{"id":15373,"date":"2014-02-26T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-26T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=15373"},"modified":"2021-04-23T17:08:06","modified_gmt":"2021-04-23T21:08:06","slug":"rain-woman-digital-detective-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"The ‘Rain Woman’ Behind a Digital Detective Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alison Chung of Chicago is not wired like most people. This can present challenges socially, but from a business perspective, it\u2019s her competitive advantage as the owner of a consulting firm that is essentially a digital detective agency.<\/p>\n

As a child in Hong Kong, Chung obsessed over mathematical puzzles, detective novels and committing people\u2019s license plates to memory. While studying at Wellesley College in the 1970s, her favorite pastime was taking the bus to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for three-dimensional tic-tac-toe tournaments. \u201cWhilst other people were going on dates, I could not wait for the week to end, so that I could get into the competitive games,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

At social events, she used to ask people for their Social Security numbers \u2014 this was before people started worrying about identify theft \u2014 and got lots of attention when she demonstrated that she could remember them all. \u201cI tend to remember numbers a lot easier than I do people\u2019s names,\u201d she said. More\u00a0recently, she would try to imagine what was on someone\u2019s computer \u2013such as files, photos or music \u2013 but staring with “bulging, penetrating eyes,” as she puts it, would turn people off.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ve since stopped that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Chung has had more success making use of her unusual gift for numbers at her technology consulting firm, TeamWerks,<\/a> which specializes in computer forensics. Since 1997, she has been hired by dozens of clients \u2014 large insurers, big software firms, even wealthy individuals \u2014 to dig for electronic evidence in cases that involve fraud, theft or corruption. Her work has grown as data and mobile devices have proliferated, and she now employs 22 people.<\/p>\n

Related: Women Entrepreneurs are Pretty Happy — Here’s Why<\/a><\/p>\n

Since the recession, the majority of TeamWerks\u2019 cases have involved corporate clients who fear that top-level executives have stolen company secrets when they were fired or laid off, Chung said. \u201cWhen the economy has a downturn,\u201d she said, \u201cthere is much more of that activity.\u201d She advises clients to keep every device that the executive has touched \u2014 work-issued computers, laptops, tablets or smart phones \u2014 so her firm can see what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n

Chung has a master\u2019s in mathematics from Stanford University and spent years working in computers for IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers and a Chicago law firm before starting her own company. On a personal level, she said she identifies a bit with Dustin Hoffman\u2019s autistic savant character in \u201cRain Man,\u201d although she\u2019s never been diagnosed with any sort of autism. \u201cI have been told that I\u2019m different, that I\u2019m wildly eccentric and I think some of that might be true,\u201d she said. \u201cI am proud of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Chung, digging through hard drives to discover deleted files or poring over boxes of documents printed with source code is something like heaven. She testifies frequently as an expert witness in litigation on behalf of her clients. Her firm has been hired in more than 35 cases, she said, and in all but one, her client has won.<\/p>\n

Related: Sheela Murthy: Representing the American Dream<\/a><\/p>\n

Initially, Chung said, she was intimidated at the thought of testifying because she\u2019s not an extrovert. But she likes that the process allows her to show off her recall abilities \u2014 plus, she said, she is addicted to the thrill of justice. As a mathematician, \u201cI like black and white,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s either right or wrong, and I don\u2019t really like the grays.\u201d She said she won\u2019t take clients if she believes they are involved in something unsavory, such as pornography or organized crime.<\/p>\n

Chung\u2019s firm also does information technology consulting, and was recently hired by the city of Chicago for a long-term project providing information technology services in connection with traffic violations. But computer forensics pays more. She doesn\u2019t disclose annual revenue but said her firm typically bills $300 to $500 an hour in forensics cases, some of which drag on for years and months.<\/p>\n

While she finds the work meaningful, there are drawbacks. The business took a hit after the financial crisis, when clients started paying their bills much more slowly. Far worse, Chung said her identity has been stolen, and her home has been burglarized. She doesn\u2019t know for sure, but she said she believes it\u2019s related to her work.<\/p>\n

Chung also has to maintain self-control as the leader of a 22-person agency. A few years ago, she said she briefly became addicted to an international computer game. \u201cI was the reigning queen, and then the Russians took me down,\u201d she said. \u201cI had to say, \u2018Alison, you\u2019ve got to run the company. Stop it!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: The Fuss Over Women Bosses<\/a><\/p>\n

Now, Chung said she enjoys hiring people who remind her of herself. Recently, a young man who was a job candidate for a data-processing position showed up 20 minutes late \u201cand so shaky and nervously sweating one might contemplate he might not have had a bath,\u201d she said. She hired him anyway \u2014 against the advice of her team.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been one month, and he\u2019s been a top performer,\u201d she said. \u201cI knew that he was gifted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colleen DeBaise is director of digital media for <\/i>The Story Exchange<\/i><\/a>, a nonprofit media organization dedicated to telling the stories of women who own businesses. You can follow it on <\/i>Twitter<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

