Kristin M Rizzo
About Kristin M Rizzo
Kristin M Rizzo is a Staff Engineer currently working at Handshake, with a notable background in engineering and leadership roles at Wayfair. She has a strong commitment to servant leadership, diversity in engineering, and fostering a design-driven culture.
Work at Handshake
Kristin M Rizzo has been employed at Handshake as a Staff Engineer since 2022. In this role, she focuses on leveraging her extensive experience in frontend engineering to contribute to the company's technical projects. Her responsibilities include overseeing engineering processes and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance project outcomes.
Career at Wayfair
Kristin Rizzo held multiple positions at Wayfair from 2012 to 2021. She began as a Web Developer and progressed to Senior Web Developer, Senior Manager of the CSS/HTML Org, Associate Director of Engineering for the Global Frontend Org, and finally as Director of Engineering for the Frontend Platforms, Storefront 'Tailoring' Org. Throughout her tenure, she played a significant role in scaling the company and implementing design-driven culture.
Education and Expertise
Kristin Rizzo studied at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design from 2007 to 2009. Prior to that, she attended Syracuse University, focusing on Fashion and Textiles Design from 2005 to 2007. Her educational background supports her expertise in frontend engineering and design.
Background in Graphic and Web Design
Before her engineering career, Kristin Rizzo worked as a Graphic and Web Designer at the University of Rochester from 2008 to 2010. This role contributed to her foundational skills in design, which she later integrated into her engineering practices, advocating for a design-driven culture within teams.
Leadership and Advocacy
Kristin Rizzo is passionate about servant leadership and promoting diversity within engineering and leadership roles. She advocates for psychological safety and a design-driven culture in engineering teams, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and inclusivity in technical environments.