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

00:00 Intro & Ale’s origin story
02:58 Policy work in DC & predictive analytics
06:32 Why she left policy & stumbled into tech
10:52 Startup pace, KPIs, and tangible outcomes
14:18 Accountability gap: education vs private sector
17:20 Mentorship that actually helps (the 3-touch method)
21:40 GenAI: augmenting educators vs replacing learning
25:52 The environmental cost of AI (water, power, communities)
29:46 EdTech that works: risk flags & counselor capacity
33:05 Redesigning education: infrastructure first
37:10 How to spot classroom-blind edtech
40:12 Books, balance, and gardening burnout
44:15 Closing & calls to action