Yash Tekena Profile Picture

Yash Tekena

Driving innovation in privacy infrastructures and secure data systems to safeguard user's trust in the digital age.

About Me

I am Yashwanth (Yash) Tekena, a Staff Data Engineer at Meta Platforms Inc, specializing in Data Privacy and Security. My work focuses on building scalable, privacy-first systems that ensure data is handled responsibly, particularly in the context of Generative AI. By aligning with regulations like GDPR and CCPA, I strive to enable ethical innovation while maintaining user trust.

Previously, at American Express, I led advancements in fraud detection and data security, earning two patents for scalable technological solutions. My expertise has been recognized nationally with the approval of a National Interest Waiver (NIW), emphasizing the critical importance of my work in advancing trust and security in the digital age.

Through my efforts in privacy, AI compliance, and large-scale systems, I aim to bridge the gap between innovation and ethics, fostering technologies that are both powerful and privacy-compliant for a safer digital future.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Professional Experience

With over a decade of expertise in privacy and security, I have consistently focused on creating scalable systems that prioritize trust and compliance. My journey has been defined by a commitment to advancing user privacy through innovative frameworks and solutions that address modern challenges in the digital landscape.

Key Highlights

  • Data Privacy at Scale: At Meta, I have played a critical role in developing privacy-first solutions that align with global standards such as GDPR, DMA, and CCPA. I contributed to building frameworks that ensure data used in AI model development adheres to privacy commitments, encompassing stages such as pre-training and fine-tuning. These systems are designed to ensure compliance and accountability while protecting billions of data points.

  • Fraud Detection and Financial Security: During my tenure at American Express, I led initiatives that significantly enhanced fraud detection systems. My work resulted in the development of patented technologies that established secure connections between cardholders, enabling early fraud detection. These innovations reduced fraud detection times from days to hours and safeguarded millions of transactions annually. For these contributions, I was honored with the prestigious Genius Medal.

  • Advancing Ethical Practices: Throughout my career, I have prioritized embedding ethical considerations into the design of privacy frameworks. This includes creating automated workflows to ensure compliance with external commitments and fostering transparency in how data is managed.

Patents

Education

University of Arizona Logo

Master's Degree in Management Information Systems

University of Arizona

Pondicherry University Logo

Bachelor of Technology in Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Pondicherry University

Affiliations

IEEE Senior Member
IEEE Senior Member
International Association for Privacy Professionals
International Association for Privacy Professionals

Aspirations

My aspirations are deeply rooted in advancing the fields of Data Privacy and Security, ensuring that emerging technologies, including Generative AI, are developed and deployed in a way that prioritizes ethical data use and user trust. I strive to build systems that not only protect sensitive information but also empower organizations to innovate responsibly while adhering to global privacy standards.

I aim to be at the forefront of creating scalable, privacy-first infrastructures that address the growing challenges of data compliance, security, and transparency. By focusing on automation, innovation, and policy-aligned solutions, I hope to bridge the gap between technological progress and user-centric privacy safeguards.

Looking ahead, my goal is to drive impactful contributions that shape a safer, more ethical digital ecosystem. I am passionate about collaborating with industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to ensure that advancements in technology align with societal needs and global regulations, ultimately fostering trust and security in the digital world.

Certifications

CIPT Certification
Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT)
Issued: August 2023 | Expires: August 2025
Credential ID: 000631183I
Harvard Leadership Certificate
American Express & Harvard Certificate in Leadership Excellence
Issued: September 2019
AWS Solutions Architect
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate
Issued: March 2019 | Expired: March 2022
Credential ID: 2Y6FS0YCB2V4QX96
Apache Spark Certification
Developer Certification for Apache Spark
Issued: July 2016
Credential ID: 1.x-0601
Functional Programming Principles in Scala
Functional Programming Principles in Scala
Issued: November 2018
Cloudera Certified Developer for Apache Hadoop (CCDH)
Cloudera Certified Developer for Apache Hadoop (CCDH)
Issued: September 2014
Credential ID: 100-010-737
Computing for Data Analysis using R
Developer Certification for Apache Spark
Issued: February 2014
Credential ID: V9YAJF5V7G
Oracle PL/SQL Developer Certified Associate
Oracle PL/SQL Developer Certified Associate
Issued: January 2014
Oracle Database SQL Certified Expert
Oracle Database SQL Certified Expert

Media Publications