Hazel Valdez: Scaling the Mission of PDXWIT

This episode of Humanizing Tech welcomes our new Executive Director Hazel Valdez! Listen to Hazel and learn about her fascinating (and delicious) background, how she’s working to unify the PDXWIT team (staff and volunteers), and the exciting plans to scale the mission of PDXWIT with full transparency.

PDXWIT is always looking for volunteers! If you’re passionate about building an inclusive and equitable Portland Tech Industry, we’d love to meet you.‌

Learn more about how to get involved here from sponsorship opportunities, how to donate, and volunteer opportunities here: Get Involved — PDXWIT.

Anyone can download the PDXWIT 2022 Impact Report to learn about all of our accomplishments here: PDXWIT

Transcript

Intro:

Welcome to Humanizing Tech, a PDXWIT podcast. We interview people to dig below the surface of their achievements and challenges, showcasing the story behind the story. We believe that focusing on the person and humanizing their lived experiences will help us shape the future of tech.

Anusha Neelam:

Before we get started, I want to acknowledge the land we are on, wherever we're tuning in from. PDXWIT recognizes the ongoing violence, trauma, and erasure indigenous Oregonians and Native American face. We are recording from Portland today. Portland rests on the traditional village sites of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Chinook, Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla and many other tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River. We endeavor to have this acknowledgement be more than just words. The tech industry is building the future of our world, and it is up to us to ensure that there is a future for all. To find out more about how we're supporting the future of indigenous Oregonians and Native Americans, please visit our website. We'll add a link in the show notes as well. 

Hello everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Humanizing Tech. I'm your host, Anusha. My pronouns are she/her. Um, and I have an amazing co-host joining me today, who's none other than our lovely guest from the first episode this season. Zhou Fang.

Zhou Fang:

Hi, um, I'm back. <laugh>. I had a lot of fun chatting last time, actually. And so yeah. Hello everyone. My name is Zhou Fang. My pronouns are she/her. I am an, uh, equity, diversity and inclusion practitioner, and I'm a longtime PDXWIT volunteer. So very excited to be here today and potentially asking Hazel some really good questions. Potentially <laugh>,

AN:

Just let the cat outta the bag Zhou…our guest already. Just couldn't wait. I love it. 

Hazel Valdez:

I should go. I should go

ZF:

<laugh>. Um, so yeah, our guest today here is none other than PDXWIT executive director, Hazel Valdez. Prior to her current role, Hazel was the associate director for the Oregon Bioscience Incubator, OBI, and OTRODI. I don't know if I say it right, it's OTRADI. Hazel worked with the executive director on various initiatives, including working with entrepreneurs and early stage bioscience and digital health organizations on their facility and resource needs, as well as OBI’s DEI initiatives. Prior to joining OBI, Hazel was the operations manager at PDXWIT and has been part of the tech community for over 11 years. Hazel studied English at UC, Irvine and holds a BA in culinary management from La Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Gosh, <laugh>, very fancy. <laugh> Hazel sits on the board of directors as the board Secretary of Saturday Academy. Welcome, Hazel. We're so excited to have you on Humanizing Tech for the first time.

HV:

Yay. Thank you so much for having me. This is my first podcast, <laugh>.

AN:

Really? It's your first podcast. Really? You haven't done it.

ZF:

I'm genuinely surprised. Yes

AN:

Me too. Me too. Wow.

HV:

I have my own that I'm trying to launch by the end of this year, but at the moment pretty busy with all things PDXWIT <laugh>.

AN:

Yeah. Well, thank you so much for being here again. Um, I know that a lot of our long-term, um, members of the community of PDXWIT probably know of you have seen you around. Um, and I'm really excited to just get into some of the background that folks might not know about you and get into some fun stuff. Um, and so with that, actually the first thing I wanna kick off is, um, just a fun fact about you that I recently found out, which is that you are a classically trained chef, and I, uh, also recently found out about your foodie Instagram, um, and started following it. And I gotta say, love the tutorials, love all the food inspo. It's, it's great. I love it. Um, but tell us a little bit about, um, how your love of cooking started and what inspired you to start this. I'm gonna say culinary inspired Instagram <laugh>.

HV:

My love of cooking probably, uh, started when I was a little kid. Not so much me cooking, but watching my uncles and my aunts cooking. So in the Filipino culture, it's very much about food, um, and getting together in community and I was always, I always marveled at that. Um, what I was most intrigued by was in the Valdez household or in the Valdez family, and extended family, our, um, the men cooked more for parties than the women. And I thought that was strange. But I also always used to hang out with my dad. I was my dad's pet, so to speak, so I followed him everywhere. I was a little shadow, so I learned about cooking, but I let that, and then I used to make, um, pancakes for the family every Sunday. So you'd find me Sunday morning the first one awake, making the batter and making pancakes for everyone.

