Celebrating Parents at Dataminr

At Dataminr, we believe our people are the true foundation of our company culture. As we celebrate Global Day of Parents this year, I find myself reflecting on that sentiment through a very personal lens.

When I joined Dataminr more than eight years ago, our teams were much smaller than they are today. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of watching the company grow and innovate at an incredible pace — but what’s struck me the most is how our community has evolved and strengthened along the way.

My own journey as a parent has run parallel to my career here. I have two daughters: one who is now eight years old and was just an infant when I started, and a 1-year-old who has recently re-introduced me to the beautiful, sleep-deprived chaos of the toddler years.

I remember the pre-COVID days, where every morning I would say bye to the little one, hoping she’d remember who I was when I got home from the evening commute. Today, I am thankful for noise-cancelling technology so that participants on my calls don’t hear newborn screams in the background. What hasn’t changed, however, is the support I’ve felt across Dataminr — a culture of flexibility, empathy, and camaraderie that helps parents balance work and family life.

Why I Stepped Up as Executive Sponsor for Parents@Dataminr ERG

When the opportunity arose to serve as the Executive Sponsor of the Parents@Dataminr employee resource group (ERG), I didn’t hesitate. My job remit — Strategy and Operations — is about building sustainable systems that allow people to thrive, and I believe that parenting while also managing your professional career is the ultimate operational challenge.

Whether you are navigating the school-run logistics with an 8-year-old or the unpredictability of a 1-year-old’s nap schedule, the mental and physical load of parenting is real. I wanted to take on this role to help make Dataminr a community where our parent employees are actively supported, mentored, and celebrated.

I’m really hopeful that, over the coming months as the Executive Sponsor of the Parents@Dataminr ERG, I can continue to help spread awareness that balancing a demanding professional life while also being present for your family — as both a parent and a partner — is challenging. It can be tiring, stressful, and at times extremely overwhelming — and all of those feelings are completely normal.

Being a part of the Dataminr community, in which many colleagues — parents or not — are incredibly understanding and supportive, makes balancing both professional and parental responsibilities that much easier.

Celebrating Our Global Community

This blog is a tribute to the hundreds of parents across our global offices. I’m delighted to introduce some of the incredible parents who make up #TeamDataminr, as well as celebrate the parental and family benefits we’ve designed to support our global workforce through every milestone.

Thank you for being part of our village.

Voices from the Dataminr Parent Community

LeeAnne Walker, Performance Marketing Director | 5 years at Dataminr | Mother to Rosalyn (8), Vivienne (7)

On what a typical day looks like:

“Mornings are a good mix of fun and chaos. My husband and I divide and conquer, get the kids to school, and then it’s heads-down into emails. After work, the second shift begins with homework, shuttling kids to evening activities like golf, and somewhere in between, hearing about their day. If meetings got the better of my to-do list, I’ll log back on at night to knock out whatever’s left.”

On how the Parents@Dataminr ERG has made a difference:

“The Parents@Dataminr ERG has been such a great space to lean on colleagues who just get it. Whether it’s navigating a big transition like the first day of school or just processing the general chaos of parenting, there’s always someone who has been there. But some of my favorite moments are the lighter ones — sharing photos and watching each other’s kids grow up. There’s something really special about knowing the names and faces of your colleagues’ children.”

Ben Oakley, Senior Manager, Sales Engineering | 1.5 years at Dataminr | Father to Pia (3), Kiri (7) & Pearl (9)

On how Dataminr supports parents day to day:

“The flexibility here is a game-changer for managing school runs, and the additional days off for extended weekends are invaluable for coordinating family getaways!”

On a skill he’s honed as a parent that has unexpectedly made him better at his job:

“Crisis management and maintaining a calm demeanor — particularly after navigating weeks stranded in Dubai during the Iran-US conflict with my family and young children in tow, in a hotel overlooking the Strait of Hormuz where we witnessed missile and drone explosions — significantly increases my stress threshold. When you’ve managed real danger like that, stressful situations at work genuinely feel like a walk in the park.”

Iulia Rudisteanu, Director, Operations | 5 years at Dataminr | Mother to Marc (6)

On joining Dataminr during one of life’s most challenging chapters:

“I joined Dataminr after my maternity leave, and from the very beginning, the company showed a high level of flexibility to help me transition into this new phase of balancing work and family life. That initial support meant a lot. But what truly defined the culture for me came shortly after, during my probation period, when my son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I will always be grateful to the people around me, and especially to Richard Comish, for the way they approached the situation — with empathy, understanding, and, most importantly, tangible solutions that allowed me to continue working while caring for my son.”

On what makes Dataminr’s culture stand out:

“The culture is built on trust and outcomes. There’s a strong focus on results and deliverables, and how or when you get there can be flexible. Whether that means working late nights after difficult days, or occasionally joining a call from my phone instead of my laptop, those small accommodations have a huge impact.”

John Lesnewich, VP, Product Management |12 years at Dataminr | Father to JJ (17-month-old)

On Dataminr’s culture around working parents:

“Our culture around working parents has been great in my experience. Many of my cross-functional partners and I work to cover for one another and create time for family. There’s also genuine interest in one another’s kids, which I’ve found has created a tighter-knit feeling of community.”

On a professional skill he’s improved after becoming a parent: 

“Parenting has improved my coaching. For example, when JJ was learning to walk, I understood he’d fall over or maybe even bump his head, but I recognized that finding the balance of learning, pushing to that next level, and risk management was important. The same skills and tradeoffs apply when handing folks on my team something they’ve never done before.”

Supporting Parents at Every Stage: Dataminr’s Global Benefits

At Dataminr, we believe that supporting parents isn’t just good culture — it’s good business. Over the past several years, we’ve continued to invest in and expand the benefits that help our people show up fully, both at work and at home.

Parental Leave

We offer competitive parental leave policies across our global regions, designed to give parents the time and space they need when it matters most.  We continue to develop and formalize our global policies with the goal of providing consistent, meaningful support wherever our people are located.

Family Forming Support

Through our partnership with Carrot, Dataminr offers a Family Forming Journey benefit available to full-time permanent employees across most global regions.

The benefit covers family-forming care and services provided by eligible providers, supporting employees across all different stages of their journey — whether that’s fertility treatments, adoption, surrogacy, or other family-building paths. 

To every parent at Dataminr: your resilience, your creativity, and your ability to show up — for both your families and work teams — is what makes this company extraordinary. We see you, and we’re grateful for you.