A point cloud.
Krista Schnell has a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford, pursued a PhD in sociology at Berkeley, worked in data science and technology thought leadership at Accenture, and built operational infrastructure and programs for nonprofits. She has also been a baseball umpire, a volleyball coach, and a bodyworker.
I am a conglomeration of skills, experiences, interests, and values that aren't always connected — but taken together, in context, they mean something. Something of substance that is more than the sum of my parts. A point cloud.
These are my core values that I try to live by in order to have a meaningful life:
I am an engineer and a sociologist, and I think like both.
I think in systems — how the individual affects the collective, vice versa, and everything in between. I like looking under the covers, at what's below the surface, because I believe that awareness is what gives you the ability to affect the greatest change. This includes noticing power and privilege — who has it, who doesn't, and how that affects us all.
Once I see a system clearly, I want to build on it the right way. Fundamentals come first — the basic building blocks of what we do. Methodology comes next — how we choose to get things done. And both are best if they're visible and transparent — so that what has been built and how it has been built can be seen and trusted by others.
I love understanding and assessing systems, and seeing how they can be improved at all levels. Most of all, I enjoy creating strong foundations, whether establishing them for the first time or revisiting them as things change, as they inevitably do. I like to strategize, prioritize, and plan, and I also like to work on the ground to execute. Even better, I like to make all of my work visible and repeatable for others.
I've worked across tech, nonprofit, and academia. I'm a quick learner and a team player.
Check out my LinkedIn to learn more.