I have always had an innate curiosity for the way people work, and an understanding that a firm grasp of human nature can be applied in a variety of ways to maximize productivity and reduce conflict. My interest in psychology was solidified while traveling. At 20 I spent a year living in seven different countries in Central and South America. Meeting so many different people from diverse backgrounds I quickly came to understand that our beliefs and cognitions predict how we interact with the world, and in turn create the world we live in. This naturally kindled in me an interest in research, which I started conducting while at junior college. Research is an interest I plan to continue pursuing while at UCLA. During my travels, I had a variety of different jobs, everything from bartending to beekeeping. These experiences caused me to start thinking about the intersection between psychology and business. My interest in psychology now is aimed at how the principles I learn in the classroom can be applied to business to improve employee well-being and increase productivity. I have a strong passion for the fair and ethical treatment of employees, for inclusion and diversity in the workplace, and for women in leadership.