Holly Hansen
About Holly Hansen
Holly Hansen is a Lead Product Manager at ThoughtWorks, with extensive experience in community engagement, product management, and immersive virtual world development. She has worked at various companies including Beyondsoft, Amplo Global Inc., and eBay, and has authored a fantasy book series that inspired her VR projects.
Current Role at ThoughtWorks
Holly Hansen serves as the Lead Product Manager at ThoughtWorks, a position she has held since 2021. In this role, she focuses on product strategy and management, leveraging her extensive experience in technology and community engagement. Her work involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions that meet client needs.
Previous Experience in Community Engagement
Before joining ThoughtWorks, Holly worked at Beyondsoft as the Community Engagement Program Manager for Microsoft for Startups. During her five-month tenure in 2019, she was responsible for scouting and hiring talent for various creative roles, including voice acting and audio production, specifically for virtual worlds. This role highlighted her ability to connect with diverse talent in the tech industry.
Educational Background and Certifications
Holly studied at Stanford University, focusing on Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Design Thinking, where she achieved a certification in Innovation in 2021. She also completed coursework at UCLA on Building Immersive Worldbuilding in VR, which informed her work in virtual reality projects. Additionally, she studied at the International Coaches Academy, earning the Certified Professional Coach designation, emphasizing her commitment to personal and professional development.
VR Projects and Creative Contributions
Holly has co-created immersive worlds in VRChat, collaborating with designers and developers to bring her visions to life. She authored a modern fantasy magic book series that inspired the design of a VR world called Spectrum: Sacred Isles of Faeolahn. This project is set to launch on July 8th, 2024, and aims to provide users with experiences centered around world lore, roleplaying, and meditation.
Diverse Professional Background
Holly's career spans various roles across multiple organizations. She has worked as a Product Manager at Move, Inc., a MarCom Specialist at Fujitsu, and a Category Manager at Hewlett Packard. Her experience also includes roles at eBay and Adobe, where she contributed to product management and marketing initiatives. This diverse background equips her with a broad skill set applicable to her current role.