For the past 14 years, I have worked as a Recruiting Relationship Manager at Stanford Graduate School of Business in the career services office, assisting the MBA and MSx students with their career search. I am also an IRS enrolled agent, and work part-time on my own tax business, guiding individuals and small businesses in understanding their finances.
I was first introduced to WANDA through Board Member Elizabeth Ronn. Elizabeth knew I had an interest in personal finance, so she invited me to participate in WANDA’s programming.
In 2017, I joined WANDA as a volunteer, co-leading one of the financial literacy sessions, “The WANDA Path to Acquiring Financial Literacy – Part 2”. One session in particular still stands out to me. We were talking about how to work around having no/poor credit. One of the moms volunteered her process for getting an apartment without a credit check. She shared how she created a detailed binder of supporting documents (copies of bills paid on time, references, etc.) that she provided to potential landlords. Her example was a successful solution that others in the room could learn from! This experience was great for me to be a facilitator of a space where I could help guide the moms and for the moms to hear from one of their peers how she was able to find a viable solution to a critical challenge — and not let that keep her from achieving financial stability. When I look back on co-leading those sessions, I am proud that we were able to improve the financial lives of single mothers and stay true to WANDA’s mission.
In 2022, I joined WANDA’s Board and became Treasurer in 2023. Joining the Board has allowed me to see firsthand the WANDA moms’ experiences and help find ways to further support their financial literacy journeys. In today’s economic climate, where job instability and fluctuating income are common, it’s essential to understand basic financial concepts such as how to budget, plan your money, invest in yourself to increase your earning power, and continue learning so you can make informed decisions about the money you have. These are some of the most essential tools we’re helping moms build right now.
During my time on the Board, I’ve been thrilled to see the organization grow and to witness the enthusiasm from potential partners and participants who want to be part of our programs. Being part of conversations about how we can thoughtfully expand our reach and support more moms is both inspiring and deeply rewarding to me.
In addition to serving on WANDA’s Board, I also serve on a couple of other Boards, such as Stanford’s Red Barn Equestrian Center and Acta Non Verba (ANV)—an Oakland urban farm nonprofit that focuses on empowering youth through farming, education, and leadership programs. In my free time, I like to enjoy the outdoors, gardening, and hiking.