The women behind Shine & Rise
Kristina Oberly
Co-FOUNDER
Kristina Oberly is a startup people leader passionate about helping companies organize & operate smoothly so they can focus on delivering incredible products. She believes people are at the core of any successful org and knows women are key, but far too often overlooked, contributors. Kristina is insatiably curious about organizational behavior, non-traditional approaches to management / HR, and (of course!) women in tech.
Alison Todak
Co-FOUNDER
Alison Todak is a leader and connector in the Midwest tech ecosystem. As a Michigan native, Alison has a decade plus of experience in building communities and operations in high-growth orgs. She builds entrepreneurial programs, manages operations and community outreach for tech companies and venture firms, and coaches budding founders, all while dabbling in politics.
How we got our start…
Our story begins the same way so many stories of women coming together do. We started as a few women gathering to share experiences, frustrations, joys, and friendship. Starting with four women in the tech/startup industry, Alison Todak, Kristina Oberly, Rachel Phillips, and Katelyn Kelly were used to being surrounded by men—feeling siloed and isolated. Our collective excitement and relief upon gathering was instantaneous. And naturally, after only a few lunches, someone said, “Hey! We can’t be the only ones. There are women doing what we’re doing at companies all over Ann Arbor. Why aren’t we all talking to each other?”
So we each invited a colleague or two, met to form an official group, and Shine & Rise was born. Today, Alison & Kristina continue to lead the organization, which has grown to 300+ women across the Midwest and beyond. To learn more about our story, check out this blog post.
To contact Alison & Kristina, please reach out at hello@shinerise.org.
