Thriving in Mission-Driven Roles

Director of External Affairs, 2Blades (Greensboro, NC)

View more stories on HDS alumni and their career paths.

Describe the work you do today:

I am currently the director of external affairs at 2Blades, an agriculture biotech nonprofit focused on advancing solutions against crop disease for both commercial and smallholder farmers. In this role, I oversee the organization’s marketing, communications, fundraising, and government relations activities.

How has your HDS degree influenced your career journey?

While my career journey since graduating from HDS in 2010 may seem unconventional on paper, a consistent thread has been my commitment to mission-driven roles and embracing opportunities to grow and tackle new challenges. My time at HDS taught me to navigate the uncertainties—and even fears—that come with stepping outside of my comfort zone. I’ve prioritized new experiences over long-term specialization in a single role or industry, leading to an exciting and, at times, daunting range of roles. From beginning my career as a presidential management fellow at FEMA and the Department of State, to leading corporate social responsibility at a $5 billion wine retailer, to serving as a senior leader at a small liberal arts college; and now, contributing to 2Blades’ ambitious mission of safeguarding the future of agriculture: each opportunity has broadened my perspective and provided lessons I’ve applied across my career.

What career advice would you offer to current HDS students?

A job is not the same as a career, and your career will not be defined by any single job. When I graduated from HDS 14 years ago, the iPhone had just launched, Blackberry dominated the market, and TikTok or ChatGPT didn’t exist—and I’m not even halfway through my career journey!

There is no denying that today’s job landscape is undergoing seismic shifts, especially with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, and it’s unclear the extent to which these changes will reshape daily life. The good news is that HDS graduates are uniquely positioned to thrive in this evolving environment. With a grounding in ethics, cultural awareness, and critical thinking, HDS graduates bring with them uniquely human strengths that AI cannot replicate: human-to-human interaction, leveraging soft skills to achieve goals, articulating viewpoints while respecting others, and tackling complex challenges with insight and thoughtfulness. These skills, in my view, will only grow in value as AI becomes more integrated into our world.

There will undoubtedly be moments of doubt and uncertainty, but trust in yourself and the unique contributions you bring to the table.

Where you live is an equally important, yet often overlooked, factor in shaping your career journey. Living in Boise, Idaho, will present different career and life opportunities than living in Miami, Florida. When considering what you want to do, also think about where you want to do it!

And feel free to reach out to me anytime. I’m happy to help!