180. Kristen Fowler Garland, From Cambridge to Japan to Alaska
Release Date: 08/17/2026
184. Mimi Rocah, Mom, Prosecutor, & Author
The 92 Report
Mimi Rocah lives in Westchester, New York, with her husband David Anders, a fellow lawyer she met while working as a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. After working for a few years between college and law school, she attended NYU Law School with the intention of becoming a prosecutor. She completed two clerkships, one for the Eastern District of New York and one for the Second Circuit, before starting at the Southern District of New York in February 2001. Mimi spent 17 years at the Southern District of New York, eventually moving into teaching and legal commentary for...
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183. Thomas Norman, Professor & Faculty Founder of the CSUDH Innovation Incubator
The 92 Report
Show Notes Thomas Norman grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, before moving to northwestern Wisconsin. He lobbied to add a class period in high school so he could take four years of foreign language, to ensure he was competitive for universities like Harvard. While at Harvard, he focused on social studies and wrote a thesis regarding the economic forces behind NAFTA which led him to his first job. Transitioning to Business Banking After graduating, Thomas worked for Procter and Gamble in Minnesota before transitioning into business banking. He had to take night classes in accounting to learn how to...
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182. Leo Clark, A Career in the Financial Markets & Some Side Adventures
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Leo Clark participated in the Jean Monnet Program at Ecole Polytechnique in Paris following his graduation from Harvard. The fellowship was a work-study-travel program focused on the European Union that included seminars and internships. He completed an internship within the operations research department at Air France. He talks about connecting with fellow alumni in Paris and developing his French language skills through immersion. Exotics Trading to Sales and Swaps Marketing Leo explains what exotic derivatives trading is and his experience working in that field....
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181. Kath Mertens, Next Chapter: Animal Behavior
The 92 Report
Kath Mertens (Kath Ulman) reflects on her life stage, mentioning her 20-year-old son heading to college, her divorce, and her part-time work. She describes feeling on the cusp of a new life phase, similar to when she graduated from Harvard. Becoming a Veterinarian Kath shares her initial career aspirations of becoming a veterinarian and the challenges she faced due to the lack of a pre-vet focus at Harvard. Kath recounts her first post-Harvard job in Jackson, Wyoming, where she worked as a ski bum and later as a wrangler on a dude ranch. She rediscovered her passion for veterinary medicine...
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180. Kristen Fowler Garland, From Cambridge to Japan to Alaska
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Kristen Fowler Garland majored in East Asian Studies and Japanese at Harvard. She explains her decision to spend five years in Japan after graduation, including two years with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program. She describes her experience with the JET program, teaching conversational English in Toyama, and her efforts to learn Japanese. Kristen shares her job search in Japan, landing a position with a foreign subsidiary in Tokyo, where she learned to use Excel in Japanese. Market Research and Field Hockey Kristen recounts her work in market research, tracking the shift...
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179. Clare Scherrer, Investment Banker, CFO, Public Board Director
The 92 Report
Show Notes Clare Scherrer outlines her career journey in three main chapters: 25 years at Goldman Sachs in Investment Banking, a number of years as a public company Chief Financial Officer, and her current role as a director on two public company boards of directors. Clare also shares her life immediately post-graduation, including getting married and completing McKinsey's Business Analyst program in New York City. Love at First Blind Date Clare recounts her initial post Harvard plan to join the Foreign Service and how a blind date led to her getting engaged and pivoting her career path. She...
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178. Mara (Beverwyk) Christine, Librarian, Teacher, Lawyer
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Mara Christine (formerly Mara Beverwyk) describes her circuitous path, starting with a job at the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) in Berkeley, followed by a role in the Oakland public library system. She pursued a library degree in Michigan and returned to New Mexico, where she worked as a school and research librarian. She transitioned to teaching at a Montessori elementary school, earning her certification, and later went to law school at age 46, becoming a prosecutor. A Career Move to Law Mara explains what drew her to the law, and she cites her midlife crisis and...
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177. Kiki Snyder, Assigned Karen at Birth
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Kiki (formerly Karen) Snyder shares her 35-year journey since her breakdown at Harvard, which landed her in restraints at McLean Hospital during exams in 1991. She discusses being misdiagnosed as severely bipolar, the 32 years she lost to toxic psychiatric medications, and the self she rediscovered. "Karen was full of fear and anger. Karen wanted to speak to the manager. But Kiki's in charge now. I am the manager." Learn more about her transformation on Instagram at and at . From Karen to Kiki Kiki elaborates on her transformation from Karen to Kiki. A massage therapist...
