Kara Payne
Engineering Manager @Wikimedia Deutschland e. V.
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WORK HISTORY
Engineering Manager @Wikimedia Deutschland e. V.
Wikidata, a sister project to Wikipedia, is a knowledge graph and a part of the Linked Open Data Network. With over 2.4 billion total edits and over edits per day, it works to keep knowledge open, free, accessible to all- Spearheaded strategic initiatives for Wikidata, directly supporting technology with purpose and global impact- Built and led three interdisciplinary, highly collaborative teams, focusing on continuous improvement of processes to align with organizational goals and budget while cultivating a positive and inclusive environment that empowered engineers to innovate, grow, and make autonomous decisions- Facilitated the formation of the Data Analytics team, establishing best practices and leading initial recruitment efforts- Co-led a major refactoring project, transitioning from a monolithic to a microservices architecture that ensured scalability, efficiency, and long-term sustainability, coordinating across products, stakeholders, and the community to optimize Wikibase, the open-source software underpinning Wikidata- Worked closely with product leadership and other departments to define roadmaps, manage dependencies, and provide visibility into progress, helping to unblock teams and maintain an optimal flow of value across multiple product areas- Supported engineers and emerging leaders through regular 1:1s, coaching, and growth- focused development plans, promoting continuous learning, mentoring, and knowledge sharing within the wider Software Development department.
EDUCATION
Ironhack
Web Development
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Globalization, German Language and Literature
SKILLS
ABOUT KARA PAYNE
I like to get things done-done.
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