What brings you joy outside of work?
Joy comes in a lot of forms for me. First and foremost, every day I wake up happy to be alive another day on this beautiful earth. I am also devoted to volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association for our annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Akron along with fundraising for my walk team. I work on the logistics planning committee curating in-kind donations of water, snacks, caregiver gifts, & activities for our kid’s corner. Additionally our group is in charge of walk day set up and making sure the walk routes are properly marked. I volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association out of passion for what this organization does not only to advance research towards the cure, but also what they do to support caregivers. My grandfather passed away this year after fighting Alzheimer’s for over ten years while my grandmother fought with him right by his side. I made it an effort to go the extra mile this year, and I know he would be proud of what I have accomplished for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Learn more about Austin’s fight against Alzheimer's here: https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=15792&pg=personal&px=16714544
Why did you decide to work at Sequoia?
Culture. I began at Sequoia as an intern. The amount of respect that I was greeted with on the first day was outstanding. I was instantly treated like a colleague, and I could tell I wasn’t going to be treated like I added less value compared to everyone else at the first no matter what level of seniority. After working here for a few months, the close-knit family like culture drew me in, and I didn’t even think about looking for another internship. Now that I have been here for over four years the culture is still great, and Sequoia has allowed me to grow within my role professionally and the entrepreneurial mindset runs deep in all facets of the organization.
What has been your favorite past vacation destination?
Hawaii. My grandparents sat the whole family down four years ago and let us know that my grandfather’s Alzheimer’s was progressing quite rapidly. They told us that they wanted to make one more lasting memory for the family, and we had to decide where we wanted to vacation. That was hands down my favorite vacation because I had never imagined going there until I could afford it for myself one day. Not only was the destination amazing but making those final memories with my grandpa will last forever.
What do you do to recharge yourself?
There are a few things that I do to recharge myself. Number one is spending time with my rescue Pitbull, Bobby, who I adopted two years ago. Number two is getting a quick nine holes of golf in after work or 18 holes on the weekend. Lastly, I love finding a new spot to eat at.
If you could choose one thing to teach the next generation, what would it be?
Mom knows best, TRUST ME! It took a couple of years into my college tenure before I realized the value of the life lessons my mom taught me when I was younger.