Hello. I’m Sarina (she/they).

I’m a San Francisco Bay Area native, born and raised in Vallejo and currently living in the North Bay. I’m a second-generation Filipino American, a wife, a mom, a daughter, and someone who strives to make any space I occupy a bit better after I leave it.

If I gave you a copy of my résumé, you would assume that I am a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and Human Resources professional, with applied experience in consumer goods, tech, and the public sector. 

Which is partly the truth.

For over 10 years, I have progressively worked in companies, big and small, and public service entities with a primary focus on providing access to and advancement within those organizations for historically excluded groups. I have built expertise in equitable organizational design, employment law, inclusive employee practices, and diverse community building. 

I am a connector and a changemaker, and I apply an equity-focused lens both in my employment and in my freelance consulting services.

But the rest of the truth: I am a storyteller.

Writing has been a part of my identity since I was a five-year-old girl diligently keeping a diary. And storytelling is an integral part of my professional and personal advocacy work: I believe that storytelling is a way in which we can foster empathy toward others’ lived experiences.

Outside of work, where I strategize, plan, and execute both small- and large-scale communications to support DEI initiatives, I write – essays, creative nonfiction, and short fictional stories. I am currently working on a young adult romantic-comedy novel about a second-generation Filipina American and her journey navigating adolescence, love, and self-identity.

In my free time, I read (as many genres and from as many diverse perspectives as possible), watch copious amounts of movies and TV shows, and spend time with my family and loved ones.