Grateful for Change
From Grateful Dead tours to open source communities, Brittany Istenes navigates life’s pivots with resilience and wit, demonstrating how embracing change, trusting your gut and practicing self-compassion can lead to meaningful impact
During our fun and unbridled discussion, Brittany Istenes gives us a kickass blueprint for thriving as she shares her remarkable journey of personal growth, career pivots, and finding success through adaptability and compassion. She reveals how moving through 15 different schools by the time she finished high school instilled in her a remarkable ability to adapt to new environments. Her unexpected career pivots—from following the Grateful Dead on tour to becoming a special education teacher and then transitioning into the tech industry—showcase her fearless approach to life and career.
Adapting to Change
Brittany grew up moving frequently, attending 15 different schools from K-12. This early experience of constant fluidity not only equipped her with the skills to quickly adapt to new environments and embrace change, but also instilled in her a deep understanding of the human experience and the importance of trust.
“The lack of stability drove me to learn how to adapt very quickly. You have to turn yourself into a chameleon in order to thrive in different environments. The need to constantly adapt in new surroundings put me into the space where I am now because I don’t fear the unknown.”
Embracing Community
She carried this resilience with her as she took off to follow the Grateful Dead for two and a half years, selling food in parking lots to support herself. She immersed herself in a vibrant community that further enriched her understanding of connection and belonging. This unique chapter in her life underscored the value of community and the lessons that come from diverse interactions. This experience laid the groundwork for her understanding of how communities function and thrive.
Finding Purpose in Education
After her Grateful Dead days, Brittany decided to go to community college to explore her interests. She initially studied music theory but realized teaching was her true calling. Brittany went on to earn her teaching degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, specializing in special education.
As a special education teacher in an underserved Philadelphia school, Brittany made an incredible impact. Her patience and belief in her students helped them close achievement gaps and excel on statewide tests. Brittany's story demonstrates the power of perseverance and the difference one teacher can make.
“One of the biggest things that I took away from it is patience. And I told a lot of people, listen, they’re little, you’re big, they’re going to have meltdowns, right? And the quieter you are, the quieter they’re going to be.”
Transitioning into the Tech Industry
During her tenure in education, Brittany increasingly became an enthusiast and unofficial trainer for technology they used in the classroom, which led to another pivotal turn when she moved into the tech industry, working for an educational tech company. She rose through the ranks, partnering with sales to strategize about how this technology could be more effectively adopted by educators and administrators, and in the process, learned about backend systems, soaking it all in like a sponge.
From Anxiety to Empowerment
Continually challenging herself, Brittany took a position at a larger company as a contractor to test the waters. Sadly, she came face to face with a toxic work culture, and despite her resilience and adaptability, Brittany developed a generalized anxiety disorder as a result. This challenging experience left lasting effects that she continues to grapple with, highlighting the profound impact that negative workplace environments can have on our mental health and underscoring how deeply workplace toxicity can wound us.
However, through the guidance and encouragement of mentors like Nithya Ruff and her team, Brittany not only found the strength to overcome her anxiety but also discovered new talents and confidence. These mentors provided a nurturing environment that allowed Brittany to heal, grow, and ultimately thrive in her career. Her journey serves as a poignant reminder of both the vulnerability we all share and the incredible impact that compassionate leadership and mentorship can have in helping individuals overcome personal challenges and reach their full potential.
Today, Brittany works in an open source program office for a large financial firm where her talents in community building and problem-solving have proven to be invaluable. She gives a very warm shout-out to her manager there, John Mark Walker: “I’m learning a lot from John Mark who has given me a runway with very few guardrails because there’s trust there.”
Fierce Grace
Brittany's journey through fire has forged a wisdom both tender and tough. Her hard-hitting mantra, "Don't take any shit," comes from a place of deep self-love and respect. She's learned that true success is about lighting up your world and others' with genuine impact and joy. Brittany's story is a battle cry for self-trust and the courage to leap into the unknown, without fear. She's faced failure head-on, emerging with the heart-deep knowledge that it's not defeat, but a stepping stone to greatness. Her message resonates with raw honesty: we're all "magical unicorns" who need to stop tearing ourselves down and start building ourselves up.
You can connect with Brittany on LinkedIn, GitHub or Twitter/X.
Brittany's journey reminds us that with resilience and an open heart, we can adapt to life's twists and turns and find our true calling. Her story encourages us to embrace change, pursue our passions, and make a positive impact on those around us.
What's your story? Share your own experiences of overcoming challenges, finding community, and discovering your own purpose. By lifting each other up and celebrating our diverse paths, we can create a more compassionate world.
