Last fall, Dr. Elena Huff ‘23 ’20 was honored with the inaugural Heart of Kyndryl award, which is awarded to select employees around the world. The Heart of Kyndryl recognizes exceptional leadership, innovation and contributions that drive meaningful impact within the company and for their clients. Receiving The Heart of Kyndryl award is a profound honor that not only recognizes individual achievement but also symbolizes the collective effort and innovation that define their mission of transforming businesses through cutting-edge solutions.
Huff is a director and consult partner at Kyndryl, a company that drives technology transformation and business innovation across multiple industries. She earned a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Engineering from the Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering at Texas A&M University.
“I am truly honored and humbled to be selected as an honoree for The Heart of Kyndryl,” Huff said. “This award means more than recognition; it symbolizes the impact that passion, hard work and innovation can have and aligns with my broader mission to use technology not just for business success, but for societal good.”
An Award-Winning Aggie
Huff’s love for problem-solving, especially in data and engineering, has fueled a career that spans industries, disciplines and geographies. She decided to build upon her previous graduate degrees, a master’s in petroleum engineering at Texas A&M and a master’s in applied mathematics from Saint Petersburg State University.
“I chose multidisciplinary engineering because it was like creating a custom-made toolkit for tackling the world’s biggest challenges,” she said. The program’s flexibility allowed her to explore business and technology transformation with a focus on plant stewardship and sustainability.
“I believe those areas are key to shaping the future," Huff said. "They represent the perfect blend of my passion for human well-being and innovation, driven by data, to create a meaningful impact in the real world.”
Whether I am crafting a data strategy for a tech giant or helping an energy company push the boundaries of sustainable innovation, my education has been the launchpad that fuels my bold ideas and out-of-the-box thinking.
Texas A&M’s multidisciplinary engineering program gave her the tools to think holistically and act boldly. As a student, one of her favorite experiences was collaborating with peers on a patent law assessment project, to analyze and evaluate the legal, technical, and business aspects of an invention to determine its patentability. The project required Huff to search for prior art, assess potential infringement risks and explore the commercial viability of the patent. Her team included engineers, business experts, and legal minds, all working together to navigate the complexities of intellectual property protection.
“It was a perfect reflection of what I now do in my career,” she said. “I work alongside brilliant individuals from various disciplines to solve challenges that require diverse expertise. That experience of blending knowledge and pushing boundaries has profoundly shaped the way I approach every problem today.”
Huff credits her interdisciplinary studies for teaching her to see connections where others might see silos.
“Whether I am crafting a data strategy for a tech giant or helping an energy company push the boundaries of sustainable innovation, my education has been the launchpad that fuels my bold ideas and out-of-the-box thinking.”
Dark Data, Deepfakes and Driving Progress
Huff’s research focuses on developing a comprehensive data management framework and explores how unused data can be managed to improve sustainability efforts, particularly in industries like oil and gas where efficiency is crucial.
“Data that companies collect, but do not use, is known as ‘dark data.’ While it might sound dry, my work is about harnessing dark data and turning it into gold, into a proven, lasting commodity,” she said. “My research on dark data and sustainability directly influenced the innovative solutions I have brought to clients at Kyndryl.”
After defending her multidisciplinary engineering thesis which combined years of research and practical experience working with data, Huff graduated in 2023. Soon after, she co-authored a white paper titled “Unlocking the Hidden Potential: Sustainability and Dark Data,” with some of the brightest minds at Kyndryl.
Huff was subsequently invited to present on this topic at the 2024 Offshore Technology Conference, the largest and most influential event in the energy sector, held in Houston, Texas.
“It’s been amazing to see the response from leaders across industries,” said Huff. “This research highlights how companies can unlock the hidden potential of their unused data to drive both profitability and sustainability, a message that is resonating in today’s data-driven world.”
Huff’s white papers have gone viral social media, achieving a response beyond company readership and reaching nearly 1,200,000 impressions on LinkedIn.
For Huff, leadership goes beyond driving business success. It’s about making a meaningful impact on our environment.
“Through technology, advocacy, or mentorship, we have the power to create a legacy that not only drives progress but also leaves a lasting, positive impact on future generations.”
She prioritizes legacy and purpose in her personal life as well, advocating for children through Compassion International and rescuing animals through Hope Ranch, the pet rescue organization she founded. She was also featured alongside her husband, Gareth Bracken, as the November cover story for in Houston magazine First Colony Neighbors. Her son, Alexander Huff ’20, is also an Aggie and a member of the U.S. Navy.
“My education journey from applied mathematics to petroleum engineering, to multidisciplinary engineering taught me not just to solve problems, but to set new standards for innovation,” Huff said.
Several individuals across Texas A&M departments played an instrumental role in Huff’s journey and made a profound impact on her growth and success: Dr. Tim Jacobs, multidisciplinary engineering department head; Angie Dunn, multidisciplinary engineering graduate advisor; several Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering faculty including Dr. John Lee, the head of her advisory committee, Dr. Maria Barrufet; Dr. Valerie Jochen, Dr. Thomas Blasingame, petroleum engineering department head; and Dr. Pavel Tsvetkov, nuclear engineering professor.
“In today’s world, the ability to think across disciplines is more important than ever. The challenges we face, whether in energy, tech, sustainability, or any field, are deeply interconnected and solving them requires both collaboration and creative thinking. As we look toward the future, I am deeply inspired by the potential of our work to drive meaningful change, foster innovation, and create lasting value for our clients, colleagues, and communities worldwide.”