It was kinda fun. Um, I didn't take that love seriously enough, or didn't consider it until, believe it or not, I was going through a breakup with my ex and probably experiencing midlife crisis. So I thought, huh, well I have some time, maybe I'll do this. So, um, I didn't really have time, but I did enter culinary school while I held a full-time job for the state of Arizona. So my schedule was 6:30 to 3:00 as a social marketing manager for the state of Arizona, running the women, infants and children's program as their social marketing manager. And then I went home, I got home about 3:30, 3:40. I took a nap till about 4:30, put on my uniform and made sure I was in class by 5:30. Um, I, and I did that for 18 months. And, um, I'd be out of class at about midnight and then, and I'd come home, I'd be still trying to unwind, thankfully where I lived, we had a jacuzzi, which was really nice because we're on our feet a lot, um mm-hmm.

<affirmative>, and then I'd sleep for three hours and then do it again. Um, and, and I think the best part about that is what my roommate told me while I lived in Arizona, which was: “enjoy the process.” So being in an established culinary program with, um, Julia Child being one of my idols, I used to watch, I was the only little kid in my house who watched and idolized Julia for all the cooking she did. Um, so that was kind of a dream come true and I made it through the program. It's very interesting in culinary. Um, about 200 of us entered in my graduating class, 50 finished with a certificate. The next hundred or so folks finished with an AA and then it really dropped down to the 12 of us getting our, our actual, uh, BA because we had to learn the management side of things. A lot of fun, lot of work. And my friends kind of told me, even though I put out good food during my culinary school, especially my colleagues at Arizona State, like, you're kind of grumpy. I'm like, yeah, cuz I didn't get a lot of sleep during that time. <laugh>.

AN:

Yeah, don't blame you at all. Wow. That's, um, that's crazy. Did you ever, uh, were you ever a chef at any like, local restaurants here in, in Portland at all? Or did you, I know that you had some different careers later. Yeah.

HV:

No… Yes. So I graduated from culinary school and right out of the gate I got actually, um, recruited to manage three restaurants through a culinary group in Arizona. So, um, I did that. I managed three different teams. Uh, one was a corporate dining, the other two were full on restaurants. And, um, I will say the culinary world or the culinary experience is a young person's game now. Um, I did get to audition for, um, one of the network shows because they were at our school, but I think they were looking for people who had more drama than they did cooking skills. So <laugh>, whatever, I went, I moved on. Um, yeah, so I did get picked up and then here in Portland, that was the intent. Actually, I was, when my wife and I Crystal, uh, moved here, I was hoping that I could either try my hand at a restaurant or even work on a, in a food truck.

So as I started to look for work, um, that wasn't happening because the salary I made in California was not translating to the salaries of foodies here, because you have to remember, they were looking at my resume and they were more focused on like my state government or my corporate salaries that I was making. And then that did not translate well to, uh, folks whose margins are like at 30% in the cooking industry. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So what I did instead, um, I got picked up by, uh, by, um, Sur La Table and I was considered talent. So I taught cooking classes to what I called 30,000 millionaires. Folks who didn't really cook, but just wanted to come to Sur La Table for the experience. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, I met a few guys who didn't even know how to turn on their oven. That was kind of weird, but Okay. <laugh>. Um, so I did that. And then, um, just to pay it forward to the community, I went, I did intentionally go to some mom and pop restaurants who I saw on, um, social media who really didn't have a presence and offered my services as trade. Um, and that way just kind of give them the basics and understanding what social media can do for them if they didn't have a really robust advertising program. It was fun. Getting free food is always good.

AN:

Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. What a, like, what a good trade. I feel like that's <laugh>, I mean food for, uh, doing a little work. It's not, yeah. It's not too bad. <laugh>

HV:

Right. Right.

AN:

Um, and I was actually gonna ask you too, like if you have a food inspired, like I feel like there's so many food inspired shows right now, um, just out there, but do you have a favorite one?

HV:

I do. Um, and this one stems from when I was even younger. Uh, Anthony Bourdain's, No Reservations because what he did collectively, I think for the culinary world was open the world up for everyone to see. Yeah. And from his perspective, as insightful as he was and how troubled he was, he still put a good show on even when he's drinking and drunk and on tv, it's kind of, it was funny to watch because you're like, he's drunk, he's really drunk, but he is having a good time. He's having a good time. And it was a good show for me to see, uh, the different cultures that I had hope and some I've actually experienced when I got to visit them as I was older and could afford it.

AN:

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Anthony Bourdain. That show was great. Um, I can vouch for that too. <laugh>. Um, well thank you so much for sharing all that, Hazel, that's awesome. You're welcome. That, um,

ZF:

That's such a wonderful experience and I really just wanna say someday you decide to have your own food cart, I feel like we should make it happen.

AN:

I was gonna say like, I’d go.

HV:

Yes. Um, it is still in the cards as part of my retirement. Uh, but you know, it, it weighs out. What weighs it out is traveling. So, I don't know, travel and eat or make food.

ZF, AN:

Oh man. Yeah. 

HV:

Travel and eat, make food, I dunno, <laugh>, but you're there. A few other folks have asked me about that and it's, it's still in the back of my mind. I I'm not done with the culinary world yet. For sure.

ZF:

You're not. And please don't be

HV:

No <laugh>. I won't be. I love food too much. 

AN:

Yeah.

