Women in CO is about the women I meet, know, love, and admire—those who inspire me daily with their wisdom and strengths but also their vulnerabilities, complexities and humanity. Their voices offer insight, encouragement, and the kind of quiet reassurance that reminds us: We are not alone.
1. WHAT IS YOUR ROLE, AND HOW DID YOU COME TO WORK IN THIS FIELD?
I work on mental health and criminal justice legislation for the California State Senate, which means that I help write the bills that govern the state. I also work independently as a behavioral health consultant and campaign strategist. The California state government is separate from the federal government in D.C., which is a little confusing for people unfamiliar with the American system. It's a great job because California policy can reverberate across the country. But it's still a state government, so it's a bit more manageable and you can really feel the immediate impact of what we do.
My background is different from most people in my field—I have a Ph.D. in neuroscience and studied something called neuroeconomics, which combines behavioral economics with cognitive neuroscience to understand why we make choices that aren't always in our best interest. I basically looked at the discrepancy between how people are "supposed" to act and how they actually behave, particularly as a window into addictive disorders.
2. IN WHAT WAYS HAS YOUR WORK SHAPED YOUR IDENTITY AND PERSONAL GROWTH?
I've had a pretty untraditional career trajectory, but I think each chapter helped me flex new muscles and grow in a way that I needed at the time.
In college, I studied art history and worked in the art world. I loved art and wanted to be a cool art girl, but it turned out that I was actually a nerdy science girl (no offense to science girls). Neuroscience was fun and intuitive, and it helped me embrace my academic side that I had been unconsciously trying to suppress.
When I realized I wanted to get involved in policy, my Ph.D. program didn't have that infrastructure, so a few girlfriends and I created it. They all graduated soon after and I really had to take charge and build things from scratch, if only because there was no one else to do it, which really helped me think of myself as a leader. Then more of that imposter syndrome fell away when I transferred into the policy world and could see what I brought to the table. It made me realize that confidence isn't something you can gain externally. You can just choose to embrace it, or not.
3. HAS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS EVOLVED OVER TIME?
I used to believe that success was something you achieved at some specific point, unambiguously, or you didn't. Now I think it's more of a state of mind. Do I feel successful in what I tried to accomplish today? Am I going broadly in a trajectory that aligns with what I want? If so, that's success. All of these external things we compare ourselves to can be so meaningless. I try to only compare myself to past versions of me, since really that's the only comparison with any meaning.
4. WHAT KEEPS YOU INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING?
Sometimes it can definitely get a bit dark in my field. There have been days when I get a lot of angry emails from constituents whose beliefs differ vastly from my own, or I have to watch a hearing that I find offensive. Or I read the news. But then there are days when I get to work with smart people on cool policies that can drastically improve people's quality of life. Not everything works out, but I firmly believe that if I put my efforts towards something, it will have a purpose in the future. It's cheesy, but you really never know how your experiences today prepare you for what's to come.
5. DO YOU HAVE A ROLE MODEL, FEMALE OR OTHERWISE? WHAT LESSONS FROM THEM HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR PATH?
Oh gosh, I'm not sure. I think both of my parents are pretty badass. My mom enters any room with such confidence and has so much wisdom. I try and steal some of that elegance. My dad is just so curious and earnestly engages with anyone he meets. He tries to learn from them, no matter who they are. I love that.
6. HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED CHALLENGES/RESISTANCE THAT PERTAINED TO YOU BEING A WOMAN IN THE WORKPLACE? HOW HAVE THESE EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOUR APPROACH TO WORK OR LEADERSHIP?
I do think it can be more difficult for women to be assertive and opinionated at work. Sometimes it can be hard to quiet the voice in my head that tells me I'm going to come across as "bossy," even when I'm the supposed expert in the room. I tend towards the perspective that it is not my business what people think of me, that I can't control it anyway, so I might as well not try. Our brains have way more important things to do than trying to guess what people are thinking about us.
7. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE WORKPLACE AND HOW DO YOU OVERCOME IT? COMMUNICATION? MANAGEMENT? TIME MANAGEMENT? MOTIVATION? WORK/LIFE BALANCE?
Ugh, yes. It's always work/life balance, isn't it? I definitely prioritize quality of life. I love what I do and it can be all-encompassing, but I also do not live to work. I actively cultivate my life separate from my job. I spend a lot of time with my family and friends, with my dog, and doing social stuff. I like to cook and my husband and I have a lot of dinners. Now I have an 11-month-old and I prioritize him above my job without a doubt—at work, I call him my "real boss." I'm very lucky to work with people who have families and encourage that kind of thinking, even in a high-pressure work environment.
8. WHAT UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES OR QUALITIES DO YOU THINK WOMEN CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORKPLACE, AND HOW DO THESE INFLUENCE TEAM DYNAMICS?
Whether it's biological or through societal pressures, many women move through the world hyper-aware of everyone around them. That we're so naturally perceptive makes it easier to identify people's motivations and what they want out of a situation. It can help us be more effective in cutting through pretenses to find solutions. I also think we're taught to make people around us comfortable and avoid conflict. People think that makes us weak or easily manipulated, but it just makes us more powerful. People often just want to be heard.
9. WHAT'S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WISH SOMEONE HAD SHARED WITH YOU WHEN YOU WERE STARTING OUT?
That there are so many paths to the same destination. I feel like I've lived so many lives already. It's not a failure if you pivot or change directions. You never know what you've learned—whether it's hard skills like research or writing, or soft skills like being able to communicate clearly or ask the right questions. I did what some might call a drastic pivot twice in my career, but studying behavioral economics gave me extra tricks to craft effective policy. I bring so much more to the table because of my varied background, not in spite of it.
10. WHAT'S ONE THING YOU HOPE YOUNGER WOMEN ENTERING YOUR FIELD FEEL EXCITED ABOUT?
I think we can agree that it's a particularly dark and unpredictable time. I would say that there's the "politics" you read about or see on TV and then there's the day-to-day of trying to pass legislation that makes people's lives a little easier. It can be a scary time and you can also feel accomplished in what you're doing each day—both can be true at once. Also, not my direct field anymore, but neuroscience is the best! It's still so new and has so many applications outside of the lab. For my research, I got to look at the brain mechanisms of risky choices and why we're averse to uncertainty, what that can tell us about addiction, and why irrational choices probably have evolutionary value. Highly recommend.
11. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF CLOTHING?
Probably the dress my mom got married in that I wore for part of our wedding. It's this Vicky Tiel chiffon, cream-colored halter dress with no back. It's not even a traditional wedding dress––I think she just bought it with my dad at like Bendel’s right before the wedding. My shoulders are not as broad as hers, so it was too revealing for me to wear for the ceremony. I changed into it later during the party. I love that I got to give it a second life. If I had to pick a non-wedding item, I'd say another of my mom's dresses that I wore a lot when I was pregnant––it's this great vintage Gautier stretchy graphic dress. It’s also great for non-preg times.
12. WHAT PURCHASE RULES DO YOU HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO CLOTHING?
I try to buy things that are well-made and long-lasting—things I love so much I would wear on the way home or the night I buy them. I keep things for a long time (as I answer this, I'm wearing clothes that I've had since high school). When I've bought clothes that were badly made, I hate when they fall apart or the fabric doesn't hold––it's so wasteful. The world is overflowing with garbage and recycling barely exists. If I buy something new, I have to know that I will wear it and keep it forever, or at least that it will last forever so I can give it to friends or donate it.
13. WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS MISSING IN YOUR CLOSET?
I honestly can't think of anything right now. Maybe a new bathing suit since I was pregnant last summer. The last things I bought were actually two pairs of flats from CO and I have literally worn one of them every single day since. They look good with everything and are the softest leather. I guess I could also use a new pair of boots––I never have enough boots.
