Get to Know Emilia

July 18, 2022 | Interview by Saritha Ramakrishna

Hiking with family outside of Los Angeles.

The corner of Greenpoint and Manhattan Avenues in Brooklyn.

What was your journey to become an Analyst at Kyanite Partners?

In winter 2020 I graduated from Tufts University, where I studied international relations and environmental economics. My fascination with the environment is broad, including food systems and climate change as well as an understanding of “environment” as intentional self-awareness of one’s belonging to a global citizenry. After graduation I moved to New York City and, in the last year, completed the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs.

I am a student of communities and look to the physical spaces where I live as guides. Throughout college, this was the communities of Somerville and Medford in Massachusetts. I’m grateful to have spearheaded and worked within a host of community-focused initiatives, including door knocking for Census equity, mentoring elementary-age girls, engaging in international human rights research, and other activities through the Tisch College of Civic Life. I want to be the kind of practitioner that puts people first.

How do you like to work and how does that relate to your values?

I believe it is crucial to have the awareness and capacity to meet people where they’re at. I’d like to infuse this ideal into what I do and cultivate it in practice, both personally and professionally at Kyanite. Before jumping to action, I ground myself in reflection and consideration of how I and the people around me are feeling and operating in the moment.

Why did you choose to work at Kyanite Partners and how would you describe our company culture?

During the interview process and otherwise, Kyanite gave the impression that we engage in hands-on, interactive work with our clients. Between Cali, Rana, Saritha and now myself, I feel a really strong sense of buy-in to our projects and our approach. I also see the close mentorship offered at the firm as a real gift and honor.

What are some topics that you’d like to learn more about?

Waterfront resiliency is an existential question for our region. Growing up on Long Island, I have learned through witnessing environmental extremes how important it is to be thoughtful about our approach to coastlines and related flood zones. I’m also interested in disaster response in places acutely affected by climate and humanitarian emergencies. The last few years have highlighted the importance of active preparation as opposed to reactive behavior - both globally and closer to home.

From my experience in the Coro Fellowship, I dove deeply into the political functioning of New York City and its relationship-driven structure. I look forward to learning to operate effectively as a practitioner - in service of my neighbors and the causes we care about - in this city and beyond.

What are you looking forward to at Kyanite Partners?

In the past year, I have delivered projects for public, private, labor, and social entities. These environments offered invaluable learning and mentorship opportunities, but after having these more transient experiences it feels really good to have landed somewhere and to help Kyanite grow. We’re all mutually bought into the work and our approach.

In addition to supporting our current climate and economic development projects, I’m also building out our approach to business development, communications and aspects of our operations. It is so exciting to be able to develop these procedures and to help the team at Kyanite be thoughtful in seeking and choosing future work.

Who are some of the people and places that have made you who you are today?

I grew up on Long Island and learned a lot from my time living in Greater Boston. New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami have also informed my own identity and relationship to the diasporas that are a part of my heritage, being both Jewish and Cuban.

In terms of people, everything in my life starts and ends with my family and loved ones. They’ve taught me to be generous with both my time and my energy in my communities. I’ve received incredible mentorship from academic advisors at Tufts, leadership at the Tisch College, and already from the team at Kyanite Partners. I’m also grateful for the community I found in the Coro Fellowship and the mutual learning and support it has provided in my life.

What is something that people don’t know about you?

That I’m a professional ski instructor! I am passionate about the outdoors and greater accessibility to recreational green and open spaces, particularly in urban environments.

"I believe it is crucial to have the awareness and capacity to meet people where they’re at…Before jumping to action, I ground myself in reflection and consideration of how I and the people around me are feeling and operating in the moment."

A brisk day of teaching ski instruction in Southern Vermont.

Campaigning in Washington Heights and Inwood in November 2021.