Blending Engineering, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship: Allie Russell ’07

From rebuilding data infrastructure at Patagonia to co-founding a neighborhood brewery in downtown Phoenix, Allie Russell ’07 has built a career defined by curiosity, creativity, and values-driven impact. Her path blends engineering, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in ways that reflect both her Baldwin education and her belief that work should connect meaningfully to people and purpose.

After graduating from Baldwin, Allie attended Harvey Mudd College, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 2011. Early in her career, she gravitated toward data as a powerful tool for understanding systems and improving the world around her. She worked as a Research Data Scientist at fitbit (now Google), and later held a range of data roles across startups and larger organizations, including Rainforest QA and Webflow.

Across roles, Allie has consistently emphasized that the most effective data teams are deeply integrated with other departments and grounded in a company’s mission. “I’ve worked in very different environments and team sizes,” Allie explains. “I learned that for me, it is very important to care about the company I’m working with and to feel some connection to the users or product. Without that, it’s difficult to be a creative partner for the business.”  

At Webflow, Allie was the company’s first data hire and later served as Head of Data, where she defined the data strategy, built infrastructure from the ground up, and developed a cross-functional team of data scientists, analysts, and analytics engineers aligned to the company’s most critical business needs. Building the function from scratch taught her how to identify the highest-impact opportunities, navigate competing priorities, and focus limited resources where they mattered most.

Today, Allie is a Senior Data Engineer at Patagonia, where her work directly supports the company’s environmental mission. She joined shortly after founder Yvon Chouinard donated the company to the Holdfast Collective, a move that ensured Patagonia’s profits would be used to protect the planet. “It’s inspiring to know that every dollar we save can be directed to helping the environment,” she shares. In addition to her technical work rebuilding data infrastructure, Allie has volunteered on Patagonia’s grants council, helping decide which grassroots environmental organizations receive funding.

Alongside her work in data, Allie is also a co-founder of Roses by the Stairs, an independent craft brewery she and her husband opened in May 2022 in downtown Phoenix. The brewery was envisioned during the isolation of the pandemic as a way to create connection, highlight local artists and businesses, and contribute meaningfully to the community.

Roses by the Stairs specializes in farmhouse-style beers made with high-quality, local, and seasonal ingredients. But for Allie and her partner, the brewery is about far more than beer. The taproom is designed as an inclusive, welcoming space that offers non-alcoholic options, hosts live music and community events, and supports local organizations. The brewery donates 1% of its revenue to 1% for the Planet (inspired by Patagonia’s pledge) and regularly partners with environmental and social causes, embodying the belief that small, intentional choices can add up to significant impact.

Looking back, Allie credits Baldwin with giving her the freedom to explore and the confidence to adjust course. “Baldwin gave me an opportunity to try whatever I could handle,” she says. Juggling classes and activities taught her how to manage stress, recognize when something didn’t feel right, and refocus on what truly interested her. Teachers like math teacher Cynthia Schmalzried helped her see problem-solving as a creative act, while conversations with art teacher Vicky Gold stayed with her, reminding her to seek work that engages her whole brain.

According to Allie, Baldwin profoundly shaped her confidence in STEM spaces. “At an all-girls school, all the roles are filled by women,” she reflects. “There is no evidence that you don’t belong wherever you want to be.” That foundation carried her through male-dominated environments later on, reinforcing her belief in her own abilities.

Whether analyzing data or designing beer labels, Allie’s work is guided by the same principle: alignment with values. Her advice to Baldwin students is refreshingly honest: don’t be afraid to quit. “Quit when it feels wrong and redirect your energy to the things that bring you the most fulfillment,” she says. “Quitting sounds like bad advice, but only you can control how you spend your time. As you move through your career, especially if you are taking a windy path like I am, you’ll have to speak to what you did, why you stayed. Make sure you like the answer and you will find your people.”

Allie imagines that her high school self might be surprised by life in Phoenix, owning a brewery, and juggling parenthood alongside two demanding careers. But she hopes her younger self would also be proud of a life filled with outdoor time, community, creativity, and a commitment to making an impact, one thoughtful choice at a time.