\r\n
\r\n\t\tRead Full Transcript<\/i><\/span><\/a>\r\n\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t

Alison Chung, Founder of TeamWerks, technology consulting firm<\/p>\n

Alison Chung (AC): Sometimes people ask me, you know, \u2018when does it get busy for you?\u2019 And I say, you know, \u2018whenever there\u2019s lying, cheating and dishonesty, it\u2019s busy. And I\u2019m sorry to say, we\u2019re a little bit on the busy side.\u2019<\/p>\n

CARD: Alison Chung \u2014 Founder & CEO \u2014 TeamWerks \u2014 Chicago, USA<\/p>\n

AC: TeamWerks is a technology consulting firm with a particular focus in computer forensics. Whenever there\u2019s a question as to who did what when, it is probably on some digital device, ready for somebody like me to find.<\/p>\n

We can tell you the text messages that were sent even if they\u2019re erased. My family members will not allow me to be in the presence of their digital devices. When I visit, everybody locks everything up.<\/p>\n

CARD: Alison was born and raised in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n

AC: I had a very traditional upbringing. My parents were very strict. When I was naughty and my mother would say go to your room, I was thrilled because behind closed doors I would be doing puzzles and pretend to solve crimes. I read every detective novel in English and Chinese that was available.<\/p>\n

CARD: Alison came to the United States for college and earned a master\u2019s in math from Stanford University.<\/p>\n

AC: I really liked math because it was easy for me. I was good with numbers.<\/p>\n

CARD: In 1984, Alison started her career working with IBM.<\/p>\n

She spent a decade managing computer systems at a major law firm in Chicago.<\/p>\n

In 1997, Alison founded TeamWerks.<\/p>\n

AC: That was a time during the tech boom so there was a lot of business to be had. So I just kind of went with my gut and said, you know what, I just want to form a small company and I just want us to work on tech projects.<\/p>\n

SOT: Ok, we just received this hard drive.<\/p>\n

AC: We fell into the forensics. I received a call from some law firm partners I had known and they said we need somebody to go through more than 20 boxes of computer code because their client had written a one line $50,000,000 write-off and the IRS\u2019 questioning whether or not that write-off is valid.<\/p>\n

CARD: Alison and her team took just three weeks to find evidence supporting the claim.<\/p>\n

Her client was so impressed with Alison\u2019s memory for numbers, he asked her to testify before the IRS attorneys.<\/p>\n

AC: I\u2019ll never forget this; there were five men in half-glasses and they looked very stern and they said \u2018Good morning. Who is that girl? And, one of the attorneys said \u2018Oh, that\u2019s our expert.\u2019 The five IRS lawyers started laughing and they said \u2018How much do you want to bet that we can break her down?\u2019 And the first half-glasses looked at me and said, \u2018Yes, Ms. Chung, our expert witness here, would you care to explain to us what happened in box #78?\u2019 And I said, \u2018Yes, I would be delighted to.\u2019 And so, the inquiry went on and on, and box after box. I think it was at the end of the fourth hour, the question was \u2018OK. What happened to 97?\u2019 I said \u2018Oh, that was an exciting time. 97 was a good box.\u2019 And at that point, I smiled to myself, I knew I had them.<\/p>\n

CARD: Her client won the case and Alison was hooked.<\/p>\n

AC: When they said that we won, I was screaming for joy and I said \u2018Give me another one! Give me another one!\u2019<\/p>\n

CARD: TeamWerks has grown to 22 employees.<\/p>\n

They have been hired to investigate fraud, theft and corruption.<\/p>\n

SOT: Embedded in all this code, that is a nugget of information that will be prove to be useful.<\/p>\n

AC: We get hired by the lawyers to examine computers and then, it\u2019s not until you get into the bowels of the system and you look at who is talking to whom, and you realize, \u2018oh my gosh, this is organized crime.\u2019 And so at this point, I have a decision to make: I could resign or just tell the truth.<\/p>\n

It is dangerous, it is risky.<\/p>\n

CARD: Alison\u2019s identity has been stolen. Her home has been robbed multiple times.<\/p>\n

AC: I have thought that I might be in physical danger doing this job because of the robberies but because I am Buddhist, I believe that when it\u2019s my time, that\u2019s when it will be. I\u2019m not fearful. But I have taken the necessary precautions and I think that\u2019s enough.<\/p>\n

CARD: TeamWerks has won every case but one.<\/p>\n

AC: I always wanted to solve mysteries, I just didn\u2019t know that I was going to be a digital detective. I think differently, I look at things differently. I mean, sometimes, I go to social events and see somebody and I\u2019m wondering, \u2018Wow, I wonder what\u2019s on their computer.\u2019<\/p>\n

