A positive headline in 2020
As a marketer and storyteller, I’m always looking for products and services that match my current interests and resonate with a broader community. It’s the same motivation that introduced me to technology over 10 years ago at an internship at Facebook where the network looked to extend its international footprint. It’s a similar path that led me to work at Pinterest where I had been a loyal Pinner in the early, invite-only days. As I became more invested in my own health journey, it’s this energy around health and research that brought me to Evidation Health. 2020 has tested us in all kinds of ways. From a global pandemic to wildfires in California to distance between us and our loved ones, acknowledging the importance of mental health has been crucial. Many of my friends have been lucky enough to use their Lyra wellness benefit through their employers. Today, I’m excited to join Lyra Health because I know now, more than ever, behavioral health is important for all. As someone who cares deeply about products and technology that can help people through challenging times, I’m grateful for the chance to support a service that so many have turned to.
It wouldn’t be a transition without a brief moment of reflection. My first experience in health tech at Evidation Health has shaped who I hope to be in so many ways. I’m glad that I joined a mission driven company focused on conducting really meaningful research. I’m humbled that my assumptions of how things operate were redefined by perspectives of others who came from completely different disciplines than me. Working with low-ego, authentic leaders has made me keenly aware of the type of people manager I’d like to be. When communicating with a community of participants, I have learned that less complex language is better. Simplicity is not overrated. The products that we build truly need to be built with empathy for the users that use them. I’ve appreciated what it feels like to wake up and feel connected to a broader mission every day.
I’ve grown to recognize that each work experience brings with it a collection of memories, friends, and lessons. Depending on the stage of life we’re in, we carry forward certain elements of these experiences. Prior to my time at Evidation, Pinterest was a place where I grew up in a lot of ways. I crossed paths with people who have become forever friends. I learned how to partner with colleagues across time zones with an appreciation for the effort that it takes to build a global product and brand. I had the chance to travel from Milan to Madrid to Tokyo and Berlin (moments that I cherish even more post-COVID). As an early employee, I understood how important it was to hire people who were the right culture fit. I respected leaders who spent their headcount intentionally. I’d admire those who could see patterns and put process in place as we scaled fiercely. I learned how to prioritize ruthlessly. Most importantly, I never underestimated how a large order of nachos with your co-workers could heal all bad days. I’ll always remember how karaoking during an offsite can leave your voice hoarse and your heart full.
As I look forward, I’ve learned I’m someone who values new-ness. I love a fresh haircut (will never take this one for granted again). I was always the person who couldn’t wait for school supply shopping before the start of a school year. Though I had heard people I admired (like my dad) speak about their various start-up experiences fondly, I never internalized how gratifying it would be to work at one (let alone many!). While the “first” day of work will look a bit different this year, I’m eager to experience what virtual on-boarding looks like and can’t wait to organize a new inbox. I’ll anticipate all that I will learn at this next work home. Here’s to a new chapter at Lyra Health, a next thing with a nod to that which has brought me here.
PS: If you’re looking for good fun-employment activities, I highly suggest listening to Trevor Noah’s memoir Born a Crime on Audible, hiking the most basic of basic hikes in Bolinas, and binging the telenovela Reina del Flow on Netflix.