ZF:

Yeah. So, um, I guess the next question is a little bit more kind of like, you know, PDXWIT focused or nonprofit or tech community focused. Um, so you have been with PDXWIT for over six months now as the new executive director. And could you give us like an overview of what the main goals and objectives are that you have been working on so far? And I think to add to that, you know, what's your experience has been since, uh, PDXWIT, you know, the last couple years have seen some growing pain and, you know, from your first person perspective and driver in the seat. What's your experience on that? So…

HV:

All right. You know, the irony is I left PDXWIT to become an executive director. I think, I dunno if y'all knew that. Mm-hmm. So I went to go learn from one of the more, um, established and well-funded, um, organizations out there. Um, last six months have really genuinely been about one, unifying a team. It's a whole new team of PDXWIT staff and, uh, learning to work with them, understanding their styles. We're not done in that journey. I think it's gonna take us this year, we're going into a retreat in about three weeks. Uh, that part of that actually all of that retreat is designed or centered around our strengths as individuals and as a team. And then the other half of it and is all about process improvement. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So the last six months, I wanna say the first two months were fast and furious.

There were a lot of things that were, um, that needed l some loose ends that needed to be tied up, um, taking care of that, uh, also getting ready to, um, file taxes for the organization, um, which is, uh, new to me. Um, and really asking the team to look at current processes and see how we can make them, uh, better so that we can scale. And the team knows this, and I'll share it with everyone. We are a nonprofit, wonderful. But we act like a small startup. And a small startup really, um, has to work towards understanding how to scale and also be nimble. Um, and it really does start with our process improvement, um, initiative. And that will probably take the rest of the year as well. We've got, PDXWIT is, it's, it's, when I met PDXWIT, I thought it was a well run machine already, but I do think that it was, um, siloed, especially when it came to working with volunteers <sound distortion>.

So, um, in that respect, I will say that the growing pain while PDXWIT was looking for the new ED, the first part was leadership was at best, um, lackluster or non-existent. And at worst, definitely not communicative. So, um, when it came for me to start hearing what was being said about the organization from others in the community and their concerns, it really was that, um, what, how can we rally the troops, so to speak, to get us back on the same, um, mission driven, uh, initiative, which is our, our true north. Um, I will always refer back to our mission when we come to a process or a process improvement or a new policy because that's how we're gonna be able to scale and move forward. The other part of that is also knowing that it could possibly, that be that PDXWIT will iterate again and what will that look like?

Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So when you think about entrepreneurship and scaling, sometimes the vision and the mission might have a slight shift because of, uh, honestly dictated by the market, or in our case, what's happening in our economy. And the tech, um, sector of companies, these layoffs have really given me, um, have given me the opportunity to open up what that might look like for PDXWIT. So when I talk about the word tech, I just don't mean tech companies anymore. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, everyone is in tech. Why is it that our community wants to stay in just this place when we know other industries use tech? Um, last week I was at, at the AO bio final from my old employer. Um, and the five finalists, their thread was tech. Everything they were making or doing has a tech component mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So we can't, I, I don't want to to limit the, uh, space that, or the footprint and impact we, uh, we are wanting to put out there.

If anything else I'm inviting more in. Um, and I'm also saying that to our volunteers, that's why I've asked for the volunteer roles to continually be open. Because in as much as we have a good group of volunteers, you all have other jobs and you all could use a break. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So I'm looking for lead volunteers to help train up these new volunteers so you can breathe a little, take the time you need to be with your loved ones and know that you've, you've trained a good team and you can come back and work together on another project. That's kind of, um, the biggest thing. I think the other thing, and I'm gonna circle back to leadership is that the board, um, was not ready for that shift for Elizabeth Stock to leave and really, um, have a new ED in place. It was a very long amount of time for the search mm-hmm.

<affirmative>. Um, and I'm sure all applicants were probably a little frustrated at that process. I know I was. Um, and we are now using a skills matrix when it comes to shoring up the board. So to be a board member, there's the, the tenet is time, treasure, and talent as a board member, can you bring treasure to the organization? Not so much your money, it could be your own money, but can you introduce the ED to many more donors who can, um, help you build financially a good organization? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So that's treasure. Time. We are a working board. As a board member, do you have time to commit to being the project sponsor and sometimes committee lead on things that PDXWIT will do moving forward? So treasure, time, talent. So talent, um, are you bringing to our organization a talent that we might need so that we are able to scale up more?

Um, our newest board member, uh, is, um, their firm has offered in-kind, um, law services or litigation services if we need it. They're an employment house. And, and now I can say, say if someone from the community says, I just got laid off, but I don't think it was fair. Do you, can you offer any advice? Well, PDXWIT will not offer you advice, but we definitely are working with an organization that can help you navigate what it is your concerns are. So a lot of process improvement, shoring up the board and reunifying the volunteer core in their understanding of the roles. Um, not so much being so siloed anymore. I don't know that everyone's met everybody. So that's kind of one of my biggest things. And that was kind of my big thing. Um, even when I was first working here, I never knew who was on the newsletter team. I never knew who was on the podcast team, and it was weird to me, but I really am trying to work with the volunteer recruitment to give me a solid list so that we know who those folks are.

