Urmila Venkatesh

Tell us something interesting about your background.
I am the daughter of Indian immigrants who came here for grad school, so my first home was campus housing! Then I had the opportunity to live in four countries (some for just a few days, others for a year and change) before I turned 21.

What has led you to your current role?
After studying architecture, and finding the topic much less interesting than the lives of my classmates, I discovered the deeper interest: imagining futures of curiosity, delight, and justice, all in conversation with others. My career has since been a winding path in and around higher education, design, and equity work - being an architectural drafter, web designer, labor organizer, educator, curriculum designer, career coach, and learning experience designer. I’m now enjoying coaching and learning from Stanford’s incredible alumni who come back for career support.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Finding the best brunch in Oakland, ordering oat milk lattes, creating the perfect Spotify playlist for every occasion, learning about people’s most cherished objects, and asking yet another follow-up question.

Degrees and certifications:
B.A., Architecture from Berkeley, MFA in Photography from University of Michigan