01
Context Layer
How to Start a Context Layer Pilot or Proof of Value
Start a context layer pilot or proof of value in 6 to 10 weeks: pick one AI use case, scope the context, set a pass…
Atlan staff
Emily Winks
Data Governance Expert
Emily Winks is a data governance expert who came to data through library and information science. Over 18+ years she has moved from children's librarian to information architect at WeWork to Atlan's Founder's Office, bringing a cataloging discipline to how enterprises classify, govern, and trust their data. She writes on data governance, enterprise data management, and the context layer.
/ Profile
About Emily.
After graduating with a Master of Library and Information Science and a certificate in Records Management and Archives, Emily began her career as a children's librarian. After seven years in libraries she left to join the corporate workforce — she doesn't sing The Hokey Pokey (as often) anymore, but still puts her whole self in when it comes to navigating the ambiguities of data, making digital information clear, and empowering others to do the same.
She spent her library years at the Smithtown Special Library District and as a Senior Librarian at the New York Public Library before moving into information architecture. At WeWork she progressed from Information Architect to Senior Information Architect to Data Product Architect, building the classification and data structures behind a fast-scaling business.
Emily joined Atlan's Founder's Office in 2023, where she works at the intersection of data governance, enterprise data management, and the context layer — writing on how organizations classify, govern, and make their data trustworthy for both teams and AI agents.
Press, talks & code
Certifications & training
Recent articles by Emily Winks.
12 showing
- 02AI Agent Context Layer
Where does a context layer fit with Agentforce and Data Cloud?
A context layer sits under Agentforce and beside Data Cloud (Data 360). See the stack, what each layer owns, and when CRM-only context stops being…
- 03Data Catalog
How to Manage KPI Definitions and a Glossary in a Data Catalog
How to manage KPI definitions and a business glossary in a data catalog: the fields each term needs, column-level links, owners, approvals, and reviews.
- 04Ontology
Is an Ontology Just Another Word for a Semantic Model?
An ontology is not just another word for a semantic model. See what each one defines, where they overlap, and when a data team or…
- 05AI Readiness
Why Do AI Projects Stall on Data Rather Than Models?
AI projects stall on data rather than models because pilots run on clean extracts. See what breaks in production data, the research, and how to…
- 06Data Catalog
Data Catalog RFP Template with Evaluation Criteria
A copyable data catalog RFP template: 26 vendor questions, weighted evaluation criteria, a 0 to 5 scoring sheet, and 10 vendors ranked by analyst results.
- 07Data Catalog
How an Unstructured Data Catalog Works for PDFs and Documents
An unstructured data catalog crawls PDFs and documents, extracts text and metadata, classifies content, and makes files searchable and governed for AI.
- 08Data Governance
Best Data Governance Tools for Banks and Financial Services
Ten data governance tools for banks and financial services, scored on one test: can the software trace a regulatory report figure back to its source…
- 09Data Governance
Common Data Quality Use Cases and Where Governance Fits
Common data quality use cases, from customer matching to AI training data, and where governance fits: definitions, owners, thresholds and regulation.
- 10AI Governance
Why Should Data Governance Rules Be Readable by AI Agents?
Data governance rules should be readable by AI agents so each agent checks access, purpose and masking rules before it acts, and leaves an audit…
- 11Agent context layer
Agent Context Layer Tools: The 2026 Directory
A structured directory of 17 agent context layer tools organized by use case: enterprise context, graph memory, RAG, and conversational memory for 2026.
- 12AI Agent Evaluation
The 13 Best AI Agent Evaluation Platforms in 2026
Compare 13 AI agent evaluation platforms, including Braintrust, LangSmith, and Arize AX, on durability, trajectory depth, and pricing for 2026.
Transparency
Editorial relationship
Atlan staff byline
Emily is a member of the Atlan team. Articles published under her byline reflect her own analysis and expertise; Atlan's editorial team works with her on structure and clarity but does not author content attributed to her. She reviews and approves every piece published under her byline before publication.
Reach Emily