Dr. Maya Shankar

But the challenge that existed hollow was that there was no job for a behavioral scientist in the White House.

And so I ended up sending a cold email.

And so I ended up sending a cold email.

So this is my mom's Juilliard method.

So this is my mom's Juilliard method.

I opened that door unannounced and I sent an email to an academic luminary named Cass Sunstein.

I opened that door unannounced and I sent an email to an academic luminary named Cass Sunstein.

So he had written the book Nudge, which is all about the science of how we can, you know, positively impact people's lives through these small tweaks and how we design programs and policies.

So he had written the book Nudge, which is all about the science of how we can, you know, positively impact people's lives through these small tweaks and how we design programs and policies.

He'd also worked for Obama for four years as the head of their Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

He'd also worked for Obama for four years as the head of their Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

And I basically just sent him a note saying, hi, I'm Maya.

And I basically just sent him a note saying, hi, I'm Maya.

I've published nothing of significance and I have no public policy experience.

I've published nothing of significance and I have no public policy experience.

And I even did this thing that I think a lot of women do in particular, which is

And I even did this thing that I think a lot of women do in particular, which is

I really downplayed myself.

I really downplayed myself.

I said, I remember writing in parentheses, I know I'm not cool enough to work with the likes of Obama, but if there's a state or local government opportunity for me to apply these insights, I'd be totally game.