As the Program Director at First Round, I deliver programs and events that help founders propel their companies to the next level — from community-building dinners to candidate sourcing parties to multi-day company-building retreats. I’m thrilled to continue my work with incredible founders who are going to change the world and strive to create magical, memorable moments that fundamentally impact how they build companies.
Before joining First Round, I spent nearly six years at Y Combinator as the Batch Director. I led all founder-facing initiatives, which at a high level meant building programming, communications, and writing content. I became an expert on the challenges founders face in the nascent stages of company building and honed my ability to identify and implement impactful ways for YC to support them. I have immense sympathy and respect for all they undertake and feel so fortunate to be a trusted resource on their journey to success.
Prior to YC, I spent five years at Make School, a Y Combinator-backed startup, building innovative Computer Science programs that equipped young engineering students with real-world skills. Initially hired to build a partnership program (in which I signed companies like LinkedIn and Lyft), I quickly took on broader responsibilities, ultimately running Operations for both the company and the school. This transition into Operations further deepened my understanding of the startup ecosystem and prepared me to support founders in even more meaningful ways.
My entry into the tech world began in Sales at early-stage SaaS startups, where I worked as an SDR and discovered my enthusiasm for the venture-backed startup ecosystem. With a BSc in Math and Statistics, I developed strong analytical and problem-solving skills, but these roles introduced me to the rewarding experience of blending those abilities with profound human connection.
When I’m not working with founders, you can catch me at a yoga or dance studio, walking my two mini poodles around the gorgeous parks and beaches of San Francisco, or dancing the night away at a local concert or music festival. Music is a really important part of my life and you can often find me deep diving into an artist’s discography, making endless playlists, and buying concert tickets.