Dual MBA & MS Sustainable Systems graduate from the Erb Institute at the University of Michigan focused on the intersection of business and sustainability. I'm passionate about bringing climate solutions out of the lab and into the market to make the impact needed to address the climate crisis, whether as an early-stage VC investor or strategic program manager.
Over the last three years, I studied how we can channel the power of the private market to generate value not just for shareholders but for all stakeholders. By changing economic incentives, building coalitions, and identifying novel approaches to problems, companies not only can lead on harm reduction but spur innovation to create a more sustainable, equitable world. I saw this at work from my experience investing with VC firms concerned with more than just exit multiples and consulting for startups/established firms alike creating new KPIs around carbon intensity, durability of goods, and customer wellness. We can create a better world for all and still make money.
Prior to graduate school, I spent nearly a decade launching business initiatives and scaling teams at a diverse set of startups in the San Francisco Bay Area. I developed a skill and enthusiasm for effective project management by understanding various stakeholder needs and fostering trust amongst parties to get things done.
I'm deeply interested in roles that build on my prior PM experience and skills I've honed while in graduate school. In a VC context, this means understanding climate verticals well enough to have informed conversations with founders so we can provide value to them beyond funding. In order to scale climate solutions quickly and equitably, technical founders need trusted business partners to make that happen. New startup ventures, public/private partnerships, and pre-competitive collaboration require not only experts within a field, but empathetic leaders who can shepherd projects to completion.
As a life-long Californian and Eagle Scout, I've experienced the havoc climate change has already brought to earth from raging megafires to multi-decade droughts. Even "climate havens" like Michigan are not immune from these consequences as polar vortexes and extended heat waves become more common. I hope we can not only reverse these disasters but support communities, particularly BIPOC and low-income communities who are disproportionately affected, to thrive in the new economy that is being built.
Outside of school and work, I'm an avid hiker, board gamer, cook, and NPR listener.
