I never know what to say when someone asks what I do. I feel like I give them a mouthful and their eyes glaze over—which is part of why I built this website. Just like I love an hours-long chess game where you're deep in the plot, I love a deep, winding conversation about life, goals, and hypotheticals. Ask what I do and if we have it my way we'll be on our way towards an hour-long conversation about semiconductors, real estate, investing, books, and all the things in your world—yes, I will have many questions. But let's get to the point. You came here to learn who the hell this random lady is.

My primary job is working as a learning strategist for semiconductor equipment engineers. Basically, I figure out how to create trainings better and faster. I guess you could call me an operations person. Program manager. That sort of thing. But with an instructional design lens, since my background and expertise is in designing learning experiences.

I am constantly doing something on the side—either something creative, or something that I think will make me a bit more pocket change. Ideally both. In 2014 I wrote a statistics textbook. I think I've made like $100. In 2016 I started making online courses on topics I enjoy. I've made a little over $10,000 so far and make around $50/month. Also in 2016 I purchased my first investment property (duplex). Cash flow was around $1,000/month and has only grown since then, although I did put in $100k to renovate the entire place after some tenants trashed it, but I got that back times three after a cash-out refi… no idea what my ROI is. I purchased a condo in 2020 and then another duplex in 2021, which also cash flow but I have no idea if I've recouped my down payments plus additional rehab cost for the duplex since it had meth contamination when I bought it. I'm guessing I have in appreciation, but I don't have plans to sell anytime soon. In 2021 I got my real estate license in California (lost $2,000+ to NAR), and then in 2024 I got it in Utah (made $70k so far). In 2025 I published my memoir, Adventures of a Chess Girl (currently in the red around $9,500). You win some, you lose some. But hey, as long as you're finding joy, right? I just have to figure out a business that will make me millions, and then I'll stop doing the side hustles. Or maybe I haven't figured this out yet because I can't stop doing the side hustles. <sigh>

Now, besides my day job, I mostly focus on maintaining my properties—primarily tenant turnover once in a while—(I would say it averages out to a few hours a month, with 90% of the time nothing much to do and 10% of the time a shit ton of crap to do) and exploring high-risk, high-reward investment opportunities to diversify my portfolio a bit more. I've been investing in the stock market since 2013—ever since I paid off my student loans and started having extra income to save and invest. I'm fairly aggressive; I've always been heavily concentrated in technology, with around half my portfolio in ETFs and the other half in individual tech companies. It's gone well so far, and to those who say that I should diversify into consumer goods and whatnot, I feel like technology is the future of everything, right? Yes, it fluctuates more, but it also has way better returns because it's what drives societal innovation, right? (I am not a professional financial advisor—do not take this as financial advice.) I just started down the angel investing path and am also planning to invest in a couple pre-IPO funds (seed and Series A). Every once in a while I do a book reading, signing, or interview. It's fun.

But the most important thing in the entire world is my family. My two kids, ages 1 and 3, are the most precious things in my entire life, and I would give up everything to ensure their safety and happiness.

I just blabbed a lot. The one thing you should take away from this is that I genuinely love talking to people, acting as a soundboard—especially concerning thoughts about money, working, and living life to the fullest. So feel free to reach out anytime!