I'd personally suggest:
$('button.modalLink').click(function (e) {
e.preventDefault();
var row = $(this).closest('tr');
// I have absolutely no idea what the following is meant to do,
// if anything, therefore it's not in the linked demo,
// and remains commented-out here.
// requestIntroModal.wireRequestIntroModal(details);
people = {
'name': row.find('td.data-name').text(),
'career': row.find('td.data-career').text(),
'company': row.find('td.data-company').text()
};
console.log(people);
});
References: