At Berkeley I studied Political Science with a focus on American Politics and International Relations, with coursework in AI, economics, and sustainability. But what shaped me most was not the coursework and more the choices I made alongside it: getting appointed to a city sustainability committee, spending a summer running DEI programs for kids, building data infrastructure for a domestic violence organization that had never had it before. I wanted to understand how institutions actually function, not just how they are supposed to.

I have worked across nonprofits, local government, and startups because each one taught me something the others could not. Government showed me how consensus gets built and why process matters even when it is slow. Nonprofits showed me how to center the people you are serving when resources are tight. Startups showed me how to move quickly, stay adaptable, and communicate clearly under uncertainty. I carry all three into every room I walk into.

Outside work I train for triathlons, cook elaborate dinners for friends, and stay close to the communities I care about. I think the people who do the best work are the ones who are genuinely curious about the world outside their job description.