Mars Lan is a technologist and entrepreneur specializing in data infrastructure and metadata management. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Metaphor Data, a company focused on building a modern metadata platform to enhance data discovery, governance, and collaboration within organizations. Metaphor Data was recently acquired by KPMG, integrating its technology into KPMG’s Modern Data Platform to accelerate AI-driven data modernization efforts.

Before founding Metaphor Data, Mars Lan was a Staff Software Engineer at LinkedIn, where he co-created DataHub, an open-source metadata search and discovery tool designed to help organizations manage and understand their data assets. His earlier experience includes working as a Senior Software Engineer at Google.

Academically, Mars Lan holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He also earned degrees in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Auckland and the Nagoya Institute of Technology.

Beyond his engineering roles, Mars Lan is an active writer and speaker. He has authored articles on topics such as open-source software security and modern metadata platforms on Medium, and has delivered talks at various conferences and seminars, including an IEEE seminar at the University of Auckland discussing the role of metadata and generative AI in data governance.

Mars Lan is recognized for his contributions to the field of data infrastructure, particularly in developing tools and platforms that facilitate better data management and utilization in the age of AI.

(The above is ChatGPT’s answer to “Who’s Mars Lan?” on 5/19/25, verbatim.)