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176. Maya Browne, The Road Not Taken
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Maya Browne recounts her senior year at Harvard, including writing her thesis "Idealizing Vision" which was about how magazine editors, photographers, and designers had shaped the ideal female form in the 20th century, and additionally another was an article for Essence magazine about eating disorders. It was the first article of its kind that drew data from women of color, and it won an award called the Excellence in Media Merit Award (EMMA). Writing, Modeling, and Playing Violin Maya describes her first job at Details magazine under James Truman, where she handled...
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175. Chana Gable Selmon, Medicine Without Borders
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Chana Gable Selmon explains she joined Harvard as a transfer student in 1990, overlapping two years with the class of 1992. She graduated in 1993 after completing science requirements due to her history concentration. Chana decided to go to medical school at Cornell, followed by an internship in Emergency Medicine at Bellevue NYU and residency at Harvard. Commuting between Jerusalem and New Jersey Chana had her first child in 2000 and continued working as an ER doctor. She describes her experience as a fourth-year resident at Brooklyn Hospital Center during 9/11. She later ...
info_outlineShow Notes:
Kristen Fowler Garland majored in East Asian Studies and Japanese at Harvard. She explains her decision to spend five years in Japan after graduation, including two years with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program. She describes her experience with the JET program, teaching conversational English in Toyama, and her efforts to learn Japanese. Kristen shares her job search in Japan, landing a position with a foreign subsidiary in Tokyo, where she learned to use Excel in Japanese.
Market Research and Field Hockey
Kristen recounts her work in market research, tracking the shift from mainframe computers to networked PCs in Japan. She discusses her involvement in the field hockey club in Toyama, which helped her practice Japanese and immerse in Japanese culture. Kristen reflects on the overwhelming population density of Tokyo and her decision to return to the United States after five years. She mentions connections developed at a hiking club in Tokyo, which led her to move to Alaska.
Moving to Alaska
Kristen describes her move to Alaska, where she found a job at REI and fell in love with the state's open and supportive community. She explains her transition from market research to starting her own digital agency, focusing on SEO and tourism marketing. Kristen highlights the impact of the internet on Alaska's tourism industry, reducing the cost of customer acquisition for small businesses. She shares her experience of growing her business, including working with clients in the tourism sector and adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tips for Travelers to Alaska
Kristen provides tips for traveling to Alaska, advising against cruises and recommending self-guided vacation packages. She discusses the different segments of travelers to Alaska, including fishermen, adventure travelers, and independent travelers. Kristen mentions the popularity of commercial fishing and the seasonal nature of tourism in Alaska. She reflects on her personal life, including her first marriage, raising a daughter in Alaska, and remarrying in 2022.
Community Dynamics and Professional Achievements
Kristen describes the close-knit and supportive community in Alaska, where people often know each other from various social and professional circles. She highlights the tourism industry's annual convention, which is a lively event where industry professionals let off steam and network. Kristen contrasts the community dynamics in Alaska with those in New England, noting the openness and lack of focus on professional achievements in Alaska.
Outdoor Activities in Alaska
She shares her love for outdoor activities in Alaska, including cross-country skiing, hiking, and mountain biking, and the accessibility of these activities in Anchorage. Kristen discusses her habit of moving her body every day, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and reducing pressure on herself.
She reflects on her transition from running to walking, which has provided her with new perspectives and aerobic benefits.
Harvard Reflections
Kristen shares memories from her time at Harvard, including a guest lecture by B.F. Skinner on operant conditioning and his baby box experiment. She recounts a guest lecture on the Cultural Revolution, which had a profound impact on her understanding of historical events and personal stories. Kristen explains her decision to major in Japanese studies, influenced by a high school professor and her interest in medieval Japan. She reflects on the personal and academic challenges she faced at Harvard, including a transition from applied math to Japanese studies.
Timestamps:
0:02: Kristen Fowler Garland's Journey to Japan
02:36: Market Research and Cultural Immersion in Japan
06:25: Life in Alaska and Business Ventures
10:40: Tourism in Alaska and Personal Life
15:20: Community and Outdoor Activities in Alaska
23:56: Personal Habits and College Memories
27:25: Career and Personal Growth
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/empowereddigitaltransformation/
Tonbo Digital Website: https://www.tonbodigital.com
*AI generated transcript and show notes.