Kerri Hoffman
PRX
Cambridge, MA USA
"We have to allow young people to make mistakes and learn from them. If we protect them from making mistakes, they don’t have ownership over their work. We need a young creative workforce to help us solve the next problems."
Career Roadmap
Kerri's work combines: Journalism, Non-Profit Organizations, and Upholding a Cause and Belief
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
English Language and Literature, General
Rutgers University
Graduate Degree
GIS and International Development
Clark University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a President and CEO:
Bachelor's Degree: English Language and Literature, General
Graduate Degree: GIS and International Development
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Early in my career, I worked for GreenPeace. It taught me what it’s like to be in an organization that’s focused on mission.
2.
Everything we did, we had to learn, so it was a moment of maturity for me to realize that it was time to leave GreenPeace.
3.
I got a graduate degree in geographic information systems, which is the study of mapping social causes.
4.
I learned that I’m not wired to sit in a cubicle all day, I’m much more extraverted.
5.
I got hired to do bookkeeping for a project called PRX. I was 8 months pregnant; nobody hires a woman whose 8 months pregnant.
6.
They started giving me more projects and things to work on and I eventually worked my way up into a role as chief operating officer.
7.
Four years ago, I became the president and CEO.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
You are a woman, you can't do this.
How I responded:
I’m female and people doubt women all the time. I’ve been told in a board meeting that I’m too emotional. So many things can come up when you lose your way. I have so many women who work for me and I say this to them all the time: our biggest source of pressure is ourselves. We don’t push ourselves far enough or give ourselves the room to maybe not know everything in order to move forward.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
People don't trust women, especially in leadership roles. It's something I've learned to ignore and overcome with time.