Alejandra's Story: Building a Career at the Intersection of Education and Tech

Ale’s career journey is anything but linear. From her roots as the granddaughter of Mexican farmworkers to advising high school students, to shaping education policy in Washington DC, and finally landing in the world of technology, her story is one of resilience, mentorship, and serendipity.

In this episode Ale shares how her immigrant background shaped her values, why giving back through education became her first calling, and how an unexpected LinkedIn message opened the door to tech. She also reflects on the importance of mentors, the reality of navigating career pivots, and why being brave enough to “make the ask” can change everything.

Whether you are early in your career, considering a pivot, or simply looking for inspiration, Ale’s story proves that purpose, perseverance, and a little bit of luck can create a path you never imagined.

Key Highlights

• Ale’s immigrant roots and values of community and service
• Transition from college advising to education policy work in DC
• How an unexpected LinkedIn message led to a role in edtech
• Lessons on mentorship and how to “be brave and make the ask”
• Reflections on luck, preparation, and building a career with purpose
• Ale’s thoughts on balance, gardening, and stepping away from tech to recharge

Book Recommendations
That Will Never Work by Marc Randolph (Netflix co-founder) — an inside look at the startup world and building something unexpected

Chapters

• 0:00 Ale - Final Composition
• 0:11 Introduction
• 0:35 Background
• 5:08 Policy Work in DC
• 7:04 How Often does Policy Change?
• 8:44 Shifting to Technology
• 11:08 Due Diligence Plus Luck
• 12:11 Startup Life
• 15:40 Accountability in Private Sector vs Government
• 19:42 Mentors Along the way?
• 23:30 How to find a Mentor?
• 26:13 GenAI Deep Dive
• 29:26 Environmental impact of AI
• 31:52 Education Tech Space and GenAI
• 33:45 If you were in charge of Education, what would you focus on first?
• 39:12 What has suprised you the most about this industry?
• 41:22 Book Recommendations
• 43:32 Closing