This is where I (a creative), try to justify my $200k microbiology degree.
You’ll notice some dates overlap. These are not typos.
SOMETIME IN THE 90’s
I’m from the suburbs of Chicago.
Blessed with knowing what excellent pizza tastes like and how to drive on black ice (you don’t).
THE ERA OF SCIENCE-ING
I transplanted to sunny Los Angeles and studied microbiology, immunology & molecular genetics.
I worked in a few pretty sick labs. Some highlights:
Designed a data collection methodology to track trends with augmentative communication and speech disorders at Illinois State University.
aka I looked at alternative methods of communication.
Developed a MR & CT search database used as a learning tool for Northwestern Feinberg Hospital. I also worked with some whip-sharp PhD’s on a 4D blood-flow imaging model.
aka I translated medical diagnoses into searchable keywords.
Conducted a cross-disciplinary literature review of motivating factors for the USDA WIC program at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Wang Lab.
aka I summarized current research on food assistance programs.
Assessed Trypanosoma motility in relation to parasite virulence at UCLA Hill Lab. My work was acknowledged in Nature - Shimogawa, Ray, et. al. 2018.
aka I watched dancing parasites in a microscope.
I managed an off-site campus of 200 students. Some days I helped prepare AP Chemistry labs, other days I climbed trees to retrieve frisbees gone astray. I also put a lot of band-aids on scraped knees.
I worked with Walgreens and Shot@Life, a branch under the UNF to support childhood immunization initiatives in the US and abroad.
THE ERA OF LEARNING
Somewhere along the way, I realized I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life behind a lab bench. I still loved science, but I wanted to spend my career translating the impact of science. So I tried more things.
There is some sort of squiggly narrative thread between each of these experiences that probably explains my inner think. Maybe one day I’ll figure it out.
2015
Office Manager & Lab Prep Coordinator | Northwestern University
I led social strategy and content creation for the Healthy Campus Initiative, helping accounts grow over 300% in followership and 500% in engagement. I pulled a few all-nighters to organize 5000+ person events and host A-list celebrities in support of wellness.
2014 — 2018
Champion Leader | United Nations Foundation
2016 — 2018
Social Media Coordinator | Chancellor’s Office at UCLA
Wrote a grant proposal to pursue a project on food security & sustainability. I ran an organization on campus called SNAC and secured $50k inkind food donations in support.
2016 — 2018
Global Food Initiative Fellow | UC Office of the President, Janet Napolitano
I collaborated with extremely passionate students across 60+ campuses to implement food security initiatives at UCLA. One of them was a protein flip bar where we chefed-up many mushroom burgers.
Women’s vitamin startup Ritual is now open for orders, with $3.5 million more from investors.
TechCrunch
2017 — 2018
Student Researcher & Task Force Member | Culinary Institute of Arts’ Menus of Change University Research Collaborative
THE ERA OF SCRAPPINESS
Welcome to my startup-era.
Here begins a time where I learned that you can learn anything if circumstances present, like needing an EPA approved label in 28 hours to complete a PO but not being able to afford a lawyer or a design agency because there is less than $1500 in your startup’s bank account. Most of this era was on Google.
In 2016, I worked as a Clinical Research Associate at Ritual.
What I did here:
What I learned here:
Be open-minded. When you’re at an early-stage startup, your title doesn’t mean anything. You’re a Team Player.
A group of classmates and I came together and we came up with a concept for an online marketplace Creative Director & Co-Founder at Society.
What I did here:
What I learned here:
Launch the shit. Perfection is unachievable.
(For reasons still unknown) I decided that one startup wasn’t enough. I started my second one as Head of Brand at EXO.
What I did here:
What I learned here:
DTC is a blood bath. Retail is a blood bath, but for different reasons.
THE ERA OF LEARNING (AGAIN)