Employee Name: Rain Wang

Title: Staff Data Scientist

Hometown: China

Last book you read / listened to: When We Cease to Understand the World

How have you grown professionally while at Zynga?
In my seven years at Zynga, my growth has been a journey, from a specialist in data to a champion for collective growth and innovation. I joined as a Data Scientist focusing on technical solutions, but after four years as a people manager, my passion shifted toward organizational learning and talent development. This evolution gave me the confidence to realize that adding value isn’t just about being the “most technical” person in the room; it’s about empowering others. Most recently, I transitioned from a Senior Manager on game teams back to an IC role in the central team. This pivot allows me to dedicate myself full-time to AI enablement, bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical application across the company, empowering others at a bigger scale.

What methods do you use to stay motivated and focused?
I’m a firm believer in Double Loop Learning: I don’t just track my progress against goals; I constantly re-evaluate if those goals are still the right ones to pursue. When I feel stuck, my “reset” is human connection. I reach out to someone new or outside my immediate circle. These conversations provide fresh perspectives and remind me that my individual challenges are small compared to the collective problems we have the power to solve together.

How would you describe the culture at Zynga and what do you enjoy most about working here?
The culture at Zynga is defined by intellectual honesty and a pay-it-forward mentorship model. In my experience, when challenges arise, teams don’t look for someone to blame. They rally together to find a solution. What I enjoy the most is that growth is treated as a shared responsibility. Over the years, I’ve had many mentors several levels above me who invested their time in my development without hesitation. This “gift that keeps on giving” inspired me to do the same for my own teams, creating an environment where helping others grow is just as rewarding as hitting a KPI.

How do you recognize and celebrate this heritage month?
This year, I’m celebrating through the intersection of art and tradition. On May 30th, I’ll be performing a duo Aerial Silks piece in a “Legends” production at the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center. We are bringing the classic legend of Chang’e to the stage, using a modern medium to honor a timeless story from my heritage.

How do you connect to this month’s theme (Power in Unity, Strengthening Communities Together)?
To me, unity means ensuring no one is left behind during a major technological shift. I’ve focused on this through our AI journey, doing my best to bring the entire community along with me. Over the past year, I’ve led multiple workshops for different groups of data analysts and scientists to democratize AI tools, and I’ve volunteered at various forums to share “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of what I’ve learned.

Building on that momentum, I recently launched a biweekly cross-studio alignment meeting. While we are only a few sessions in, the energy has been incredible; it’s a dedicated space where we can finally align our priorities and achieve our objectives as one unified team rather than in silos. We are much stronger—and more innovative—when we navigate the future of AI together.