Career Path of an Executive Director Leadership Development Program at City of San Francisco

I've worked for almost 40 years, with my career experiences primarily in public service. I went to Cal in 1983 and have worked in the public sector across federal and local government, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, campaign work, and consulting.

I loved my time at Cal, where I double-majored in political science and oral languages. After graduating, I was fortunate to receive the John Gardner Public Service Fellowship. This fellowship is awarded to three students each at Berkeley and Stanford, allowing them to pursue a mentor and field of their choice anywhere in the country.

I chose international trade and worked at the White House with the Office of the US Trade Representative. There, I focused on trade issues with Korea, Taiwan, and South Asia. After my fellowship, I faced a decision between attending Yale for a more academic path or the Fletcher School for practical, field-based learning.

I chose the Fletcher School, specializing in private international law, international trade, and diplomatic history with an emphasis on Asia. After completing my graduate degree, I wasn't sure about my career direction. So, I signed up for the Coro Public Service Fellowship, which placed me in LA.

Through the fellowship, I gained experience in various sectors, including for-profit, nonprofit, campaign work, media studies, and labor relations. This ultimately led to my first real job in Mayor Tom Bradley's office in 1992. That year also saw the civil unrest, which profoundly impacted my understanding of the public sector's importance.

My boss at the time, Linda Griego, was a great mentor. I worked with her for five years, moving from the mayor's office to her mayoral campaign and then to her role as president and CEO of Rebuild LA, a nonprofit focused on recovery after the riots. These experiences solidified my career in public service.

I then worked at Southern California Edison, focusing on economic development and job creation. Later, my husband's company relocated us to the Bay Area, marking the start of the second half of my career. I spent over 20 to 23 years, perhaps closer to 25, with the city and county of San Francisco.

I genuinely loved my time in San Francisco. I worked in the Controller's office as a project leader and then as director of that program. Ed Lee, when he became city administrator, asked me to be his deputy. I then became chief of staff for Naomi Kelly, the first African American city administrator.

When Ed Lee became the first Asian American mayor of San Francisco, I worked in the city administrator's office for another year or two. Afterward, I moved to SFO, the airport, wanting to return to a field with international connections. I worked there until March 2020.

In March 2020, I was assigned as a disaster service worker downtown and then worked at the COVID Command Center for about two years, serving as both logistics chief and unified commander. I retired shortly after that. The city's Department of Human Resources then asked me to return, and I am now the executive director of the leadership development program.

I've participated in many fellowships throughout my career, including the John Gardner Public Service Fellowship, the Roberts Patricia Harris Scholarship, and the Coro Fellowship at Fletcher. I believe these experiences have greatly enriched my career.