AN:

Hmm, that's great. Yeah. That's that's amazing. Um, I feel like that's a lot of that stuff like is kind of like a first time for me hearing it too. So this is like, this is really cool to hear all of the stuff that you all have been working on. Um, I know there, when you talked a little bit about the, the volunteer, um, the volunteers and the process changes there. Um, you cut out a little bit and I wanted to go back to it, um, anyway, because I'm curious to hear about just like, um, you were mentioning that, um, you're talking to the leads of different, like aspects of the organization to see, um, if we can like, bring on some new folks and like onboard them. Is there anything process-wise there in terms of volunteers? Because I forget what percent of volunteers, um, are kind of like helping with PDXWIT, but I know it's like, it's a pretty high percentage of the last time I heard about it. And I'm curious to know what process changes, um, you're working on with like leads or other volunteers in different, like realms of PDXWIT and if you can go into it, <laugh>.

HV:

Oh, yeah, yeah. We can go get into it. Um, I will say on the daily, here is a standard line that my team hears. We do that. Oh my god, really? Okay. So when I, when I meet with, um, and kudos to the volunteer recruitment team for like getting folks onto my calendar. Um, and when I meet with them and I say, so I see you're the marketing lead, and they're like, I'm not like, see, oh, I'm so sorry. What do you do? Um, and there is a new process that we are wanting to roll out. Will we get it done by the end of June? I'm not sure. It's really dependent on how we're gonna workshop it, um, in our retreat. So here's what's happening. As a volunteer, If you, uh, hey, my shameless plug right now. We're always looking for volunteers at PDXWIT to join us.

Okay, there we go. Um, the process is one, you fill out the form two, please attend a volunteer orientation and, uh, um, three have a start starter role set for yourself. So schedule that with the volunteer recruitment team. And in that third step, um, it is in person regardless of the role, we'd like to meet you in person. Why? I know, and, and I've met all these folks I've met, I've had different scenarios for everyone where they've come into their starter role and they've flat out said, Hazel, I don't wanna be on on the events in-person team. Oh, no, I didn't think you did. Um, but do you know where you wanna do, what do, what would you like to do? And everyone has a different story. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, and I love that volunteers use PDXWIT as a resource for them, especially if they've been laid off because they wanna continue their skillset, um, especially if they're wanting to meet some cool tech company or company that we're gonna be at.

So there's varying reasons for that. Um mm-hmm. <affirmative> and so we want them to come. We, some of them, I recognize they're shy. Our team knows that. So we ask them to do things like, you could watch the coloring table. You could be a greeter. If anything, if you could just help walk around and make sure everyone's okay. Great. Um, the biggest change will be once it's rolled out is that, and it is really, and I wanna say this to be clear, for the in-person events, volunteers mm-hmm. <affirmative>, this was, there is training that needs to be done around active shooter. And it was going to be done starting in 2020, but we went into lockdown and everything went basically virtual. But the active shooter training, we have a video, it's been reviewed, it's actually one, I believe the city of Portland uses.

But the three main components just show anyone who's working in event, um, what three options you have. The biggest one is really all about exits, find your exits and, and do those things. And then on top of that, so that's just for the, uh, in-person event, in-person events only. For the whole core, including volunteers already in place, we are going to be rolling out a code of conduct, uh, very abridge acceptable use policy because you are all PDXWIT volunt- uh, ambassadors regardless of what your status is. And then, um, what happens in a separation. So it's going to be formalized so that we have, um, signatures in place, an understanding that when you are using technical aspects of our organization, it's, you know, privileged. Um, so just formality of getting, um, things on paper and in file so that we have that kind of a paper trail.

Um, and it, it's good for the organization to have this because at any point, if we were ever asked any questions and or if, God forbid, I'm gonna knock on wood on this one. We have another weird breakout of another pandemic of some kind. Mm-hmm. You know, we need to make sure we have everyone's contact info, et cetera, et cetera. But those are, that's, that's how we're, and I've, I've been meeting with volunteers, gosh, since February. Um, I had my February, Wednesdays, now they're actually 30 minute one-on-ones with, um, volunteers from various teams. I met somebody from the podcast team yesterday, um, which was cool. Um, they work on, oh my goodness, I'm sorry. I meet a lot of people very quickly. Um, part of post-production, I think. Oh, okay. Cool. Transcription and postproduction something

AN:

Oh, okay. Yeah. Katie? No, Katie? Dee? <laugh>.

HV:

I don't know. I don't remember. I don't have my calendar up, so I don't, I don't even wanna look at my calendar.

AN:

<laugh>. That's all good. All good. No, that's great. Um, no, that's, yeah, that's so insightful to, to have that, um, just like to know and learn like the different things that you all are working on for, uh, for volunteers. But, um, I, I want to also just kind of like pivot a little bit into, um, something that you brought up earlier. Um, I know you mentioned that you made an intentional change to leave PDXWIT to learn how to become an executive director. And then now you're the ED here at PDXWIT as someone in a leadership position. Um, what advice would you give to folks who may look like you or have similar life experiences like you who aspire to become leaders?

