When I joined Dataminr in September 2013, I couldn’t have imagined the transformative journey ahead. What started as a leap from a stable government job turned into a dynamic 12 years of growth, learning, and impact. Today, as Chief Operations and Product Officer, I want to share my story and what makes Dataminr a place where people do the best work of their careers.
From Government Analyst to Startup Pioneer
Before Dataminr, I worked in a 24/7 operations center for the U.S. Government, where “breaking news” meant us watching cable news channels. Despite having top-secret clearance, I saw how outdated systems lagged behind real-time technologies. One night, my wife told me about a major news event she saw on X (formerly known as Twitter) before I learned of it—despite my clearance. I realized the power of real-time information and how much of a game changer it could be.
My curiosity and interest in real-time data led me to Dataminr, an AI-powered real-time event, threat & risk intelligence company. My early role was broad: wiring computers, annotating data, creating marketing materials, and supporting product demos. Back then, we were a company of 30 in one room. Everyone wore many hats, and I learned fast.
Building From the Ground Up
In those early days, we didn’t have public sector clients yet, but I led and supported public sector projects. With a tight-knit team, we did everything: supporting sales, building products, sending marketing emails, and answering customer questions—sometimes all in one day.
We were empowered to think outside the box to envision new possibilities and ways of operating to succeed for our clients and each other. Our leaders set a high bar and supported us relentlessly, inspiring us to give our all. This allowed us to be ambitious, strive for our goals and stay engaged.
Engaged employees are 17% more productive and sell 20% more than less engaged colleagues.
Source: inFeedo.ai
Growth Through Opportunity—Not a Straight Path
My Dataminr journey has been anything but linear, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I moved between public sector, news, finance, and other verticals, eventually helping scale my small team to over 150 across four international hubs. Each new role challenged me to stretch, learn, and grow—failures included.
Staying close to Dataminr’s mission, understanding customer workflows, and thoroughly knowing the product guided me through transitions. Being curious about users’ pain points and focused on metrics made it easier to adapt and ultimately lead both the Operations and Product teams today.
My experience is a testament to Dataminr’s strong internal mobility. According to studies, companies with strong internal mobility retain their employees 41% longer than those without advancement opportunities. Another study by LinkedIn found 73% of employees who made internal moves remained at their company three years later, compared to 56% of those who did not.
“Internal mobility benefits everyone. It empowers individuals by opening new doors for their skills and insights, while simultaneously strengthening our organization through continuous professional growth.”
— Whitney Benner, Chief People Officer, Dataminr.
Building Future Leaders: Our Approach to Development and Mobility
Dataminr is invested in cultivating the next generation of leaders who grow, thrive, and drive our vision from within through intentional career growth and internal mobility initiatives:
- Expanded professional development and coaching: Employees enjoy enhanced support for setting career goals, building essential skills, and exploring new growth opportunities within the organization.
- Cross-functional learning: Team members gain access to resources showcasing the diverse functions and departments, preparing them for career moves across the company.
- Robust development programs: Employees participate in robust offerings, such as our Mentorship Program, the Emerging Leaders Initiative, Quarterly Learnings, Management Training programs, Departmental Learning Funds, and more—delivering continual learning and advancement for every team member.
Upskilling, Mentorship, and Raising Your Hand
Upskilling was critical. In my first year, I recognized my technical gaps and took a 12-week full-stack bootcamp at night. This experience helped me communicate better with engineers and bridge the gap between technical and business teams. My advice: keep learning, because preparation creates opportunities.
Mentorship also played a huge role. Leaders shared invaluable insights on tackling big projects and staying detail-oriented. According to research, organizations with mentorship programs can improve retention, with mentees staying at a 72% rate—compared to the 49% retention for employees without mentorship. While we have a mentorship program here Dataminr, coaching doesn’t have to be formal—it’s coffee chats and cross-department collaborations. If you’re proactive, experienced colleagues are always willing to help.
One key lesson: Raise your hand. Some of the best opportunities come from tackling challenges others avoid. This builds skills, visibility, and career-defining moments.
Scaling Through Collaboration
The best results at Dataminr come from cross-functional collaboration. Working across engineering, AI, marketing, and sales taught me that world-class products can’t be built in silos. You need to understand each group’s role—technical constraints, sales enablement, product marketing—and keep the customer at the center.
Today, as we integrate the Operations and Product teams, collaboration is stronger than ever. Cross-functional pods combine technical talent with subject matter expertise, allowing us to move faster and stay ahead of market and AI trends.
Dataminr Mission, Community, and Culture
What sets Dataminr apart is its mission and community. From helping emergency responders save lives to empowering NGOs to conduct humanitarian operations with our real-time information, our work has real impact.
Respect is foundational here—a simple mantra that keeps our culture strong as we scale. Whether it’s the camaraderie of our early days or debates over the best breakfast sandwich, our optimism and collaboration remain constant. As executive sponsor of the Parents@Dataminr employee resource group (ERG), I’ve also seen the important ways in which Dataminr supports colleagues and parents alike.
Learn More: Creating a Culture of Care: Dataminr’s Commitment to Employee Wellness
The Dataminr Difference
After 12 years, I’m still amazed by how Dataminr balances startup agility with global scale. We’ve grown from a small organization to supporting hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide, all while staying true to collaboration, growth, and embracing new challenges.
With AI transforming our business and new talent joining, opportunities here are bigger than ever. If you’re ready to learn, take initiative, and grow, Dataminr could be your career launchpad too.
Interested in exploring opportunities at Dataminr? Visit our careers page to see open positions and join our Talent Community to learn how you can be part of our mission to turn information into action.
