hi - i'm alaina
i am a former teacher turned software engineer who loves funky challenges, whimsical user experiences, and being the best slack-moji reactor i can be (jokes, jokes).
my path here
my career hasn’t been linear (and i kind of like it that way). i started off teaching high school english in detroit, where i learned how much i love learning and how important it is to help others grow. from there, i moved into financial services as a loan processor, handling the process with the kind of precision i didn’t know i had. that role gave me my first taste of the tech world through an internal bootcamp and i never looked back. as a software engineer, i’ve built tools, dashboards, and reporting systems that turn messy, complicated data into something clear and useful. i like figuring out how systems work, spotting patterns, and finding better, faster, and simpler ways to get things done.
reflecting on my time in my classroom with my 12th graders, i will be honest, i was not the world's best teacher, no matter what my coffee mug tells you. but the one thing i did very well was foster relationships with my students and guide them through the next step in their lives after high school. talking with my students and learning about their hopes and dreams and goals and wishes was the best part of any day. now, as an engineer, i use that skill and mentor as many people as i can, especially those who are transitioning into technology in a non-traditional way. diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is also a passion of mine. as someone who doesn't always look like what one would picture when thinking "engineer," i care so incredibly much about building diverse teams with even more diverse voices, fighting for equity in the workplace, and trying to foster the most welcoming culture i can to make sure everyone feels comfortable and that they belong.
where i'm headed
my dream has always been to work in professional sports. more than the wins and losses, it’s about what sports do for a city — the way they bring people together, create pride, and give people something bigger than themselves to believe in. i’ve seen that especially with detroit. the lions aren’t just a team here; they’re a symbol of grit and resilience.
i want to be part of that world, not just as a fan in the stands but as someone contributing behind the scenes. for me, it’s about finding a career where i can combine what i’m good at — problem-solving, learning fast, keeping things running smoothly — with something i love. i want my work to matter to the community around me, and i can’t think of a better way than through sports. and as more women step into roles across professional sports, i want to be part of that movement — opening doors, challenging assumptions, and helping make the industry more inclusive for the next generation.
outside of work
i am originally from toledo, ohio. i know, i know, ohio is the butt of a lot of jokes, but give me five minutes to talk to you about cincinnati (go bearcats!) and i think i'll change your mind. i moved to detroit after college to teach and have stayed in the mitten ever since. my fiancé and i built our dream house in ann arbor (go blue, etc. etc.). if i'm not building stuff and things, i am collecting another cookbook, scrolling through tiktok, at a Lions game,obsessing over my perfect cat, and trying to convince my fiancé to play catch with me.