CREDITS<\/p>\n

Producers \u2013 Victoria Wang and Sue Williams
\nDirector \u2013 Sue Williams
\nEditor \u2013 Merril Stern
\nDirector of Digital Media \u2013 Colleen DeBaise
\nDirector of Photography \u2013 Sam Shinn
\nProduction Assistant \u2013 Nadine Natour
\nSocial Media \u2013 Thea Piltzecker
\nAssistant Editor \u2013 Matt Strickland
\nMusic \u2013 Killer Tracks
\nPhotos Courtesy of:
\nGil Leora
\n123rf
\nShutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alison Chung has parlayed a phenomenal gift for numbers into a computer forensics firm. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":15403,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"autoblue_enabled":false,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[],"autoblue_post_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[187,3],"tags":[20338,19450,20098,19731,19453,19454],"class_list":["post-15373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-entrepreneur-videos","tag-computer-forensics","tag-immigrants","tag-technology-consulting","tag-women-entrepreneurs","tag-women-in-tech","tag-women-of-color"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe 'Rain Woman' Behind a Digital Detective Agency<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Alison Chung has parlayed a phenomenal gift for numbers into a computer forensics firm.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The 'Rain Woman' Behind a Digital Detective Agency\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Alison Chung has parlayed a phenomenal gift for numbers into a computer forensics firm.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Story Exchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheStoryExchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-02-26T12:30:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-04-23T21:08:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/07141957\/AC200_Alison-at-Teamwerks-by-Gil-Leora-in-Sun-Times-2011_260x152.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"260\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"152\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Colleen DeBaise\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@TheStoryXchange\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TheStoryXchange\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Colleen DeBaise\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The 'Rain Woman' Behind a Digital Detective Agency","description":"Alison Chung has parlayed a phenomenal gift for numbers into a computer forensics firm.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The 'Rain Woman' Behind a Digital Detective Agency","og_description":"Alison Chung has parlayed a phenomenal gift for numbers into a computer forensics firm.","og_url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/","og_site_name":"The Story Exchange","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheStoryExchange","article_published_time":"2014-02-26T12:30:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-04-23T21:08:06+00:00","og_image":[{"width":260,"height":152,"url":"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/07141957\/AC200_Alison-at-Teamwerks-by-Gil-Leora-in-Sun-Times-2011_260x152.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Colleen DeBaise","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@TheStoryXchange","twitter_site":"@TheStoryXchange","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Colleen DeBaise","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/"},"author":{"name":"Colleen DeBaise","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/person\/37ea4af04b473a35e85983067534a6b6"},"headline":"The ‘Rain Woman’ Behind a Digital Detective Agency","datePublished":"2014-02-26T12:30:00+00:00","dateModified":"2021-04-23T21:08:06+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/"},"wordCount":899,"commentCount":2,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/07141957\/AC200_Alison-at-Teamwerks-by-Gil-Leora-in-Sun-Times-2011_260x152.jpg","keywords":["Computer Forensics","Immigrants","Technology Consulting","Women Entrepreneurs","Women in Tech","Women of Color"],"articleSection":["Features","Video Profiles of Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/","url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/","name":"The 'Rain Woman' Behind a Digital Detective Agency","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/07141957\/AC200_Alison-at-Teamwerks-by-Gil-Leora-in-Sun-Times-2011_260x152.jpg","datePublished":"2014-02-26T12:30:00+00:00","dateModified":"2021-04-23T21:08:06+00:00","description":"Alison Chung has parlayed a phenomenal gift for numbers into a computer forensics firm.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/07141957\/AC200_Alison-at-Teamwerks-by-Gil-Leora-in-Sun-Times-2011_260x152.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/07141957\/AC200_Alison-at-Teamwerks-by-Gil-Leora-in-Sun-Times-2011_260x152.jpg","width":260,"height":152},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/rain-woman-digital-detective-agency\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The ‘Rain Woman’ Behind a Digital Detective Agency"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/","name":"The Story Exchange","description":"Inspiration and information for women entrepreneurs","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#organization","name":"The Story Exchange","url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/24161459\/TSE-logo-web-e1525383604615.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn1.thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/24161459\/TSE-logo-web-e1525383604615.png","width":500,"height":180,"caption":"The Story Exchange"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheStoryExchange","https:\/\/x.com\/TheStoryXchange","https:\/\/instagram.com\/thestoryexchange\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/the-story-exchange","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/StoryExchange"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/#\/schema\/person\/37ea4af04b473a35e85983067534a6b6","name":"Colleen DeBaise","description":"Colleen DeBaise is former small business editor of the Wall Street Journal. Her most recent book is \u201cStart a Successful Business.\u201d She has also written about the rewards and challenges of entrepreneurship for Inc., Entrepreneur and BusinessWeek, among others. She has been interviewed on MSNBC, Fox, CNBC, CBS and NPR. Colleen has a master\u2019s in journalism from Northwestern University. Contact her at colleen@thestoryexchange.org.","sameAs":["https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/author\/colleen-debaise-at-the-story-exchange\/"],"url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/author\/colleen-debaise-at-the-story-exchange\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15373"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15373\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48917,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15373\/revisions\/48917"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}