Emily Saras

Baddass Women of Influence

A CEO in the data science and consulting space, known for leading a women-owned, women-led firm that turns data into actionable insights to improve public health and well-being.

Meet Emily Saras of Knowli Health and Knowli Data Science

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www.knowli.com

Instagram: @thedinosaur

In one or two sentences, what do you do and who do you serve?

I am the CEO of a women-owned, women-led data science and consulting firm that improves the health and well-being of the public with actionable data science insights. We partner with government agencies, health plans, public health programs, and large health care organizations to deliver research, analytics, and management consulting solutions.

What makes your approach or perspective unique?

We're data scientists driven by subject matter expertise: meaning the person programming your analytics also has mastery of the topic at hand, with expertise verified by a clinical or graduate degree.

What transformation or result do clients experience when working with you?

Our team is full of data translators: experts not only in computing, but also in communicating complex statistical and scientific findings to a variety of stakeholders. We help our clients understand the data, visualized in intuitive graphics and explained using accessible, actionable language. Our clients feel empowered to make informed decisions that drive better outcomes, supported by near-real-time insights they trust.

What led you into this work?

I came into data and analytics through my graduate studies at Florida State University. I took my first real programming class when I was 26, and I was hooked on data analysis ever since. In my professional life, I looked for ways to integrate data-driven decision-making into my work and took on roles in data analytics. When I arrived at Knowli in 2018, I was eager to grow not only as a data scientist, but also as an entrepreneur. Since then, I've ascended into corporate leadership, synthesizing my passions for research, analytics, and business development.

Share a defining moment in your career that shaped how you lead today.

While serving as a data scientist in the Florida Executive Office of Governor during COVID, I learned how effective leadership deeply depends on clear communication -- even under extreme pressure. When stress was high during the first weeks and months of the pandemic, our team provided near-real-time analytics of cases, hospital beds, hospital staff, and PPE, all before we knew how COVID was transmitted. Working with Executive Leadership across State Agencies, I learned how important it is to provide clear context for analytics and to explain complex statistics in plain language. As a leader, it is important to set expectations for communication in the organization, as well as to serve as an example to others with consistently clear, transparent, and diplomatic communication.

What impact are you most proud of making?

I am proud of the impact I make in business development for Knowli, leading to our employee roster growth and retention of local talent here in Tallahassee. In 2025, Knowli achieved a 25% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), thanks to collaborative work across our entire leadership team. I enjoy the process of building opportunities that play to the different strengths of my team members and our partners. When it comes to pitching new research projects, analytics initiatives, and data science solutions, I'm thinking about how to integrate the best of each data and subject expert on our team to best serve our clients -- and secure the right funding to make it happen.

What message would you share with other women stepping into leadership?

I encourage women stepping into leadership roles to take on challenges -- and take action -- even when it is uncomfortable. That's not only where you'll find wins: it's also where you'll find growth.