HV:

Uh, probably the best advice is go with your gut. When you make a decision, sometimes you don't have all the answers, so trust yourself to know that how you got there, to be able to now make a decision of any kind. You have the training and be courageous about it. Um, imposter syndrome will happen, and that's okay. That's just part of us as humans. And really know that the support you have doesn't just exist in this new organization or any organization you wanna be a part of. It lives with your community and your family and your friends. Um, that's hard to do because if you, you're faced with tough decisions, how do you go about making them knowing that impact happens on both sides of an equation? And for me, I would like to just say that if you're faced with that, go with your gut. And I mean that sincerely, it's your instinct because your natural ability as a leader will kick in pretty quickly when you're having to make such hard decisions or quick ones. Um, and, and really recognize that you've been given the opportunity for good. You've been given an a platform for good. And how you choose to do that with you and your team and the organization, how it aligns with you and your values, um, that's all part of becoming a leader.

AN:

Amazing. Yeah. That's great. I feel like there's so many quotes in there for our, um, social media post on this episode right there, <laugh>. I love it. Um, Zhou, you wanna take the next question? 

ZF:

Sure. I think we touched on, you know, um, as a nonprofit organization, we are supposed, not supposed, we are running it as a startup or as a company. And as we all know now, you know, the nonprofit world, the technology world, or just any industry money is a huge, huge, um, need right now. Um, so I guess, you know, as a, as a leader of PDXWIT, we wonder when you are approaching, you know, cultivating sponsorships potentially, uh, what's your approach and what's your tool set that you use?

HV:

Hmm. Yeah. I don't know if a lot of folks know about how we actually do vet potential sponsors. Um, I do a lot of discovery. Um, I was taught by Elizabeth Stock who on my own after we've acknowledged some kind of, um, you know, meet and greet with a potential sponsor, uh, start to do my own discovery, um, Glassdoor people I know in the industry, um, and there, there's a lot that can be seen in Glassdoor, but it can also be biased. So after I've done that and spoken to colleagues or other folks who work with them, and I, and I do do that, I call, Hey, I noticed you're a sponsor for X, um, can you tell me why you, you know, you became a sponsor for them? Or, um, and then I go back, um, I know that there are some sponsors within our current sponsor base where I'm, I'm, I'm thinking, uh, people might be like side eyeing me, or like, why are they talking to them or why did they become a sponsor? The biggest thing about sponsors, and I love them to death, and we wouldn't be in an organization without them, is the recognition that everyone's equity and inclusion journey is not the same.

Mm-hmm.<affirmative>
Every organization is on a different path, a different trajectory, a different timeline, a different goal. So what I do is I ask the questions about that, uh, you know, I know that PDXWIT's mission is to get access to tech, dismantle inequities and fuel belonging. From that mission, can you please explain to me how you're meeting that for your staff? We'd love to hear more about how you go about that. Um, and sometimes, I remember early on in 2018, I, I remember a few saying, we don't really have that. And the next question was, well, are you willing to do that? We'd love to work with you. If that's the case, you know, that, I think part of that would be the growth of the speaker's bureau getting, uh, subject matter experts tapping into our community to be part of this organization's journey.

At the end of the day, um, I will say there have been, uh, in the past people that we just walk away from. Um, I, um, because it just doesn't align. Uh, I could give you examples, but I won't. But please know that at the end of the day, for me as the ED, I will walk away. If it's gonna cost me an event, I will walk away because it's really, I, I have to call a spade a spade. If you were performative in the last three years, what makes you think you're gonna change? And if there is something, give me a light at the end of the tunnel so that I can work with you on that and recognize that I'll go ahead and take the hits, but I can at least explain what it was that made us say, yeah, let's do it.

Yeah.<affirmative>

Plain and simple.

ZF:

Yeah. I really appreciate that. I mean, I won't share names either, but as you speak Hazel, I'm like, yep. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I know who they are.

HV:

Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. Yeah. And then, um, yeah, it's just, oh, cultivating sponsors is a relationship. You know, the newest thing is cultivating donors. Historically, our organization really relied on corporate sponsors. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and fast forward now to, from lockdown, we're still in pandemic. I don't care what anyone says. Um, we still are, um, the idea that we also have donors and how do we cultivate them, because relationships, um, occur within both spaces, but we've never really nurtured that donor part. And that is something that we are introducing. Um, we, we've soft launched it. I think a couple of events ago, um, Anusha, I shared with you what we were doing on, uh, if you go to our donate page, please donate to PDXWIT. We, we love you if you do, but now you have options of how to donate. I know I have shameless plugs everywhere.

AN:

I love it. 

HV:

Um, there, there are options there, but we will be, um, running some actual campaigns that are geared towards giving circles. So in the past, we've, we've relied on corporate sponsorship, but we've also had donors. Now we have three campaigns that we've soft launched. The first one is called Pay It Forward Giving Circle, and it's for all of you listening and for our community to know that if you have been touched by PDXWIT in a positive way, um, we've helped you as a resource, we'd love for you to consider being a sustaining member. You know, $10, $15, whatever the case may be, whatever the, it amounts to two lattes and a pastry, just an idea. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. The second one is a giving circle geared towards, it's called 100 by 100. If we can get 100 people to donate $100, it will actually help us fund one of our scholarship rounds.

