Private Tour Of The White House Press Briefing Room, Dec 2024 thanks to Ohio Chamber & Biden Administration Communications Special Advisor.
Thanks for reading! I'm an overachieving Texan / Washingtonian with an atypical “portfolio career,” obsessed with true leadership and exceptionalism in our great state and across America. I value original thought, unmatched work ethic, courage, intellectual horsepower. I work to further the Texan frontiering spirit, matched with the vision of our country’s Founding Fathers.
INNOVATION: For 15 years I've worked in multi-disciplinary and highly innovative roles, mostly in downtown Austin. The majority of last decade I worked at what was Austin’s first venture studio, then later a startup accelerator and an angel investor network. I helped found and led a local and then state trade association focused on the startup / venture / innovation community. At the age of 32, I was the youngest Executive Director of a local venture association and the next year, accepted an “Organization of the Year” award from the Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce recognizing work in the local Asian community. After launching a statewide association, with what is now 100+ local, statewide, national, and international organizations, we're the only organization for innovation featured in the Texas State Governor Greg Abbott’s five year economic development plan, “Bigger. Better. Texas.”.
STATECRAFT: I’m passionate about "innovation as statecraft", having taken on several leadership roles in government advocacy. I recently quickly created in Feb 2026 and weeks later launched "America House", hosted during SXSW a welcome of 20+ innovation ecosystem leaders mostly from across the country to deliver briefings at the Texas State Capitol about their states. I stay active and connected federally and nationally as a US Chamber of Commerce Fellow (Nov 2024) , American Enterprise Institute Leader (via their Leadership Network Cohort, Nov 2025), U.S. State Department Professional Fellows Program (Feb 2026), and most recently was recommended and joined the new "Davos in DC" Semafor conference inaugural Principals (April 2026). I’ve also been a member of the American Association of Political Consultants starting in 2017, and am a sought-after hired gun after having produced and executed several multi-award winning campaigns for Texas mayors starting in 2018 and later state legislators in highly critical and successful races at the Pollies and Reed Awards. Early on I was a World Economic Forum Global Shaper in 2017 who spoke at Davos on a UN Foundation panel in 2019.
EXPERIENCES: I've launched the following signature experiences:
--Texas Venture Fest as part of the Texas Startup & Tech Week, our state’s innovation week, and co-hosted simultaneous gatherings across 20+ cities.
--Texas Venture Gala & Forum, the Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner uniting Texas innovation under one roof.
--America House is the honor Texas has to host the states united, in one big day convening the G20 of American innovation at the Texas State Capitol.
FUN FACT: Something unique about me is that I'm an IBM baby (they gave us literally a silver spoon with the logo on and was featured in an IBM pamphlet as a baby model). I also enjoyed tagging along with my dad to computer shows as a little girl…. remember those!
NATIONAL:
America House
America House convenes the nation's innovation community leaders in a rare multi-ecosystem exchange. Featured speakers represent both established and emerging regions, and are the heads of venture associations, startup & tech weeks, chambers & economic development initiatives, investors, innovation network hubs, fellows, accelerators, corporate innovators, and more. The states unite, and deliver briefings about their regions, helping to guide the country's future of innovation. It’s a testament to the magic of SXSW and to these leaders across the country, that we pulled it together in less than 3 weeks— with the idea starting in Feb 2026! Save the date for 2027 here.
I had the privilege of providing welcome remarks and introducing two pillars of Texas politics: the industry's biggest insider, Editor & Owner of The Quorum Report, Harvey Kronberg; and decades-long fixture in the state legislature and IT Caucus Committee Leader ,Texas State Representative, Donna Howard
Introducing Innovation Ecosystem Leaders Giving Briefings Featuring: Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and California
MISSION:
Texas Startup & Tech Week
(Statewide Innovation Week)
Texas Startup & Tech Week (the statewide innovation week) begins September 28 and culminates on October 2 — the 191st anniversary of when the “COME AND TAKE IT” flag was raised sparking the Texas Revolution. That same spirit of independence and scrappiness, the courage to fight for a cause on your own terms, and the refusal to back down to a larger force, is the same energy that drives every innovator making a big bet no matter the odds. Texas Innovation Week gatherings are for those who plant the flag and get to work. Learn more here.
GATHERING:
Texas Venture Gala & Forum
In April 2024 I founded the state’s first high-powered, high-end signature innovation experience, the Texas Venture Gala & Forum featuring our state’s greater venture community of: venture capitalists, incubators, accelerators, angel networks, family offices, universities, chambers of commerce & economic development corporation funds, elected & appointed officials, and more. It’s a unique Texan experience, filled with panels, firesides, and keynotes for 300+ guests. It’s followed by an evening awards dinner in recognition of Texas’ Investor, Startup, and Legislator of the Year. In 2025 we brought on chairman, Glenn Hamer the Texas Association of Business (the state chamber) CEO. Sign up for the 3rd Annual event here. See highlights from 2025. See highlights from 2024 here.
For the Gala reception, I planned the very first convening of executive leadership of the: U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Texas Governor’s Office, Texas Economic Development Corporation, and the Texas Association of Business on the TAB rooftop.
Inaugural Texas Venture Gala Keynote, the longest tenured NASA Administrator the Honorable Daniel S Goldin
Texas Venture Gala & Forum Investor of the Year, the Sweet Leaf Tea, Deep Eddy Vodka, Waterloo Sparkling Water, CAVU Partners, and Asto Consumer Partners Founder Clayton Christopher with his family
Austin Mayor & Commonweal Ventures Partner & angel investor, Steve Adler
Texas Venture Gala & Forum Keynote, Presidential Cabinet Member, Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler
More about Texas’ signature innovation event, the Texas Venture Gala & Forum here.
COALITION:
Texas Venture Fest
The Lone Star State shouldn’t have lone star founders.
The Texas Venture Fest is feature of the ecosystem of entrepreneur support co-hosted simultaneously in 15 cities, 20+ venues, with 3,000+ Texans. It’s an example of what Texans can do when we act together as a statewide greater venture community, and serves as the only truly Texas-sized networking and educational experience. It’s also rolled into the statewide innovation week, Texas Startup & Tech Week here. All co-hosts convene under one roof at the Texas Venture Gala & Forum six months later to celebrate Texas excellence in innovation. Visit the Texas Venture Fest website to learn more about the next one!
Learn more about Texas Venture Fest 2026 here.