About me
I was born and raised right here in District 4. I grew up in Santa Barbara at a time when my parents — a school teacher and an artist — could afford to buy a home and raise a family here. I attended the same schools where my dad taught, and my mom instilled in me a lifelong appreciation for the arts and culture that make Santa Barbara such a special place.
Like many, I left for college and to build my career, but I always knew I wanted to come back to raise my own family here. Today, I am fortunate to live just down the hill from where I grew up. My husband, who immigrated to this country from Bolivia, and I are now enjoying the beautiful chaos of raising three teenagers!
Twenty years of bringing people together to get things done
Over the past twenty years, I've built my career at the intersection of business, environmental sustainability, and social impact. I've worked in a variety of settings, from a small women-owned fair trade company to an international NGO, to multinational companies leading ethical sourcing and environmental stewardship initiatives across global supply chains. In all of these settings, the work required building consensus across very different stakeholders. A core strength of mine — and something I hope to bring to council — is navigating complex institutions and working well with all kinds of people, while holding myself and others accountable to get things done.
I serve on the City's Neighborhood Advisory Council and enjoy volunteering at my children's schools. When I'm not working or volunteering, you'll find me hiking, running, playing sports, or enjoying one of Santa Barbara's incredible arts or music performances.
Why I'm Running
I'm deeply invested in this district and in Santa Barbara as a whole. I want the next generation, including my own children, to have the opportunity to build their futures here. But that won't happen without thoughtful leadership and difficult decisions. In the years ahead, Santa Barbara faces important choices about housing, revitalizing downtown, protecting our coastline and natural resources, preparing our neighborhoods for wildfire, strengthening public safety, and supporting a thriving local economy with good jobs.
I'm a mom, a neighbor, and a proven problem-solver. For two decades, I've helped organizations tackle complex challenges by bringing people together, finding practical solutions, and delivering results. I'm running to put that experience to work for Santa Barbara — to preserve what makes our city so special while ensuring it remains a place where the next generation can afford to live, work, and thrive.
I'd be honored to earn your support, and I'd love to hear from you.
education
Yale University - BA
Wharton, University of Pennsylvania - MBA
Johns Hopkins University SAIS - MA
I have dedicated my career to pushing companies to be a force for good - driving social impact, improving environmental performance and holding companies accountable. I believe in being a change from within. I was a change agent within The Coca-Cola Company, advocating for ethical and sustainable sourcing initiatives, building coalitions and achieving results. I will be that same force for change within the City Council and I promise, as I have consistently done throughout my career, to always keep the best interest of residents, communities and the environment at the forefront.
career
The Coca-Cola Company - Human Rights and Sustainable Sourcing
After graduate school, I chose to return to the private sector because I believe in the potential to make change from within. Over more than 15 years at The Coca-Cola Company, I worked to develop and implement policies and programs that advanced ethical and sustainable sourcing across a global system operating in 200+ countries and territories. The scale meant there were always new challenges and opportunities especially as companies dig deeper into the supply chain. What encouraged me most was seeing how employees throughout the company increasingly embraced the idea that responsible business practices are not separate from business success. My work reinforced my belief that large institutions can be powerful forces for positive change when they establish clear expectations, measure progress, and are held accountable by stakeholders - not just shareholders.
Fair Labor Association - Multi-Stakeholder Initiative Focused on Accountability
The Fair Labor Association grew out of an initiative launched by the Clinton Administration to bring companies, universities, and civil society together to address labor conditions in global supply chains. My experience there reinforced an idea that has shaped my work ever since: complex problems are rarely solved by one sector acting alone. The adage “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” captures much of what I learned. Bringing together stakeholders who may begin with very different perspectives can create stronger standards, greater accountability, and more durable solutions.
AHA Bolivia - Fair Trade, Women-Owned Business
Working with AHA Bolivia gave me a very different perspective on the relationship between business and social impact. I loved learning from a women-owned company that was trying to build a successful business while creating meaningful economic opportunities for artisans and their communities. It showed me firsthand that profitability and positive social impact do not have to be competing goals and that business can be a powerful tool for strengthening communities.
Gap Inc. - Corporate Social Responsibility & Rotational Management Program
This is where I first became passionate about understanding how the products we use every day are actually made. At the time, growing public attention to outsourcing and “sweatshop” conditions was forcing companies to confront the human impact of their global supply chains. I began at Gap in a general management rotational program but quickly realized that these issues were where I wanted to focus my career, and I pivoted into ethical sourcing.