Hi, I'm Katie.
It takes a village to do most meaningful things — especially as a first-gen college graduate.
I knew what I didn't want in a career, and I knew what I did. The best thing that happened on my journey was trusting my gut and exploring UX design. Along the way, I learned that the qualities I'd built as the oldest child of immigrant parents were exactly what tech was looking for.
The second best thing was finding mentors — by cold-DMing them on LinkedIn. They became pivotal. They gave me confidence, clarity, and the reassurance that a career in tech was possible for someone scrappy and willing to figure it out.
They remembered what it was like. They knew which questions actually mattered, and they had time to answer them. That kind of help shouldn't depend on who you happen to sit next to.
Pond is my attempt to make it on purpose: a network where young professionals mentor and are mentored by their peers, matched one-on-one by people who care about getting the fit right.
We're just getting started, and I'm matching the first members myself. If that sounds like something you want in on, I'd love to meet you.
What Pond believes
Close beats senior
Someone who just solved your problem often explains it better than someone who solved it a decade ago.
Everyone has something to give
Most members will be a mentee in one area and a mentor in another.
One-on-one, on purpose
No crowded group chats. Every match is a real introduction between two people.