Katy Knight
President & Executive Director
Siegel Family Endowment
Austin, TX USA
“Always ask questions, especially ‘why?’”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationKaty Knight
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
When I was younger, I considered many different interests and career paths—including doctor and senator—but I ultimately decided I wanted to start a nonprofit because I wanted to help people.
I started interning in nonprofits in college and realized how many good ones already exist—I decided my path wasn’t to start a new one but to figure out where I could fit in and engage with the world.
I took some time off from college to explore other directions.
After I ultimately did graduate, I started working for a small nonprofit where I got to wear many different hats and learn a lot.
I wasn’t getting paid enough in the nonprofit sector, so I started looking for a supplementary job—I ended up finding a marketing job that took me to Google.
Once I got to Google and the tech industry, everything started to click—I realized that tech is power and that combined with my interest in nonprofits set me on the path I was meant to be on.
From there, I worked on public policy issues and started networking with others who were trying to create impact and social change.
I eventually took a leap of faith, left Google, and got into philanthropy, which led me to my current role of president and executive director for the Siegel Family Endowment.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
President & Executive Director
I lead a foundation that focuses on the way technology and social change are impacting society.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Non-Profit Organizations
Technology
Helping People
Day to Day
My days are never the same. I spend a lot of time in meetings. I may be talking to researchers at universities who are thinking about crucial problems and connecting them with practitioners. I'll talk to other funders to figure out how we can have more collective power. A lot of my day-to-day is spent brainstorming with my team to come up with different angles for big societal problems. Some weeks I'll travel to workforce or education conferences.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
I recommend interning at a small nonprofit if you get a chance because you'll likely get to experience three different jobs within one summer. Small organizations are great because you get to wear different hats, work multiple jobs, and learn a lot. If you can't find an internship, look for a volunteer position.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Peers:
"Working in the nonprofit sector would be a big waste of your time. You should work in finance instead. You'll make a bigger difference that way because then you'll have a lot of money."