Um, in the past, we've done other things and we've written grants and we'll, we'll continue to do that. But a 100 by 100 scenario in a community of 9,000 strong with a Slack community of 4,000 plus strong, I'd love to hit that number because it really, um, it helps the organization breathe a little bit. And we can focus on a lot more programming that way without having to spare those dollars, because we've got donors, um, loyal donors who want to contribute to that. Last one is about our female engineers. PDXWIT was born out of, uh, a group of women who did a meetup and figured out the name to be PDXWIT. And those same women knew that there was a disparity between the salaries, between the dominant gender and theirs. So that is why we are there. So we're hoping to try, and if it doesn't happen this year, in the new year, uh, cultivate a female engineering event at a local winery mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And of course, it will be all about fundraising to get that, um, to get your support as a, one time or as a sustaining member to help our organization grow. So those are all kind of the, the newer things I wanna say. Um, but they all stem around sponsorships and, and now the name of the game is also, um, and it's not a game, I apologize. The name of the initiative is Giving Circles:  Pay It Forward, 100 by 100 and Female Engineers.

AN:

That's great. I love that. We're gonna drop all of those links into the show notes for any of that stuff that people can find out more information on. Um, I am curious in regards to cultivating sponsorships. Um, I was at TEDx Portland this last weekend, and there was a speaker there who, um, was talking about running his own nonprofit organization and just, um, some of the, the challenges and, um, issues that he comes across in regards to, um, kind of showing the value. Of course, we all here know the value of PDXWIT, and we're, we've been a part of the community for a while, but, um, about just like the challenge of just kind of showing the donors and sponsors though of the value of the different programming and, and things like that. And I'm curious to know, um, from your perspective, uh, what that's been like at PDXWIT, like, in terms of kind of giving that overview to potential sponsors or current sponsors and showing them where their money's going basically.

HV:

Funny that you mentioned TEDx. My wife was at TEDx and talked to me about the same thing, really. And yes, uh, there was this guy, he talked about nonprofit. It was great. And, um, oh gosh, it's been hard. Um, the funding streams or the budgets of everyone has shrunk a bit and, and, and markedly so because of the collective trauma we were all facing or we're, we're we faced mm-hmm. <affirmative> and, and that really tanked the economy quite a bit. Yeah. The one biggest thing we can show is an impact report, what that looks like, um, for you as a sponsor, as a donor, this is new. So we're, we're crafting that language now. Um, but it does still lend itself to the impact report. Um, I would love for you all to drop that into the show notes mm-hmm. <affirmative>, because I think it's important for everyone to see.

And when I started, there was quite a few sponsors who did not renew or just fell off the radar. And thankfully we're working with a limited development specialist contractor right now to get PDXWIT reengaged with them. And we've successfully, um, hit quite a few, uh, sponsors who, um, have said, yeah, we didn't sponsor last year, cuz we didn't know what was going on with the leadership. No joke. That was an actual, that was a hard discussion to have, but it was good to have it. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, and they're planning on sponsoring in the fall, so that's good. Cause uh, I'm just, I'm cultivating a relationship. I'm understanding what they'd like to see. And I'm talking to sponsors, you know, I don't know how the previous EDS did it or interim and previous ED, but mine have always been about relationship building.

What is it that you think we're doing well? What would you like to see and how can we get there? Some folks don't and they say, great, you're doing fine. We love the job board, keep up the good work. And then there are folks who, um, say, well, last year we didn't really get the bang for our buck. And, and, and I had a lot of those conversations. Those were tough. Um, and those, the first thing I did was really, um, acknowledge that it didn't go so well, um, apologize that the communication was lacking. And third, here's how we'd like to work through that with you. So plans are different for each company or sponsor. Um, I think the best one was there's like 12 that we thought churned, but really it was more the idea that no one got to them to talk to them.

Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So it's great that they're back in the mix. And of those 12, I think almost all of them are gonna be sponsors again at some point. And that's okay if it's not this year mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we can talk again next year. Um, I still see it as a win that we're able to talk to a human who was probably wondering what's happened over there. And, and I have heard that, including myself when I was watching it from afar. Like, I'm not understanding the direction, but I'm sure you know, there's a reason for what it is they were doing.

AN, ZF, HV:

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, thank you for sharing that. Mm-hmm. Yeah, you're welcome.

AN:

And, uh, uh, kind of speaking about like the economy and kind of how it's been impacted recently. I'm, uh, also curious to know what some of the bigger challenges are in the tech space that you hear directly from the PDXWIT community, whether that's members, volunteers, sponsors, um, I mean currently the, the economy and how that's impacting tech has been a very big topic of conversation, but, um, curious to hear just like the different challenges, whether it's that or other things and how you feel that PDXWIT can, uh, help either now or in the future to support some initiatives around those challenges.

