From Alaska to the World Stage

For Kristen, growing up in Alaska meant breaking free from gender norms. “In Alaska, gender norms aren’t as much of a thing. Women chop firewood, camp, and fish.” She credits her upbringing with empowering her to pursue male-dominated fields like venture capital and cycling. “I never felt like I had to follow a certain career path or that I couldn’t be a strong athlete because of my gender.”

As an undergraduate student at Harvard, Kristen found herself struggling in a computer science class. “I had this really hard computer science P set, and I didn’t even know where to start,” she recalled. A friend’s encouragement helped her realize that the problem-solving skills she developed in Alaska and really honed at Harvard were crucial. “I didn’t have all the answers, but if I kept working at it from different angles, I should have the confidence in my own intelligence and discipline to figure it out.”

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Kristen believes, “It’s never too late to start something new,” emphasizing the importance of being humble and open to learning. “You must go in with an open mind, no ego, and accept that you’re going to be a total beginner again.” She encourages individuals to seek feedback and mentorship, focusing on their own paths rather than comparing themselves to others. Strategy Execution for Public Leadership, which highlights the importance of adopting a growth mindset, keeping an open mind, and building self-confidence. What is the area that you would most like to improve for personal growth?

Becoming a beginner again

Kristen acknowledges that starting over can be tough, especially as peers advance in their careers. “I was the furthest behind compared to my peers,” she says. She encourages others to focus on their own path, be open to learning, but don’t focus on where you are now. “Focus on your trajectory and make it as fast as possible. Give yourself a five year plan and don't compare yourself to anyone.” Kristen embraces this spirit of running your own race–or pedaling at your own pace.

Using your intrinsic motivation to your advantage

Kristen believes that passion is key and thinks of it like an extra engine. “If you’re passionate about something, you’re going to have more intrinsic motivation,” she explains. When pursuing her love for cycling, she found that hard work often felt less daunting. “The hard work isn’t as hard when you love what you’re doing,” she says. “It's like a superpower that perhaps not everyone in that field has. And you can really use that to your advantage.”

Kristen emphasizes that both cycling and venture capital are fundamentally about the team, though they may not always be perceived as such. Innovations in Teamwork in Healthcare, “team members rely on each other,” underscoring that interdependence is essential for success.

Kristen embodies that commitment in putting oneself forward for your teammates.

Kristen's biggest takeaway from her first Olympics is to “never sell yourself short.” She entered the Olympics hoping for a medal of any color but soon found herself wanting more. “You’re never going to achieve your goals if you don’t aim high,” she advises. She encourages others to trust themselves, listen to feedback, and aim higher than what people think you’re capable of. “At the end of the day, no one’s going to know you as well as you do,” she says.