teach For America (Jun 2013 – Jun 2015)

Incorporated data-driven instruction to identify and address learning gaps, leading to measurable student progress.
Designed and delivered engaging lesson plans that fostered critical thinking and communication skills.

Contributed to AI-driven education and security applications, enhancing engagement and data protection.
Developed fintech tools that supported multimillion-dollar contracts.
Combined technical expertise with teaching, improving student outcomes and executive understanding.
Proven ability to work across diverse industries and cultural contexts, from corporate to education.