Owens is a sociologist with expertise in economic inequality, poverty, housing policy, and recessions. She served as an economic policy advisor for Senator Elizabeth Warren, and as deputy chief of staff and legislative director to Reps. Keith Ellison and Pramila Jayapal helping to craft legislation to expand the social safety net and increase power for workers. She also co-edited a chartbook on inequality, Understanding Inequality with Data. Prior to Groundwork, which works to develop and advance a progressive economic worldview, Owens was a fellow at the Great Democracy Initiative at Roosevelt Institute.