Krista Schnell

These are my core values that I try to live by in order to have a meaningful life:

1. Connection — Genuine, meaningful connection with others.
2. Stability — Balanced foundation, grounded physically and emotionally.
3. Expression — Outward expression of one's true self.
4. Freedom — Freedom to be one's true self, and the attempt to create that freedom for others.
5. Growth — Willingness to be challenged, being okay with where one is and wanting to improve.

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.

My portfolio is below. Check out my LinkedIn to learn more.