A bit about me
IT ALL STARTED WHEN…
I was a scientist faced with a realization: what I loved most about science was learning it and thinking it, not doing it. My fondest memories in grad school weren’t in the lab, running endless western blots, or watching stem cells mature like they were my own children. I loved pondering the universe's laws and evoking a learner’s curiosity. I savored all of the “aha” moments, the persistence, and the growth of all different kinds of learners.
I left my pipette (tip-down) to pursue any job that provides two things: I would be able to learn interesting things, and that I would be able to help others learn interesting things.
I moved to San Francisco and was swiftly humbled by educators’ lack of interest in my masters in science and the cost of living. I volunteered as an afterschool STEM tutor at a local middle school in the Fillmore while fervently applying to new grad programs in education. I thought a new diploma might solve my problem of not being taken seriously. I got into several reputable Ph.D. programs in Educational Psych and turned them down. It didn’t feel right; I wanted to impact now, not in 8 more years.
I went back to the middle school I was volunteering at and asked if I could run their afterschool program. I knew it needed attention. Kids were opting for unsafe activities after-school, rather than (to no surprise) going to what one could consider glorified babysitting in the classroom. The school agreed to my proposal, so long as I paid myself as I found funding. I had no idea what I was doing. I scrambled around the city to find NPOs to invest in, curriculum programs that would run for free, and volunteers. Long story short, I made it work due to a Buchanan YMCA job opportunity that would pay me just a little and helped fund the program for the school year.
The afterschool program was a large success, with many failures along the way. I gained perspective on the bay area & inner-city culture; I learned how to write grants, teach informally, design curriculum, and generate local partnerships. At the end of the school year, I handed over the program to a passionate educator in a much better place than it was at the beginning of the year, and it felt right. I knew I would miss working with kids, but for now, I was on my way to new adventures in the big world of tech.
I landed upon an almost-too-good-to-be-true opportunity at an educational technology start-up company, Smart Sparrow. They were applying for a next-generation courseware grant with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. My interview was just a quintessential start-up: in a co-working space in SOMA, amongst some kegs, very informal and likely undocumented. I introduced myself to what would be my future team stuffed in what appeared to be a closet; with one small head jerk, I was able to look everyone in the eye. It turned out I was perfect for the job: they wanted to design an intro-biology course for non-science majors. Zoom forward a bit, and this happened:
Not only did we win, but we won big. You never see this kind of money in education, now pouring into a small company just learning to crawl. It was exhilarating and terrifying. I learned fast about everything technology, products, learning design, graphics, customer service, pedagogy…the list goes on. I spent many nights napping on my office couch or on my coworker’s couch who lived next door to our office. I worked on this grant for over 3 years while also servicing 37 (yes, I counted) additional clients: NPOs, community colleges, multi-college grants, and even the corporate big-leagues. At one point, I designed an experience, I kid you not, for helping millionaires deal with their millions of gold bars. It was truly bizarre, but the most rewarding part was all of the life-long friends I made. The brazen culture of start-ups creates a family bond that feels everlasting.
After a few years, I knew I had some large blind spots and was yearning for a change, both in the scenery and workplace culture. I had my eyes set on a move to Seattle, Washington. I knew that to keep growing; I had to find a new challenge. I wanted to learn how to run a successful business while growing my leadership skills. I had yet to be really be exposed to the world of operating budgets, business data, and having to measure the impact of my work. A Google search of: where can I learn about leadership and how to run an impactful business in Seattle? will lead you to one place: Amazon.
I am a Manager of Learning Experience Design and Program Management at Amazon. Typical corporate life with an unnecessarily long title. In all seriousness, I am really enjoying life at Amazon. I have grown exponentially as a leader and am challenged every day.
I continue to learn and help others learn, which is my happy place. Thanks for reading.