INI Alumni Susana Lau and Yen-Ming Chen Are Recognized for Their Impact During CMU’s Carnival Weekend

Each year, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) alumni from across programs and departments are celebrated for their impact on the community. Recently, two Information Networking Institute (INI) alumni received awards for their contributions and leadership during CMU’s Carnival Weekend.  

Susana Lau is a graduate of the M.S. in Information Technology - Software Management program and the founder and CEO of EtyaLab, a software development company. Lau joined the 2026 class of Tartans on the Rise, a university-level honor that recognizes alumni who are leaders in their field.  

Yen-Ming Chen, a graduate of the  M.S. in Information Networking (MSIN) program and senior manager with Apple, was honored with the CMU College of Engineering Alumni Service Excellence Award. This award is given to an alum who selflessly gives back to the CMU community.  

“Both Susana and Yen-Ming exemplify the INI’s values of inclusivity, excellence and community,” said INI Director Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis, who nominated the candidates. “Their stories reflect the importance of staying connected to your roots and building a network that lasts a lifetime. I am immensely proud.” 

Susana Lau  

After graduating from the INI, Lau returned to her home country of Panama and set about bringing her expertise to the technology sector. She started her business, EtyaLab, which helps companies adapt to a modern landscape through the development of websites, mobile applications and other digital products.   

Lau has been an active member in the Panama tech community by mentoring startups and through her roles with IEEE including vice president of product and formally the vice-chair and Latin America team lead for 2023.   

“I’m deeply honored and grateful for this recognition,” said Lau. “Education has the power to transform lives and open doors, and I feel a responsibility to use that opportunity to serve and inspire others. I hope this encourages more women to believe in their potential and pursue leadership with confidence.”  

Lau is the fifth INI alum to join Tartans on the Rise. She joins Karan Dwivedi, Hao-Wei Chen, Rohyt Belani and Hooman Radfar. 

Yen-Ming Chen  

Chen has been a prominent figure in the INI community. He is the current chair of the INI Alumni Leadership Council (ALC) and has been a member since 2017. Beyond the ALC, Chen has served as a mentor, taught a special topics course on cloud security at CMU in Silicon Valley, sponsored INI Practicum projects and organized local meetups for Seattle-based alumni.  He has over 15 years of experience in cloud services and has a major impact on students at the INI. 

“The award ceremony and carnival weekend rekindle the student experience,” said Chen. “The awards serve as a testament to the accomplishments of the past and a motivating force for continued excellence in the future. The connection with CMU, regardless of the level, is unparalleled.  

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of INI, CMU and the larger ecosystem with the opportunity to contribute back. I hope that my experience serves as an inspiration for other future alumni to consider it as a viable path to make a positive impact.”  

In addition to his work with the ALC, he established the Yen-Ming Chen Endowed Fellowship for AI Security last year. This fellowship supports graduate students at the INI who are pursuing a degree in Artificial Intelligence or security.