Iris Olsen

About Iris Olsen

I am motivated by leading mission-driven work for organizations that are effecting positive change in the world.Currently, I lead the People and Business Operations team at Magoosh - an edtech startup whose mission is to eliminate barriers for students on their educational and career journeys, particularly students who have been historically disadvantaged. My work focuses on building and maintaining a highly engaged and values-driven employee culture and ensuring all Magoosh team members have access to the support and environment they need to do their best work. I love the work I do because we care deeply about our employees’ experience and every day my team and I get to think about how we can improve on that experience, while continuing to build a great business.Prior to Magoosh, I led the team responsible for recruitment, staffing, and onboarding for all teachers in San Francisco School District. My work focused on building out the district’s first strategic recruitment plan and redesigning staffing and onboarding processes to achieve our goal of providing a high-quality educator in every classroom. Prior to SFUSD, I spent five years working for a top public charter school in Washington D.C. My work focused on developing the school\'s first recruitment function and building out a Human Capital department to meet the complex needs of an organization doubling in size in three years. Early in my career, I worked for a growth-stage legal services firm and was a founding team member in their first product strategy division responsible for the development and execution of new product services. In all organizations, I have been recognized for my ability to excel in defining new roles and processes, exceeding strategic goals, and driving mission-critical initiatives from conception through implementation.I love helping organizations solve complex problems through the creation of new and improved systems. I’ve been commended for my ability to tackle any challenge and figure out the best way forward. I\'m known for remaining calm under pressure, and delivering results in fast-paced, growth-oriented environments.I also love building and maintaining meaningful relationships - it\'s core to who I am personally and professionally. I\'m known for my ability to develop authentic trust with colleagues and clients by listening to their needs and helping craft a solution to address them. As a leader, I believe in hiring the best people, and motivating them to accomplish great outcomes through mentorship, appreciation, transparent communication and honest feedback.

Experience

1. Director, Operations

   Magoosh

   Jan 2023 — Present · Seattle, WA, US

   Lead People Operations strategy and function for mission-driven educational technology SaaS startup through periods of significant growth and evolution, while exceeding all People Operations goals and maintaining an inclusive, highly engaged and values-driven culture.

Education

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

  BA, English Literature

  2004 — 2007

Skills

• Community Outreach
• Management
• Performance Management
• Spanish
• Strategic Planning
• Public Speaking
• Leadership Development Coaching
• Teaching
• Educational Leadership
• Microsoft Office
• Tutoring
• Lesson Planning
• Research
• Project Management
• Talent Management
• Career Development
• Hiring
• Social Media
• Process Creation
• Human Capital
• Curriculum Design
• Editing
• Nonprofits
• Recruiting
• Staff Development
• Curriculum Development
• Event Planning