Hi, I’m Andréa!

I am a San Francisco Bay Area native who was raised on the peninsula in the city of San Mateo. While I recall many things from my childhood, what stands out the most is the fact that no one in my community looked like me. My friend circles didn’t include other Black kids growing up simply because they weren’t at my school or other communal spaces where children make friends. It wasn’t until I got to high school that other Black students became my classmates. However, I struggled to find connections due to my formative upbringing, making an already challenging time that much more difficult.

I grappled quite a bit with who I was and where I fit back then. And while my adolescent years brought on a certain set of circumstances that shaped me, I now realize that I was being gifted an unfair advantage. Spending so many of my impressionable years navigating spaces where I was underrepresented or felt disconnected has given me a deep sense of empathy and understanding. It was what enabled me to become an Employee Resource Group leader when I began my career in tech and what allowed me to challenge the company norms unapologetically. I was able to couple my wealth of knowledge with lived experience to implement a people-first approach in my work. Today, I am purposeful in administering programs that are as inclusive as possible to people of all identities and backgrounds from all corners of the world.

Upon graduation from the University of California, Davis, I built a resume that spans 10+ years of corporate work on Marketing, Operations, People (HR), Recruiting, and Diversity & Inclusion teams. My various industry experience includes technology, higher education, and marketing agencies at companies including Lyft, DoorDash, Twilio, Upstart, and Rakuten. I’ve consulted for public companies, private startups, non-profits, and universities. I’ve also had the opportunity to speak and present to audiences globally across North America, Europe, and Asia.

In my efforts to further increase diversity and inclusion, I partnered with the Kapor Center in Oakland, California to co-found Our Collective, a community resource group that empowers Black and Latinx ERG leaders. Being the true entrepreneur that I am, in 2012 I founded Firewood Events, an event and wedding planning company that caters to diverse audiences and celebrations. Then in 2020, I co-founded Swag by Asayo, a swag and gifting venture that features products from Black and Latinx-owned small businesses.