The EIT Food TeamUp programme is an initiative designed to bridge the gap between innovative agrifood technologies developed in universities and their commercialization. It focuses on matching technologists who have impactful agrifood solutions with entrepreneurial business professionals. This collaboration aims to co-create successful agrifood startups that can transform the food system.The programme spans six months and offers comprehensive support, including expert guidance, world-class training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and funding. The participants undergo a structured process starting with matchmaking, followed by an exploration phase where they validate their value propositions and business models with support from EIT Food experts. Successful teams are provided with stipends and coaching to help them develop strong co-founder relationships and align their purpose and values.The TeamUp programme is particularly aimed at individuals with technologies that address key missions such as healthier lives through food, a net-zero food system, and reducing risks for a fair and resilient food system. It also seeks business professionals with experience in areas like business development, operations, and marketing who are passionate about innovation in the agrifood sector.

As the Representative of the Systems Innovation Food Hub, my role is all about building bridges—connecting visionary thinkers, industry leaders, and change-makers to redefine the future of our food systems. Here’s a snapshot of how we make a difference.Cultivating Community: I’m dedicated to stitching a network of diverse stakeholders into a cohesive community focused on learning and growth. By initiating dialogues and fostering strategic partnerships, I help turn diverse perspectives into unified, action-oriented goals.Championing Education: I lead the charge in designing educational programs that make systems thinking accessible and actionable. By empowering both individuals and organizations with new tools and perspectives, I’m helping to spearhead sustainable changes in how we approach complex food system challenges.Amplifying Our Message: I represent our hub on the global stage, speaking at workshops to shine a spotlight on the need for systemic innovation in solving global food issues. My advocacy underscores the importance of informed, data-driven strategies in shaping policy and practice.Facilitating Co-Creation: I help organize and lead collaborative sessions that ignite collective creativity and drive forward new methodologies aligned with our ecological and health priorities.Assessing Impact: I develop metrics and monitoring strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of our initiatives, ensuring that we’re not just active but also impactful in enhancing the resilience and sustainability of food systems.

At Unthink, we leverage UX methodologies and systems thinking to catalyze transformative innovation. In my role as an Innovation Facilitator, I have had the privilege of spearheading a variety of strategic initiatives and workshops aimed at reshaping the landscape of systemic challenges across industries. Key accomplishments include:City Innovation Leadership: Orchestrated a high-impact city innovation workshop for the state of Nebraska, engaging key stakeholders in a collaborative environment to foster groundbreaking solutions for urban development.Strategic Development: Crafted and implemented the "Five Facet Innovation Strategy," a comprehensive guide designed to steer participants through complex innovation processes, enhancing our consultancy's effectiveness and reach.Systems Innovation Advocate: Represented Unthink at the Systems Innovation Food Hub, contributing to pivotal discussions and decisions that shape sector-wide innovation strategies.Workshop Design and Execution: Developed and facilitated numerous workshops focused on systemic challenges, employing a tailored approach that has successfully nurtured creative problem-solving skills among participants.Global Impact Initiatives: Partnered with the World Food Forum, guiding international students through the intricacies of the innovation process and empowering the next generation of changemakers.Research and Analysis: Conducted extensive fieldwork across the United States to evaluate the current state of our food systems, translating complex data into actionable insights and challenge questions.Concept Development and Testing: Led a systems mapping and ideation workshop to generate and subsequently test proof of concepts with target audiences, ensuring alignment with user needs and market demand.

In my role as a UX Content Strategist at Ogilvy, a premier global creative agency, I played a pivotal role in elevating the user experience across various high-stakes projects. My tenure was marked by deep collaboration, innovation, and strategic insight, contributing significantly to our clients' success. Key achievements include:Collaborative Development: Partnered effectively with senior strategists, designers, and researchers to integrate cutting-edge UX principles and behavioral science across diverse platforms.Content Leadership: Authored compelling, user-centric content that significantly increased user engagement through the strategic application of behavioral science insights, reinforcing the importance of voice consistency in digital interactions.Workshop Facilitation: Actively engaged in design thinking workshops, where I introduced innovative content strategies that played a crucial role in the global redesigns of websites and the development of mobile applications.Brand Strategy Execution: Contributed to international branding campaigns for high-profile clients such as Nespresso, Garden Gourmet, and Nestlé, focusing on enhancing brand voice consistency and optimizing user communication.Research and Strategy: Led exhaustive user research for the San Pellegrino project, capturing essential insights that directly influenced the overarching UX strategy and design, thereby enhancing the product's market fit and user satisfaction.

