Q & A

What led you to apply to Teach For America?

I had a roommate who served in the D.C. Region teaching ninth grade English. During the two years we lived together, I observed the life of a corps member from the sidelines; I visited her classroom, cheered on the marching band, and met other fellow corps members. By the end of our lease, I was ready to make the commitment and become a corps member myself.

What were some of the major lessons you learned during your time in the corps?

I learned how to fail fast and iterate. Turns out, this is how some of the most innovative companies structure themselves to adapt to changing market demands and consumer trends. I also learned to check my ego at the door. Like most people, students come to the classroom with all kinds of stressors and emotional experiences, and your job is to focus on their needs and help them.

What has your route been after the corps?

Since leaving the classroom, I have served as the director of talent at the Brooke Charter School Network (via the Education Pioneers Analyst Fellowship), graduated from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and celebrated my four-year anniversary at Starbucks, where I’m now a brand manager.

How do you use the skills and beliefs you developed in the corps?

I use the skills I developed in the corps in a variety of ways. For instance, from a communications perspective, I often lead cross-functional teams of people with diverging interests to achieve one shared goal.