PASSION PROJECTS
I think I was born strong-willed. That's not the kind of thing you can learn. The advantage is, you stick to what you believe in and rarely get pushed out of what you want to do. — Joan Jett
Community Support and Volunteering
AWT Partner Organizations
Occasionally other organizations look to AWT for help planning and organizing their events. I love taking on behind-the-scenes roles to help their events run smoothly. A couple of recent events were International Women’s Day, Impact the Future Conference hosted by Austin Google Techmaker’s on March 8, 2024 and World Logic Day hosted by Logictry on January 14, 2024.
Austin Women in Technology
In 2018, I joined Austin Women in Technology (AWT) at the suggestion of a colleague. When my child asked why I was the only woman in a company end-of-year slide show, I decided to get more involved and I became a regular attendee. When the President invited me to the Board of Directors, I jumped at the opportunity. From August 2021 to July 2024, I served as the Programs Director where I organized monthly learning and networking events to create a supportive and empowering environment. When I started, we were doing virtual (post-pandemic) events with about 60-70 attendees per event. We now have primarily in-person events and the attendance has grown to over 200 registrants. In August 2023, I was elected to become the next President. I am now overseeing all aspects of the organization from member recruitment, community engagement, marketing, budgeting, operations, and event programming. I absolutely love being surrounded by other hard working, smart, and motivated individuals.
Other Affiliations
I’m also a member and occasional volunteer to the Austin League of Women Voters (since 2020), the Project Management Institute Austin Chapter (since 2008), and the Human Rights Campaign (since 2023).
Panel Moderator and Public Speaker
Job Seeking Guidance
Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Job Fair: August 15, 2024
Tech Careers Unlocked, A Skills First Approach: Networking and Job Fair (Webpage)
Empowering Community
Convergence Conference: March 10, 2024
Creating + Building + Elevating + Empowering Communities
Blockchain & Web3
Austin Marketing Association's Power Hour: November 17, 2022
Marketing on the Blockchain: Web 3, NFTs, and more (Webpage)
Cultivating Resilience
InnoTech Austin, Women’s Summit: April 30, 2024
Cultivating Resilience: Essential Skills During Layoffs and Other Career Challenges (Webpage)
Inclusive Hiring
Austin Technology Council, C-Suite Summit: November 6, 2023
Building Inclusive Employment Practices: Addressing Biases and Promoting Diversity (Webpage)
Corporate Culture
Austin Women in Technology: July 27, 2022
Panel Discussion on Company Culture (Webpage)
Leading with Respect
The Executive Connect Podcast: April 20, 2024
Building a Culture of Respect: Strategies for Leaders (You Tube)
Data Privacy
Cyber Security Conference: May 25, 2023
Data Privacy, Compliance & Identity Protection (Webpage)
Start up Support and Entrepreneur
Wispr
In 2024, I began helping the Wispr founders take their beta to the next level. Wispr is a private, direct suggestion box app that makes giving and receiving feedback effortless. Instead of each business struggling to get customers to sign up for their own system, Wispr centralizes feedback across all local businesses. Using the Google Places API, patrons can find any business and leave constructive feedback as easily as sending a text.
Businesses don’t just receive feedback—they get a private consultant. Wispr’s AI analyzes suggestions and even public reviews, identifying trends, common issues, and opportunities for improvement. It can offer industry insights, highlight customer pain points, and connect businesses with local resources.
Acting as CEO, I have help formulate the Business Model and create strategy for funding and feature implementation. I have conducted several pitches and even won one that took place during SXSW in 2025 through Founder Fridays!