"I was ready to re-invent myself, my career and my path so I decided to pick up my life and move it across the world."
I'm originally from California and have gradually made my way further and further east, or as far away from home, as the running joke in my family goes. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I moved to New York City where I thrived in the big city lifestyle. My background is a combination of non-profit project management to partnerships and business development in the tech world, which took me to my current path in venture capital.
I feel like the longer I've been in Israel, the more my answer to this question changes. The initial part of the answer stays the same, to attend Tel Aviv University and receive my master's in Public Policy and Conflict Resolution. But the second part, which at first, was to escape a lifestyle that I once loved but turned routine and lackluster, has now become more honest. I was ready to re-invent myself, my career and my path so I decided to pick up my life and move it across the world.
Sometimes yes and sometimes absolutely not. Coming here knowing no Hebrew to now working in an office being one of the only native English speakers, I have come a long way. But I feel that without having done the army or having learned Hebrew at a young age, I will always be a step behind. That doesn't stop me though, and I work on pushing myself out of language comfort zone everyday.
On the other hand, I have most definitely adapted Israeli tendencies, if you will. I feel more of a drive to go after what I want, speak up for myself and my opinion and honestly, I hardly ever take no for an answer. Much of that I can attribute to navigating Israeli bureaucracy. On a lighter note, I have learned how to appreciate all the small things in my life, find solace in nature and prioritize community, all of which I have learned from the Israelis I surround myself by. Will I ever be Israeli? Probably not in the literal sense, but has my outlook on life forever been changed because of my time here? Absolutely.
I just started as the Head of Platform at TLV Partners to build the fund's value added services platform that helps TLVP's portfolio companies scale on all aspects from business development, marketing, hiring and overall strategy. I feel so honored to have this opportunity and am so inspired each time I speak with the founders in our portfolio and people in the ecosystem.
I got where I am now through building a network and talking to as many people as I could. Studying Political Science, I didn't expect myself to end up in Venture Capital but after connecting to a guest speaker at one of my classes during my masters program at TAU, I was introduced to two women and an industry (high-tech) that I didn't realize at the time was going to change my entire career trajectory. What started as an internship at MassChallenge Israel, an early-stage accelerator in Jerusalem, became my first job in Israel which I am proud to say has blossomed into a career I am so excited to keep building each day.
Every day I get to work with some of the smartest and most driven people I have ever met. Whether it be the founders of TLVP's portfolio, the partners, or others in the ecosystem, I leave each meeting having learned something new. Working on the platform side of venture capital, I feel like I get real insight into the grit, skills and ins and outs of what it takes to start a company.
I'm grateful for the company culture I've stepped into at TLV Partners because I feel supported and trusted to run with my ideas.
My biggest challenge right now is taking the jump to use my Hebrew on a more professional level.
The biggest thing that keeps me going is that the more I speak the easier it becomes. It is that in-between stage before you take the jump that's the hardest. Right now, I am teetering on the edge.
The biggest piece of advice I can give people is to build a network and truly talk to as many people as you can. Everyone in the olim community is super connected (something important to keep in mind) and so willing to help. You really never know where or who your next opportunity will come from.
Lastly, what is a fun fact about your life right now?
Something that feels like an "Only in Israel" moment are the connections, big or small, you can create with all the people in your life. Whether it's an invite to a shabbat dinner from the person you buy your vegetables from, the random person on the street wishing you a shabbat shalom or the friends who become your family. Since moving to Israel, community has taken on a whole new meaning for me and is what makes a place so far away from home, a home.
I’m Israeli-born, Silicon Valley raised. I hold a BSc. in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona. From my peers, I’m the “jack of all trades” marketer, helping companies scale and go to market.
In my free time, I kick-box, DJ, go to the beach, and do fun passion projects like this. If you’re an Oleh/Olah in tech and would love to be featured, let's connect on LinkedIn!