Shea B. | Leland

Shea B.

5.0

Studied at Cornell University

Worked at Mentra

Available Monday at 2:00 PM UTC

Protected by the Leland Experience Guarantee

Available Monday at 2:00 PM UTC

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About Shea

Howdy, I'm Shea! I was diagnosed with autism early in life, at a time when very little was known about it. All that my parents were told was that I would have a difficult and challenging life in front of me, and was unlikely to lead an independent and successful life. Suffice to say, the doctors were both right and wrong. My life has been an uphill battle, but one that has led me to where I am now: Running a startup backed by Sam Altman (yes, that Sam Altman) to make the entire world a more inclusive and accepting place for neurodivergent people everywhere. Maybe you're neurodivergent and have been STRUGGLING in the workplace. Interviews have been kicking your butt, you're having a hard time talking to your manager about accommodations, there's a promotion you're trying to chase, but you have no idea where to start. You try to talk to your mentors and peers around you, but have been given guidance that's not helpful to you. People don't "get" you, and refuse to listen to the problems you're facing. I'm autistic and have had my share of good and bad managers, great and awful teams, hair-pulling moments and celebrations. There's a good chance that I've experienced exactly what you're going through, or have gone through something very similar. If you are looking to come up with a plan that resonates with you, let's talk!

Why do I coach?

I am the product of so many people believing in me, supporting me, and telling me "Yes you can" to every obstacle that I have faced. My parents, my brother, my family, teachers and support specialists in school, friends, and so many other people who have put their faith and belief in me to get to this point. I recognize that so many things had to go right for me to be at this point: Supporting other autistic and neurodivergent people in their bespoke and unique journeys. I see mentorship and coaching as a way of paying it forward - Saying "thank you" to the countless individuals who have been a part of my story, and have equipped me with the tools to be successful. I recognize that every neurodivergent person is unique: "If you've met one neurodivergent person, you've met one neurodivergent person." This is a quote that I resonate with and use as the foundation for my relationships with other neurodiverse people. What works for one autistic person may not be effective for someone who has dyslexia, or for someone who has both ADHD and autism. It is my prerogative as a coach and advocate to understand how each individual person works: How do they want to be spoken with? How do they want to receive feedback? And what work is going to leave them with the biggest sense of accomplishment? I believe in the power of empathy: Enabling someone to feel heard and understood because I share their experiences, and then aiding them in moving through their challenges. I want to help folks solve problem on their terms and to help them arrive at meaningful outcomes: Not what I think they should do, but what they are aiming for.

Work Experience

Chief Technology Officer

Mentra

March 2020 - August 2024

Hiring Manager

Sam Altman backed startup, featured in TechCrunch, Microsoft, and the New York Post. Mentra’s is building an employment network focused on tapping into the fullest potential of neurodivergents by connecting them with companies and employers who can provide meaningful support and growth opportunity. Neurodiversity includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia, epilepsy, and many other conditions that describe the different ways in which people think and experience the world. As the Chief Technology Officer for Mentra, my responsibilities include the development of Mentra's candidate & recruiter facing platform, engagement with investors & partners, collaboration with business & product stakeholders, and representing Mentra in public events. https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/05/sam-altman-backed-startup-aims-to-match-neurodivergent-jobseekers-with-ideal-jobs/ https://blogs.microsoft.com/accessibility/mentra-is-reimagining-neurodiverse-employment/

Senior Software Engineer

HubSpot

June 2021 - March 2022

I am a Senior Software Engineer I on the Social team, enabling HubSpot's customers to meaningfully drive social media engagement, analytics, reports, and scheduling. I was a mentor to an intern on my team, and worked across HubSpot to promote awareness and education on digital accessibility & neurodiversity. https://blog.hubspot.com/website/website-accessibility-check https://blog.hubspot.com/website/web-accessibility-guidelines

Software Engineer II

WAYFAIR

March 2019 - June 2021

Aug. 2020 - Jun. 2021: Stores & Geos Team Feb. 2020 - Aug. 2020: Home Services Team Mar. 2019 - Feb. 2020: Design Services team I was a member of the Stores and Geos team, which maintains and improves upon the experiences for Wayfair's Specialty Retail Brands and International stores. I worked with different teams from across Wayfair in order to tailor each part of Wayfair's platform to the unique needs and expectations of each store. I collaborated heavily with product managers, experience designers & researchers, business intelligence, analytics, and QA to develop and execute upon projects that are specific to Wayfair's broad range of stores. I was also the Tech Lead for Awesome Learning, a front-end-web focused learning platform created by current and former members of Wayfair Engineering. It hosts interactive courses on topics such as CSS, JavaScript Unit Testing, React Hooks, and much more. As the Tech Lead, I am responsible for maintaining our platform, working with engineers to develop new content, and execute upon projects to grow Awesome Learning within Wayfair and the rest of the engineering community at large.

User Experience Engineering Intern

Google

May 2018 - August 2018

I worked with Google's Search and Assistant team during the Summer of 2018 as a User Experience Engineering Intern. I worked on internal prototyping, design tools, and infrastructure for designers, researchers, and other User Experience Engineers. https://blog.google/inside-google/life-at-google/welcome-to-30th-installment-of-our-blog/ https://uxdesign.cc/user-experience-engineering-the-adventure-from-student-to-google-intern-cef990125493