Get To Know Us! Vanessa Christensen

Our marketing manager, Vanessa Christensen, is a San Diego native whose experience in marketing & higher education makes her a valuable part of the team. When she isn’t focused on running our social media & creating great content, she can usually be found taking her pup to the dog park, or baking something delicious!

Name & position Vanessa Christensen, Marketing Manager

What is your favorite element of working at LEARN? The people! My colleagues are a really great bunch. I can honestly say that I have never worked in such an inclusive, supportive and happy environment. No one is here simply to clock in & out and collect a paycheck, which is really incredible! The students and alumni are also quite the group. It’s an honor to be a part of such a transition in people’s lives, and everyone is so excited to be here. Except for Mondays, no one needs to be enthusiastic on a Monday!

What brought you to LEARN? I’ve never been one to follow a traditional path in life and that is certainly reflected in how I came to be here. On a personal level, I really connect with the students because I also followed an unconventional educational path – I went to culinary school! While that career didn’t pan out the way I anticipated, it led me to working in higher education. I worked as a financial aid counselor for four years before earning my degree in public relations and marketing. All of these things converged in a really beautiful way when I stumbled across the opportunity to work as the Marketing Manager for LEARN!

What is your favorite meal of the day, and why? BREAKFAST! I love breakfast because it is such a versatile meal! If you want something sweet, have pancakes or waffles. If you want something more savory, choose a hearty hash with potatoes on the side. Or go traditional with some eggs and bacon. You can never go wrong with eggs and bacon. And don’t get me started on breakfast drinks; coffee, mimosas, bloody marys, smoothies… all delicious!

Which living person do you most admire? Hmm, this is a tough one! How do I pick one?? W. Kamau Bell for his ability to sit in uncomfortable situations and react and respond in a civil manner. Elizabeth Warren for her dogged determination! My dad for almost always having the exact advice I need to hear.

If you could attend the concert of any musician/band (living or dead), who would it be? And I thought the last question was a tough one! It’s a toss up between Norah Jones & The Civil Wars.

What is your favorite thing about working in tech? I love the fact that anyone who has the desire to work in tech can make that happen. Between online learning resources, bootcamps like ours, and traditional college programs, there are so many options for someone looking to make the transition! I also really love the trend toward inclusivity that has been building for quite some time. It is only by having programmers from each segment of the population that we will be able to build the best programs for the future!

What do you wish you’d known ten years ago about being a programmer/working in tech? Probably what I mention in my previous answer! Working here has really cemented the idea that with enough hard work and diligence, you can achieve any goal you set for yourself.

Lastly, Are you a Mac, or a PC? MAC! My first laptop was a Mac and I don’t think I could ever switch!