HV:

Yeah. Um, I will say it's probably more the future than it is the present. The biggest things I've heard from the community are from the folks who've been laid off and what it looks like for them. So, um, I'm of the opinion that we can't leave them in the lurch. If our sponsor is not hiring, then let's help them find somewhere else to be part of a community or be part of a new organization. Um, from the financial side, I've had a lot of, um, tough budgeting questions that I've had to, um, work through with any given sponsor. From the, I'll say community side, it's, um, showing up at our events and even though we had six recruiters who said they were gonna be at the event, they don't show up. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, so maybe, so there the grace is, oh, maybe they forgot, or probably something came up or they're stuck in traffic or quite possibly they're not hiring, but they're still a supporter of PDXWIT.

And that's where I'm gonna circle back to what I said, I'm opening it up so that working with the development specialist, we are prospecting across all industries because we know that the Caterpillars in construction, the Starbucks of the world, the Intels of the world, they're all hiring or they all have tech mm-hmm. <affirmative>, um, how can we, I tell our sponsors, you know, with the implosion of tech companies, we now have this really dynamic pool of talent that as an organization we'd like to redistribute, if not in the tech, corporate, into other industries where their talents will be utilized and feel welcome and be part of it. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So that's what we're doing. It's, it's been fun. I've talked to folks in the manufac car manufacturing industry. Um, they're, they're really cool. Um, we talk to folks in, um, the gaming world. I, uh, I've talked to folks who are global, um, and, and they've all been given the information, our impact report, and we continue to court them to see what could happen. Right. There's some other industries too, I've forgotten, but yeah. Gaming, car manufacturing, it, those were really have been fun for me to just kind of learn what's happening out there.

AN:

Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. Yeah, I think it's, uh, we forget oftentimes how much tech is pretty much in every single industry, and I think we have a tendency to think just very micro about what that that looks like. But, um, yeah. Thank you so much for, um, just giving us this level of transparency and just talking through all of the things that you've been working on. We, we really appreciate it. And before we get to, uh, get to the end of this segment, um, we wanna switch it up a little bit. And Zhou and I would like to do something fun with you, um, to, to end off this, this episode. And we'd like to ask you a series of, um, rapid questions. And as we go through this, if you feel the need to elaborate or, or mention an anecdote or story, just feel free to do so. Um, okay. But, uh, whatever you're comfortable with. Um, so you ready?

HV:

Yeah.

AN:

Cool. Zhou you wanna kick it off?

ZF:

Yeah. So what's your favorite TV show or movie?

HV:

Okay. Current favorite TV show. Power. I want that power. Um, I don't know if you've seen it, but I want that power, um, for, for women who need to have confidence, this power to electrocute someone. Kind of cool. Just saying. Favorite movie of all time? Dead Poet Society.

ZF:

What's the, uh, streaming platform for power?

HV:

I think it's Hulu. Mm-hmm.

AN:

<affirmative>. Okay. Okay. I'll have to check it out. Um, all right, next one. Go to Comfort Food.

HV:

I'm Asian Rice and Eggs.

ZF:

<laugh>. With <...>

HV:

Huh? Oh, yeah. Yes, absolutely.

ZF:

<laugh>. Um, what was your first job ever?

HV:

I was the pitch man for my mom's Pampered Chef gig. So unbeknownst to me, even though I am in culinary or was in culinary back in the day when like Avon and all these other part-time gigs for working moms, um, was a, a thing in the eighties. Pampered Chef is still going on today. I did all the demo work for my mom. I sold the products by doing the cooking <laugh>.

ZF:

Wow.

AN:

That's super cool. That's awesome. That's cool. Um, coffee or tea?

HV:

Coffee. Always

ZF:

Um, most memorable place you have ever visited?

HV:

There's a lot. And I had to say

ZF:

Pick two.

HV:

I'm gonna say standing in the Coliseum in Rome. Yeah. I cried because growing up I read about that in the history books and to be there and feel that, oh, it was so cool. Yeah, I cried. It was amazing.

AN:

Yeah. That sounds awesome. I haven't been, but, um, it's on my bucket list. Okay. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

HV:

It's a combo, Scotland, Ireland.

ZF:

Oh, nice. Um, what is your superpower or something you are really good at?

HV:

So our team just did a series of Clifton strengths, uh, analysis mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And it, it's, I have, when I'm asked that question, I actually usually say I'm a connector. Um, and in Clifton strengths, I'm a maximizer and a maximizer looks at an opportunity and finds every ankle, angle, excuse me, to make it happen. So maximizer-connector.

AN:

Amazing. Nice. I can believe it. Yeah. <laugh>. Um, and finally list another fun facts that you, um, that, that people might not know about you.

HV:

Oh boy. Um, well, it's, it's, it's not a fact, but it's a story, but it is a fact because it is a story too. So, um, back in my twenties when I was, I had just really came out and went on a date and, um, it took every ounce of me to ask this human out. And I chose a restaurant where I knew the chef and I also made sure that I got the chef's table. Wow. Okay. So, you know, if you're gonna go on a date with me, that's kind of the experience. So that's the fun fact. The, the part that, eh, you know, in your twenties you did it. Oh well, oops. Um, <laugh>, we get to the date and everything's fine, but my dates food for them did not meet to their standards, and it was just a pasta dish. So she poured her wine on the pasta dish, and I looked up and saw the chef who was mortified. I looked at her, I looked at the dish, then I said, please excuse me, I need to use the lady's room. And I escaped from the second, uh, I escaped from the second floor bathroom through the fire escape ladder. 

