Her Story
About Abby
Abby Alder recently graduated from Stanford Business School with an MBA after earning her undergraduate degree in sociology, with a minor in international development and business strategy, from BYU. Prior to her graduate studies, she spent four years working in tech, including two years and eight months in investing at the growth equity firm Sorensen Capital and a subsequent role at Podium, where she supported software solutions for small businesses. While at Stanford, she helped start an initiative focused on AI. Her career interests emphasize social impact, technological inclusion, AI applications in education, and support for necessity entrepreneurs in developing economies through innovative financing and coaching models such as those advanced by Mentors International and the IRC. She values redirecting various forms of capital to address global inequalities and has reflected on the importance of how professionals make others feel in their work, drawing from a Maya Angelou quote shared by a mentor. Currently on maternity leave following the birth of her fourth child, Abby is navigating the fast-paced evolution of AI in tech and its implications for career trajectories and company cultures.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Abby
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. This quote from Maya Angelou has rung true in every professional role, emphasizing the biggest impact is on the people you work with, whether customers or coworkers.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
AI is changing everything, making it difficult to navigate career trajectory and day-to-day roles due to implications of every model released. Tech has always been fast-paced, with challenges in handling turnover, treating employees, and creating sustainable yet innovative cultures.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Social impact has always been really important. Intent in going into business and tech is to gain skills around capital and redirect it (social, human, financial) to address inequalities and needs of those most at risk. Technological inclusion is key, along with AI and education, and necessity entrepreneurs in developing countries. Mission-driven AI is a concise way of putting it.
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