Blog Category: Women in Tech

Catherine Au Jong

She is responsible for communicating with clients to gather business requirements, analyze their pain points, and ultimately deliver a transformative solution.

Catherine is also Catalyst’s resident fashionista. Outside of work, you can find her sewing, exploring fashion trends, and taking pictures of murals around our great city. This creativity informs Catherine’s work at Catalyst, as the problem-solving and design stages of product delivery require a great deal of innovation and ingenuity.

Catherine advises fellow women in STEM to realize that the power for change starts from inside each and every one of us.

In combatting negative internal voices, Catherine notes that she finds the confidence to start something new. In starting something new, Catherine constantly pushes herself outside her comfort zone, gathering more experience and becoming more and more confident in her work. Catherine is an instrumental part of our team, and we thank her for her insight and inspirational words of wisdom!

Jenessa Puenner

Today we recognize the talents of one of our Project Managers, Jenessa Puenner.

She works both internally with fellow Catalyst team members and externally with clients to sort out all communications for successful project development. Jenessa’s work at Catalyst has been fueled by her desire to improve the city she calls “home.” 

She has most recently had the opportunity to do so as a vital team member on our 311 modernization initiative for the City of Chicago. Recalling the recent 311 launch, Jenessa fondly remembers being on the ground with the departments and teams that help make the wheels of the City turn. Jenessa is eager to embrace challenges and knock down barriers at every turn, so she and her problem-solving techniques thrive in high-stakes environments.  

Outside of the office, Jenessa enjoys archery, traveling, and touring local breweries. Cheers to that, Jenessa🍻 We cherish the gifts you bring to our team. 

Komal Shah

Today, Catalyst is pleased to unveil our #WomenInTech Tuesday campaign! We’re thrilled to kick off this initiative that showcases the talent and spirit of the ladies of Catalyst. 

Starting things off is Komal Shah, one of Catalyst’s Software Developers based at the Chicago Department of Aviation. Komal believes that the first step to producing great work is to love what you do. It is for this reason that she thrives off the challenges presented to developers like herself. She enjoys that software development is an ever-evolving field that allows for continuous learning, and she remarks that this constant learning is facilitated by Catalyst’s inviting atmosphere and support from other friendly faces at the company. 

Outside of work hours, you can find Komal playing tennis, painting, or finding her next travel destination. 

Komal urges STEM workplaces to celebrate the diversity on their team, pushing a step beyond simply having women’s representation on board. 

You are an inspiration to us, Komal! Keep on shining.