Get to know the Funga crew with this newest installment of our "Meet the Team" series. Come back monthly to meet more team members, hear about their journey to Funga, and understand their vital role in our community.
We’re big fans of the “Today I get to….” mentality. So, what do you get to do every day at Funga?
I jumped on board with Funga as Product Marketing Manager in September 2023. Every day, I get to work with a wildly intelligent, passionate, go-getter team dedicated to creating real solutions for both people and nature. Our solution is grounded in the vital role fungal biodiversity plays in forest health, productivity, and carbon capture. I like to say what we do is simple, we grow a bigger tree. But, our work is far from simplistic. Each day, I am invigorated to push the frontier alongside this team and just “do the thing”.
In my role, I bring the voices of our partners and customers into the organization, ensuring our decisions and stories resonate with the true needs of the market. Inside Funga, I’m the voice of our partners and customers. Outside, I’m the voice of Funga, speaking for the trees and their belowground counterparts.
If you had to explain what Funga does to a third grader, what would you say?
Imagine you’re walking through a forest. The trees are tall and mighty, and the sun's rays peek through the leaves above you. Beneath your feet, there's a hidden world where little helpers called fungi live. These fungi are like the forest's best friends. They travel far and wide, making sure the trees get everything they need to grow tall and mighty. But sometimes, these little helpers get lost. Without them, the trees can’t get all of the nutrients they need to grow.
That's where we come in! We help guide these lost fungi back to their tree friends. With our help, the forest can grow full of life again.
Tell us a little bit about your life. How did it lead you to Funga?
I have always done my best to be where my feet are, letting new curiosity, passion, and inspiration surface from being present. When I think about where my feet are now, I am reminded of all the curiosities, passions, and inspiration that have surfaced throughout my journey, leading me to my role at Funga. For a long time I wanted to be a doctor. My mom is an E.R nurse and I always looked up to her work serving others. It wasn’t long after that I dreamed of being on Broadway. Singing, dancing, and telling stories that moved people. Acting turned to documentary filmmaking, which turned into a college degree in Community Development and Applied Economics with a minor in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont.
My curiosity, passion, and inspiration quickly evolved into using business as a force for good. I believe that if we can fundamentally transform business, and use it as a vehicle for scaling climate solutions, we can turn the tides. From there, I pursued a Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) degree from the University of Vermont.
Since then, my work has really been anchored at the intersection of climate, startups, and technology commercialization. Everything from corporate ESG strategy and reporting, to business accelerators, to impact investing, to helping to commercialize climate-technology. Funga was a natural evolution in my mission to defend the integrity of all people and the health of our beloved planet, and I hold a tremendous amount of pride and gratitude for this team and the work I get to be a part of everyday. Although I didn’t turn out to be a doctor or a Broadway star, I still get to serve others and tell stories that matter. And that's pretty amazing.
What is your favorite part of the job?
There is no way to answer this question without saying…the TEAM! I always say a place is only as good as the people in it, and I think the same goes for a company. I am impressed every day with the vigor, wits, and passion this team has for scaling soil microbiome restoration as a powerful natural climate solution. For me, there is nothing more fulfilling than getting to work on something new, from the ground up, with a group of people that have no problem doing hard things and supporting others.
What is one workflow/productivity tool or trick that you can’t live without?
I've been passionate about what I call "breakfast salad" lately—it's my secret weapon for conquering the day with boundless energy! I am not sure how this recipe came to be, but I think it was an improv breakfast with some friends of mine, who at the time, were trying to get me to eat vegetables. If you're curious to try it out, here's the winning recipe:
1. Air-fry cubed sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and a light drizzle of honey.
2. Fry up as many eggs as your heart desires, then mince them on a cutting board.
3. In a bowl, toss together your favorite greens (I love spinach and kale), along with tomato, avocado, red onion, and any other toppings you fancy!
4. Whip up a quick sriracha mayo dressing: mix mayo, sriracha, garlic, a dash of lemon juice, and a tiny bit of boiling water to thin it out.
5. Combine everything in the bowl, give it a good mix, enjoy, and most importantly….get ready to change the world 😆.
What trivia round would you know every answer to?
Justin Bieber lyrics. I know every one of them.
Can you share a favorite memory of/with the Funga team?
There are so many… every moment spent with the Funga team is all time. They are always a hoot. Besides all the incredible things we achieve, one of my absolute favorite memories was our visit to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, NM during an offsite trip. Just like we tackle challenges and brainstorm together at work, we dove into Meow Wolf with the same gusto. You could say Anthony, Caylon, and I got a bit lost in decoding the exhibit's mysteries. It was a true testament to our team's perseverance, whether we're on the job or unraveling artistic enigmas!
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