As a UX Writer at FOS Barcelona, a dynamic start-up focused on sustainability, I was instrumental in shaping the user experience through strategic content creation and comprehensive user research. My role was central to integrating the brand’s core mission of sustainability into every user touchpoint, ensuring a cohesive and engaging digital presence. Key contributions include:Content Development: Crafted strategic content that seamlessly integrated persuasive storytelling with our sustainability mission, resulting in a unified, authentic, and engaging narrative across all user interfaces.User Research: Led in-depth research initiatives focusing on user psychographics and behaviors, which were pivotal in designing intuitive user journeys that significantly enhanced the digital interaction experience.UX Strategy Leadership: Directed the UX strategy within our vibrant start-up environment, embedding sustainability into every facet of our business model—from meticulous user experience design to impactful market delivery.Agile Collaboration: Worked closely with the product and design teams, employing Agile methodologies to swiftly iterate and refine content, ensuring it met both user needs and business objectives.

In my role as a STEM Curriculum Developer at The Benjamin School, I was dedicated to fostering an innovative educational environment through the development and implementation of a project-based learning curriculum. My focus was on enabling students to explore and design sustainable solutions, preparing them for future challenges in STEM fields. Key achievements include:Curriculum Innovation: Developed and launched a comprehensive project-based learning framework that encouraged students to engage with real-world problems, particularly in the context of sustainability.Educational Impact: Designed and integrated hands-on projects that not only aligned with educational standards but also enhanced student understanding of complex STEM concepts through practical application.Collaborative Efforts: Worked collaboratively with fellow educators to map out and refine curriculum strategies, ensuring a cohesive learning experience that supported interdisciplinary studies and catered to diverse learning styles.Professional Development: Actively participated in ongoing professional development to stay abreast of the latest educational trends in STEM, continually integrating new teaching methods and technologies into the curriculum.

As a STEM Educator at Brookside Charter School, I focused on developing and implementing an immersive learning curriculum tailored to integrate state testing requirements with real-world applications. This role allowed me to enhance student engagement and deepen their understanding of STEM subjects through practical scenarios. Key accomplishments include:Curriculum Design: Innovated and executed a STEM curriculum that blended rigorous testing standards with real-world scenarios, ensuring that educational content was both engaging and applicable.Student Engagement: Significantly increased student interest and participation in STEM subjects by creating dynamic learning environments that connected classroom theories to tangible, real-life challenges.Assessment Strategies: Developed and refined assessment methodologies to more accurately measure the effectiveness of the curriculum and student learning outcomes, enabling continuous improvement in instructional strategies.Educational Collaboration: Collaborated with a team of educators to map and align curriculum objectives with broader educational goals, facilitating a more integrated and comprehensive approach to student learning.Professional Growth: Engaged in continuous professional development to remain at the forefront of STEM education, integrating innovative teaching methods and technologies to enhance the learning experience.

Language Instruction: Delivered comprehensive English language instruction, adapting teaching methods to suit a diverse student body and enhance their language acquisition and fluency.Cultural Integration: Acted as the International Community Liaison during the school's annual Multi-Cultural Week, a role that involved orchestrating events that celebrated diverse cultures and promoted cross-cultural understanding.Relationship Building: Cultivated strong, lasting relationships with colleagues from various cultural backgrounds, which enhanced the collaborative teaching environment and enriched the educational experience for students.Event Coordination: Coordinated and led multiple cultural events that provided students and staff with opportunities to engage in meaningful exchanges about cultural diversity, enhancing community cohesion and intercultural communication.Professional Development: Continuously sought professional growth opportunities to improve my teaching practice, staying current with educational trends and methodologies that support an international curriculum.

In my role as a Chemistry Lab Technician at Beijing BISS International School, I was responsible for managing the chemistry lab’s operations and resources, ensuring an organized and efficient learning environment for both students and faculty. My commitment to enhancing the functionality and accessibility of lab resources led to significant improvements in the educational process. Key achievements include:Digital Inventory Management: Developed and implemented a digital format for the lab's supply room, enabling teachers to easily locate supplies and request new items. This system also allowed for effective tracking of the department’s budget, ensuring optimal resource allocation.Resource Efficiency: Enhanced the efficiency of the chemistry lab by maintaining a well-organized inventory, which reduced waste and downtime in setting up experiments.Educational Support: Provided essential support to the chemistry teaching staff, assisting in the preparation and execution of lab experiments, which facilitated a hands-on learning experience for students.Safety Compliance: Ensured compliance with safety regulations in the lab, conducting regular checks and maintaining safety equipment, which contributed to a safe educational environment.Training and Guidance: Trained new staff and students on lab equipment usage and safety protocols, fostering a culture of safety and responsibility within the school’s science department.