You could think of Field Notes as my “blog” of observations. Periodically peek into my sketchbook, eavesdrop on my conversations, get a glimpse of my projects — and lens on life in Silicon Valley.
Filter by: Projects, Actually in Silicon Valley or Interviews
Roaring 20’s Grand Reopening Party Promos (2021)
As people were emerging from their COVID-19 cocoons in the summer and early fall of 2021, the Woman’s Club of Palo Alto wanted to create energy and anticipation for their “grand reopening” with a roaring 20s party. This series offered a playful way to entice members to a festive, yet safe in-person gathering. The event was a huge success.
Camilla Olson: Odds Defier
Founder & CEO of Savitude
Camilla Olson defies the norms. She relishes taking on big challenges and has a proven record of overcoming them as a successful serial entrepreneur. Olson talks with Lisa Van Dusen about what motivates her: solving big, consequential problems, creating companies, building teams and championing women —- ideally all in combination.
My TEDx Talk on “The Joys of Otherhood” (2017)
Actually, in Silicon Valley, some people check the "other" box on standardized forms. Maybe the category on those dreaded forms that confounds you is ethnicity or gender or even age (you might feel like a different age than you technically are.) For me, that category is "occupation" or "profession". I just don't fit into any of the standard options. Pretty much ever. My 2017 TEDx talk on the The “Joys of Otherhood” is about just that.
Seeing the Beauty in Broken Things
Actually, in Silicon Valley, some engineers do still work with their hands, some people appreciate the beauty in broken things and some people help each other for free for the fun and good will of it. Here's a story of how that happened all at once for me.
One of my guiding beliefs was best articulated by our son, Ben, at age 10: "Not perfect is perfect. Perfect is not perfect." I was hanging a bulletin board in Ben's room and doing that thing where you keep tilting it back and forth slightly - skewing a little too much to one side and then the next, never quite getting it level. Finally, Ben calmly uttered those words. I took a medium deep breath, as if to mostly acknowledge that he was totally right and just how ridiculous my pursuit of the perfect had been in a situation without much import. My Virgoian tendencies were overplaying. We were done. I felt better and Ben's bit of 10-year-old wisdom stuck with me.
Jeff Dean: Deep Dabbler
Senior Fellow at Google Research
Try Googling "Jeff Dean jokes" and you will find many results — they seem to have a life of their own. While both flattered and a little embarrassed by this April Fools joke that keeps on giving, Dean is actually quite serious about his work.
Esther Wojcicki: Education Astronaut
Journalism/English teacher, Education Innovator and Author
Esther Wojcicki has been attending high school for more than 31 years and can't imagine not going to school every day. Being with her students is what fuels her, she said. And something must be happening there because one of her biggest challenges is to get the students to leave.
Stephanie Martinson: Life Saver
Founder of Racing Hearts & Speech Pathologist
Armed with a matter-of-fact cheerfulness and her fellow Palo Altans' willingness to help, Stephanie Martinson, a part-time speech pathologist at the VA, mom and founder of Racing Hearts, is on track to save a lot of lives. She talks with Lisa Van Dusen about her journey.
Lucy Blake: Conversation Corralor
President of the Northern Sierra Partnership
Blake, a MacArthur Fellow and Palo Alto resident, describes her work as "wrangling" her collaborators to protect the Northern Sierras from Mount Lassen to Lake Tahoe.
Bob Wenzlau: Waste Alchemist
Terradex CEO and Environmental Engineer
Bob Wenzlau, pioneer recycler and compost champion is now focused on what's under our workplaces, schools and homes that is known to be harmful to our health. Through his Palo Alto-based environmental information company, Terradex, Wenzlau developed a web application called What's Down as a kind of "Yelp for the environment."
Shilpa Yarlagadda: Peer Presenter
Founder of Club Academia
In this "First Person" interview, Lisa Van Dusen talks with Shilpa Yarlagadda, a 2014 graduate of Gunn High School in Palo Alto and founder of Club Academia, a video tutorial website that promotes "education of the students, by the students and for the students.
John Markoff: Technology Translator
New York Times Writer
In this "First Person" interview, John Markoff, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times senior writer and author, talks with Lisa Van Dusen about growing up in Palo Alto, covering Silicon Valley for more than 30 years and his current interest in artificial intelligence and robotics -- the "next big thing.
Jim Fruchterman: Tech4Good Evangelist
Social of Entrepreneur and Founder of Benetech
Jim Fruchterman, rocket scientist-turned-social entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of Benetech, a Palo Alto-based nonprofit, develops technology to "truly help change the world.
Scott Sagan: Peace Professor
Senior Fellow at CISAC and Stanford Professor of Political Science
Scott Sagan, nuclear disarmament expert, Senior Fellow at CISAC and Stanford professor of political science, talks with Lisa Van Dusen in the fall of 2012 about his life-long career in academic research, teaching and policy devoted to disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation
Angela Buenning Filo: Forest Photographer
Palo Alto-based Photographer and Creator of the 'Palo Alto Forest Project'
Angela Buenning Filo, Palo Alto-based photographer and creator of the "Palo Alto Forest Project," speaks with Lisa Van Dusen about her community-activated photo installation, part of the Palo Alto Art Center's grand reopening exhibition -- "Community Creates" -- opening on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012.
Ben Lee: Court Coach
U.S. Women's Olympic Badminton Coach
Ben Lee, the U.S. Olympic Badminton coach and Palo Alto Police Department Patrol Officer, talks with Lisa Van Dusen before heading to London for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Phil Jaber: Community Barista
Founder of Philz Coffee
Phil Jaber talks with Lisa Van Dusen—over a cup of coffee—at his downtown Palo Alto coffee shop at Forest Avenue and Alma Street.
Linda Williams: Courage Champion
CEO of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte
Linda Williams, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte (PPMM), speaks with Lisa Van Dusen about the challenges of leading the nation's largest Planned Parenthood affiliate. Over Williams' 22-year tenure, PPMM has grown from a one-county, five-health-center operation to a primary health-care provider serving 42 counties in two states with 36 full-service, full-time and 12 part-time centers. Ninety-seven percent of PPMM's services are preventive.
Mary Lynn Fitton: Girl Guider
Founder of The Art of Yoga Project
Mary Lynn Fitton lives near Heritage Park in downtown Palo Alto where she spends much of her time helping teen girls in the criminal justice system develop self-control and self-esteem through yoga and the creative arts in The Art of Yoga Project.
Jeremy Lin: Defense Dynamo
NBA Point Guard and Palo Alto High School Graduate
NBA point guard Jeremy Lin, a graduate of Palo Alto High School (Class of 2006) and Harvard University (Class of 2010), reflects on his Palo Alto basketball roots, his experiences as a trailblazing Asian and Ivy League player in the NBA, and his dreams for the future.
Kelly McGonigal: Compassion Cultivator
Stanford Health Psychologist and Lecturer
McGonigal shares her knowledge, spreads joy and builds community wherever she goes, demonstrating the applications of psychological science to personal health and happiness, as well as organizational success and social change.