AN:

Oh my. 

HV:

And text and then texted them and said, Hey, great date. Um, I wasn't feeling it. I paid for your meal on the way out. Peace

AN:

<laugh>. So, I mean, I don't blame you. Don't blame you. That's a weird thing to do.

HV:

<laugh>. I guess the fun fact there is if it's not up to par, um, back then I, I, I obviously had some inclination that that wasn't gonna go well. Um, so yeah, I don't know that that's a, it's a fun fact, I guess. But I will do that. I have done that

ZF:

<laugh>. Wow.

HV:

Um, I, I think everyone knows that I, I, I love boxing, but I, the other fun fact is, um, I am actually a u s a boxing official. I've already, um, I'm working towards becoming a referee for the state of Oregon, um, as a USA boxing official. And then at prior to lockdown, I was actually on my way of, uh, to getting my pro card for, um, the boxing, uh, as a official in like two capacities. One as a judge and the other as a, um, I think they call them inspectors. That's the first leg of it. So, but lockdown killed that for a bit. So right now I'm just working towards becoming a referee in the ring. I'm a USA judge now. I can be a referee, but I'm choosing to, um, study and watch more tape and learn. So that way when I'm in there, um, there's this, well, it's not an underlying joke, but it's kind of reality.

As a judge, you can score. Um, because what you're seeing is what you're seeing and you judge per round as a referee. Do you wanna be the person that ruins this person's career? Eh, I don't dunno. Um, but it's always safety when it comes to USA boxing, it's about kids and their safety and having them enjoy themselves and the experience. Cause if you've ever been to like a USA boxing match and you see the little kids go at it, they have no technique. They're just punching away. And you're sitting there like, okay, first round goes to you, second round goes to you. Please show me something in the third round. Cuz this is gonna go badly for one of you

<laugh>.

But you try very hard to be objective knowing that they, they, they're just punching away, punching away. And it's like, okay, I'm glad at least they're enjoying themselves.

AN:

<laugh>, how do you get into, um, into boxing and like just all this? Yeah.

HV:

Uh, when, uh, Crystal had a really bad health scare that turned into, uh, major surgery that, uh, forced us to kind of change the lifestyle a little bit and add more, um, exercise to the regimen, more movement. Um, so, uh, we trained at um, here's my plug, McConnell's Boxing Academy on Seventh and Broadway. First class is free. Tell them Hazel sent you. Anyways. So we went there, um, um, because the reviews were really great and the owners, um, Molly and Denise, Molly is a two-time world champion and we thought that was cool as a two-time world champion, um, female boxer. The crappy thing about her experience was the year she retired, the next year the Olympics decided, oh yeah, now we can have women boxers. So, you know, it is a gendered sport. Uh, there's a lot of controversy. I'm that squeaky wheel at a lot of these clinics we go to. That's a question. Um, but they keep everything, again, safety and, um, USA Boxing has a a lot to of growth opportunity, we will say. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and I, I hope to be part of that with them at some point in my career.

AN:

That's awesome. Yeah. McConnell's Boxing Academy, that's what it is, right? Yes.

HV:

First class is free. You just gotta sign up on the website.

AN:

You never know. I might find myself there. Um, we're definitely putting that in the show notes. So <laugh>, ah, we'll plug them. Um, all right. So Hazel, as we close out our segment, um, we ask all of our guests if there's any advice, call to action or thoughts that you want to leave our listeners with.

HV:

Yes. Um, wanted to make sure I got this right. Recognize your ability to amplify the good in everyone in today's society. It is too easy to hide behind a screen name, make a judgment, or follow fake news and believe it to be true. But if you're in that position as a human, a good human who can recognize good and bad, amplify the good for yourself and around the people around you, because the good always wins. And at least in my view of the world, I would hope it will always win.

AN:

Amazing. That's a great message to leave us with. Thank you so much, Hazel. Um, again, we really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. Um, and I know that our listeners are gonna be really excited to hear from you as well. Um, and a huge shout out to just like our whole podcast team. I mean, first of all, thank you Zhou for joining me today and co-hosting with me. Um, you're a great co-host, uh, love spending time with you. Um, and to the rest of the podcast team, Cobre, Dee, Katie, Jana, Max, and Isabel, and pretty much anyone that is involved in any way, shape or form, whether you help us market these episodes or, um, you know, just kind of weigh in and just help us out wherever we need it. We really appreciate your dedication. It makes it possible for us to share these amazing stories. And to our listeners, thank you, um, as always, for tuning in. Your support means so much to us. Uh, we will catch you again on the next episode.

Outro:

PDXWIT is a 501C3 nonprofit. We're building a better tech industry by creating access, dismantling inequities and feeling belonging. Find out more about us at www.PDXWIT.org. Like this podcast? Subscribe and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Wanna give us feedback? Contact us podcast@pxwit.org to help us improve and ensure you learn and grow from the stories you hear on humanizing tech.