Hey There: About Me (Part 2)
An updated introduction
In 2023, I posted an About Me to Instagram and Substack (still available to read):
For 2025, I’ve updated this post to reflect all the changes in the last 18 months! As before, elements of this post are inspired by @meredithjeandoty and @clairefromonline's static ‘about me’ posts. It’s also pinned to my Instagram profile as a quick intro for newcomers.
I’m treating this like a bit of a #fridayintroductions but also going to pin this post to my profile as a quick intro for newcomers. The full text of these 13 slides can be read below and the visual version can be seen on Instagram.
ONLINE:
This is a maybe-evergreen, probably-evolving set of slides introducing who the heck I am & outlining why you might wanna stick around—starting with where to find me online:
instagram (my most consistent spot)
substack (for bookish content)
linkedin (for professional/DEIA rants)
tiktok + threads (again, bookish content)
my website (everything else)
TOPICS:
I don’t generally plan content in advance and very much show up in the moment. That said, my posts will generally revolve around the following:
books (reviews, favorites, monthly recaps, author interviews, why I love audiobooks)
travel (where I’ve been, why I loved it, what I learned)
work (my full time job, seasonal work, side hustles, the importance of diversifying your income)
hobbies (needlepoint, data, my Etsy shop)
seattle (loving this city, date night adventures)
fitness (row house, lifting, competitions)
PERSONALLY:
I currently live in Seattle, WA with my wife (Kaity), our two cats & one dog. I’ve been to all seven continents, & over 100 countries (45+ that I’ve spent an overnight in), yes, including Antarctica. I love reading, travel, needlepoint, cherry coke zero, nerds gummy clusters, & jellycats.
.
IDENTITY:
Beyond my passions, I am also a multiply-marginalized human and this shows up in my work and life every day. I am a queer, multi-ethnic, plus size, & Disabled* daughter of immigrants. *I am autistic and have ADHD & Auditory Processing Disorder.
DAY JOB:
My ‘day job’ is at Google. I joined Google in 2017 after being a full-time entrepreneur and have pivoted my career three times, from sales to staffing to what I do now: disability accommodations. My full-time job is working with Googlers to address their ADA accommodations needs and provide support.*
*All opinions my own on this account.
DEIA PHILOSOPHY:
Every DEIA practitioner comes to this work through their own lens & expertise. My DEIA focus is on disability, accessibility, & intersectionality. What is incremental for others is 10x for the Disabled community. building for & centering disability in DEIA work creates access for all.
AUTHOR:
2016-’18: self-published 3 books & co-authored #4.
2020: signed with a literary agent & secured a traditional publishing deal for my 5th book (Oct ‘22).
2024: traditionally published my 6th book & a chapter in a Harvard Business Review book (#7).
Next: Fiction?
COACH:
I started rowing in 2022 & became a Row House coach the same year! Today, I coach an average of 4 days/week & the 4:30p timeslot is my go-to. My favorite Row House class is full row & I'm currently working on my 2 million meter milestone!
WLS:
I have both struggled with my weight & been a competitive athlete throughout my life. At my highest weight, I was more than 410 lbs & my mobility was extremely limited as a result. In 2021, I had WLS and lost 200+lbs. Today I am on a GLP-1, am a powerlifter, & lead support groups for the bariatric community.
TAXES:
I work seasonally as a Tax Manager for Turbotax & have been preparing taxes for 12+ years. I am an IRS enrolled agent, a license that permits me to represent taxpayers before the IRS. I also serve on the board of NAEA, an association for IRS Enrolled Agents.
COMMUNITY RULES:
This is a space that is built by & for marginalized people. That comes with guardrails, including being liberal with the block button & a prohibition on “dirty deletes”. If you leave a comment engaging in a dialogue, don't delete it. You're deleting learning for others too.
IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS:
These 13 slides feature text descriptions of components of my life, as well as a cover image which is a recent photo of me reading a book at a cafe.
Photo credit: @marieltorresphoto