Hello Team, I'm Emerald. One of your Product Strategy Co-Leads for TF Nonprofit!

I have a background in the SaaS industry as a Digital Marketing Strategist but fell in love with Product after speaking with many clients throughout the years and helping them with their pain points and strategies!

I enjoy deep diving into the discovery phase of any project and seeing the hard effort and collaboration come to life that truly satisfies the needs of the user. I've participated in two Hackathons as lead, Baddies in Tech as a finalist, and Aimset. Both projects were healthcare-related for underrepresented groups.

I am a proud Cervical Cancer Survivor and currently volunteer as a Product Manager for the company Survivor Healthcare —— a virtual program helping cancer survivors with complications and effects from treatment.

Outside of this, you can catch me doing yard work with my cane corso Maggie, doing home projects, or drinking an iced dirty chai latte with two shots of blonde espresso!

Learn each other's unique perspectives and skills. A dynamic team is a great team in my book! I'm excited to collaborate and create something truly genuine for Tech Fleet to push its initiatives forward!

For my second Co-lead position at Tech Fleet, I want to help others grow personally and professionally in any way I can. My approach focuses on supporting my team members to achieve their full potential. By actively listening, providing the resources they need, and prioritizing their development, I aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive. I believe that by fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, we can accomplish great things together.

Connecting deeply with my team, helping them problem-solve, and recognizing their potential and skills. I believe in building strong relationships and understanding each team member’s unique strengths and challenges. This allows me to help them tackle problems effectively and find creative solutions. I’m also committed to seeing and nurturing their potential, offering support and encouragement in both casual and professional ways. By lifting them up and celebrating their successes, I create a positive and motivating environment where everyone can thrive.

Clear vision, solid project goals, and a supportive team. A clear vision helps me see the big picture and stay focused. Solid project goals break everything down into manageable steps so everyone knows what to do. Having a team that's aligned and supportive makes a huge difference — we help each other out, share ideas, and keep things moving smoothly.

Clear objectives, specific deadlines, additional background information, and helpful tools.

I appreciate understanding the bigger picture but also have a strong analytical side. Clear objectives help me stay aligned with the goals and avoid straying off the path. Specific deadlines keep me accountable and focused on finishing tasks. Additionally, any tools that aid communication, such as team documents, meetings, and backlogs, are essential for smooth collaboration and progress.

Slack and/or Discord, where I prefer receiving high-level information. If a problem arises, I appreciate knowing the stated problem, its cause, the initial steps taken to address it, and any ongoing challenges if relevant.

I can also be quite the chatterbox and love face-to-face chats when necessary, especially for 1:1 meetings to hash out goals, give feedback, and bounce around ideas. There's just something about talking in person that makes things click better. It's easier to understand each other, clear up any confusion, and make sure we're on the same page. Plus, it's a chance to shoot the breeze and strengthen our bond.

For team meetings, I love love love a structured agenda to keep us on task to respect everyone's time. I'm a strong advocate for, "this could have been an email, not a meeting."

Planning, execution, and review.

In the planning stage, I’m great at setting clear goals and coming up with detailed plans. During execution, I stay organized, tackle tasks based on priority, and make sure everyone’s on the same page. When it comes to the review stage, I love analyzing what worked, gathering feedback, and figuring out how we can improve next time. These stages let me use both my strategic thinking and analytical skills to help the project succeed.

To be direct and specific. I value honesty and clarity, so don’t hesitate to tell it like it is. Whether it’s positive or constructive feedback, I appreciate examples or specific instances to help me understand and improve. Additionally, I prefer receiving feedback in a 1:1 setting rather than in a group, as it allows for more open and focused discussion.

A balance between solo work, brainstorming, and breaks. For personal tasks, I block off time on my calendar to ensure I have dedicated focus. During brainstorming sessions, I enjoy collaborating and getting creative, but I also appreciate a structured agenda to keep us on track and make the most of our time. I prioritize taking ample breaks to recharge and avoid burnout.

Tend to send frequent updates and progress messages if I feel the team seems unresponsive or tasks aren’t getting done. (Don't worry, I'm not a micro-manager!)

It helps keep us all on the same page and makes sure we’re hitting our deadlines. Keeps me focused and organized too, while making sure everyone’s in the loop and staying engaged.

Renovating my home! Whether I'm painting, knocking something down, or working in the garden. I love making my house a home with my dog, Maggie.