ACT 3:
hip-hop dj’s and
data scientists

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They were the biggest internet-based radio platform and one of the first apps on the iPhone. In 2011, Pandora Media had just experienced its biggest employee growth to date. It was time they made deeper investments in attracting and retaining the best of the best talent in the Engineering space. This is where I came in—leading their growing People team, I:


• applied neuroscience and humanity to design and deliver a leadership series for 450 people managers.
• led internal communication and marketing efforts for the HR division.
• implemented a ‘no-ratings’ performance management program to reduce bias in developing and promoting employees.
• created a bespoke digital learning platform to deliver core growth and development programs to the more than 2000 employees.
• partnered with the Diversity team to inculcate moments of inclusion and equity into all employee learning experiences.
• scripted and hosted the first ever internal podcast series, People of Pandora.

Fun fact: That podcast series is now available to the public on the Pandora platform.

 
 

ACT 2:
the Lowercase “i” adventures

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Before the iPhone, or the iPod, there was a scrappy group of retail experts that came together to open the first Apple Stores. During my 12 years with Apple Retail, Inc, I:


• created the Apple Retail mentor program that connected newly hired in-store Apple Retail leaders with seasoned leaders to provide on-hands training and support.
• designed and led efforts to test and migrate HR, Inventory, and Communication systems for Retail Operations.
• designed the communication guidelines, team structure, and publishing workflow, for the global employee communication effort that supported multiple countries and more than seven languages. 
• created operational practices, inventory controls, and training for the first U.S. iPhone launch.
• coordinated the operations and created the store employee communications for the first international iPhone launch. 
• opened 125+ Apple stores including the first stores in Japan, England, Scotland, Paris, Italy Madrid, Switzerland, Australia, and Canada.

Fun fact: I didn’t understand all the hype when the iPod came out. I thought my Walkman was good enough.

 
 

ACT 1:
drive-thru’s
and laundromats

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In the early 90’s I was part of a fearless team of people in Los Angeles who, unbeknownst to them at the time, were playing key roles in the rapid expansion of Starbucks Coffee Co. I not only opened dozens of stores, but also:

• developed the store manager training to support rapid expansion.
• prototyped an early version of the Starbucks drive-thru on the bustling Sunset Strip.
• tested the first ‘store-in-store’ experience with a small footprint Starbucks in a trendy laundromat on Hollywood Blvd.

Fun fact: I was at that store in Santa Monica as the Frappuccino was being invented.