“Growing up, I had no role models of women in business or technology. I want to show my daughter that you can serve others and have a successful, powerful career at the same time.”

Andrea Ricci’s career path has been anything but linear — and she wouldn’t have it any other way. After more than a decade as a high school math teacher, Andrea made the bold decision to change course to become a data scientist. Today, she works full-time as a data scientist at Trean Corporation and is pursuing her Master of Data Science at the University of Michigan.

Andrea’s persistence carried her through many transitions throughout her adulthood. As a teacher, she poured her energy into her students, creating meaningful relationships and building their confidence in the classroom. Andrea loved teaching and derived her sense of purpose from nurturing students. But when the demands of teaching through a global pandemic collided with the realities of raising her own two children, Andrea realized she needed a more flexible career. With no prior coding experience, she threw herself into a year-long data science bootcamp where she spent late nights learning new skills, worked with a career coach, and tackled her fears of starting over. The risk paid off: Andrea soon landed a role in industry, where she now thrives in developing data-driven solutions and making complex data accessible to her colleagues.

Andrea is also a loving mother to her two children, Luca and Bella. She credits motherhood with teaching her patience, resilience, and creativity — the very qualities she brings to her work and graduate study. Andrea is proud to serve as a role model for her children. “Growing up, I had no role models of women in business or technology,” she writes. “I want to show my daughter that you can serve others and have a successful, powerful career at the same time.” Looking ahead, Andrea hopes to combine her teaching background and technical skills to use data for social good.

CEW+ recognizes Andrea’s bravery in charting her own course and names her an Irma M. Wyman Scholar.