Katy Knight
Siegel Family Endowment
Austin, TX USA
"Always ask questions, especially ‘why?’"
Career Roadmap
Katy's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Technology, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I dated a man in the business school at my college and when I told him I wanted to work in nonprofits and create social change, he told me it would be a waste of time. The mindset that you're only successful if you make a lot of money or you're only worth something if you can point to a prestigious role is outdated. Push past the people who think that way. If you have a passion about something, like community and change, build around that. You know best where your talents should be applied.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
English
University of Pennsylvania
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
When I was younger, I considered many different interests and career paths—including doctor and senator—but I ultimately decided I wanted to start a nonprofit because I wanted to help people.
2.
I started interning in nonprofits in college and realized how many good ones already exist—I decided my path wasn’t to start a new one but to figure out where I could fit in and engage with the world.
3.
I took some time off from college to explore other directions.
4.
After I ultimately did graduate, I started working for a small nonprofit where I got to wear many different hats and learn a lot.
5.
I wasn’t getting paid enough in the nonprofit sector, so I started looking for a supplementary job—I ended up finding a marketing job that took me to Google.
6.
Once I got to Google and the tech industry, everything started to click—I realized that tech is power and that combined with my interest in nonprofits set me on the path I was meant to be on.
7.
From there, I worked on public policy issues and started networking with others who were trying to create impact and social change.
8.
I eventually took a leap of faith, left Google, and got into philanthropy, which led me to my current role of president and executive director for the Siegel Family Endowment.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
Working in the nonprofit sector would be a big waste of your time. You should work in finance instead. You'll make a bigger difference that way because then you'll have a lot of money.
How I responded:
I dated a man in the business school at my college and when I told him I wanted to work in nonprofits and create social change, he told me it would be a waste of time. The mindset that you're only successful if you make a lot of money or you're only worth something if you can point to a prestigious role is outdated. Push past the people who think that way. If you have a passion about something, like community and change, build around that. You know best where your talents should be applied.