Gemma Ross ’08, Director of Operations at Osaro, talks working in the field of Artificial Intelligence and on her journey of continuous growth and learning
Where did you grow up and what led you to Dartmouth?
I grew up in the SF Bay Area. I loved it. I love California and the Bay Area for all of its faults. My dad went to Dartmouth and my grandparents lived in the Upper Valley so I knew about it since I was a child. When it came time to choose a college I think I pretended I had a hard choice to make, but looking back I just don’t see how it would have gone any other way. I should probably mention there was no family pressure to choose Dartmouth. It was simply the right choice. It also didn’t hurt that my granddad still lived nearby so I would get to go out to an excellent lunch almost every weekend.
What did you do during your time at Dartmouth?
I was somehow talked into joining the Dartmouth Women’s Rugby Club in spite of having no intention of playing a sport at all. I still remember thinking the woman talking me into it (in a frat basement, of course) was crazy, but I still went out to that first practice before classes even started and I played for the rest college (minus a brief dark spell when I quit almost everything I loved). I also joined the theater scene shop my freshman year. I showed up so often to volunteer to build sets that they decided I should get paid. Sophomore year I join Epsilon Kappa Theta where I later become Vice President. Junior year I was tapped to join an all women senior society.
Academically, I set myself on the path to become a history major with a focus on Japanese and Korean history until I took a class my sophomore fall that changed everything. The class was computer animation with professor Lorie Loeb. Lorie was incredibly inspiring and the class itself was so much fun that I finagled my way into taking the class again during winter term. It was my dad who made me realize that I should change majors after hearing me describe Lorie’s classes. Wise as ever, he simply asked, “shouldn’t you major in something you love?” I had a choice to make at that point. If I wanted to pursue computer animation I could take the artist’s route or the technical route. As much as I love art, I have no special or natural talent for it, so I took my first computer science course my sophomore fall and declared my major as computer science modified with animation. I somehow squished 4 years of CS into 2, taking 2-3 CS courses per term. It was absolutely brutal and I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone. For a variety of reasons that will take too long to explain, I was pretty depressed by senior year. I quit the rugby team and my job in the theater. I was pulling away from my best friend because I was too embarrassed to show her how much I was hurting. I could not make it through a 2 hour class without going to the bathroom to cry halfway through. It took me months to realize that I couldn’t recognize myself. Eventually at the end of my senior winter I called Dick’s House and said I thought I needed to see a counselor. I made the mistake of calling during finals and they made the bigger mistake of saying they were too busy during finals to fit in a new patient unless it was an emergency. What a terrible thing to reject a new patient who finally had the courage to admit they needed help. Let’s skip ahead. I did end up seeing a counselor my senior spring and I graduated with a degree in computer science, albeit not with the grades I wanted. I almost cried in relief when I held my diploma in hand because I knew how hard I had struggled for it.
How would you say your Dartmouth experience shaped your career so far?
A part of why I chose computer science over art was because I also knew that it would open more doors for me professionally. In spite of how difficult it was, I don’t regret the major. I have no doubt that it is why I have had the career I have. That technical grounding has served me well. The more social aspects of Dartmouth also helped prepare me. It taught me how to interact with a wide variety of people and how to lead a diverse group.
How did you find your job at DreamWorks and how did you grow from the experience?
The old fashioned way: I applied online. My first job at DreamWorks Animation was on the night shift, which I remained on for 3 years. It was an amazing experience to work around such creative and talented people. Oh and the parties were great, but the hours really were awful. I gained several invaluable mentors and friends and got my first exposure to management and leadership. I became more resilient because of my time on the night shift and expanded my understanding of what it meant to lead.
How did you transition into your work in AI?
In January 2015, DreamWorks announced that it was shutting down the Northern California studio and laying off the 400 employees up here. It was an intense experience to see so many people laid off at once. People who had dedicated decades of their lives to the studio. Bars appeared out of nowhere that day all around the building. I am happy and proud to say that everyone I managed landed much better jobs and have gone on to do awesome things. I took almost a year off from work to figure out what my next step should be. I knew I wanted to leave the Entertainment industry, too unstable, and move into tech. Several interviews in, I found myself at an AI and Robotics startup and I fell in love with both areas. I immediately knew that these two fields combined are the future. I am really happy that I landed that interview (thanks to an indirect Dartmouth connection actually) and then the job.
What do you like and dislike about startup culture in the Bay Area?
I chose a startup because of the professional growth potential. I love that at a startup you have the opportunity to grow in many roles at once. There is no shortage of work to get done, so anything you can help with is welcomed with open arms. I learned so much through my first startup. It was an amazing opportunity. What do I dislike? It can be stressful. The stakes are higher because survival isn’t a guarantee. Funding is not infinite. I suppose none of the above actually references the culture. Culture is going to vary so much between startups. I find it hard to describe to people who haven’t experienced it. Every industry will have its positives and negatives. It is a question of which negatives are you willing to live with. I think all I can say is that each time I have watched the HBO show Silicon Valley, there is always a moment that I can relate to. As ridiculous as the show is, I have met those kinds of people or seen those scenes play out in reality. And we do have Soylent at my current startup.
How has being a woman shaped your experiences in the tech industry? What advice would you give to young women/students in tech?
Since I started studying computer science I got used to being one of the only women in the room. The ratio hasn’t significantly changed over time. While I will always want there to be a greater balance and I will strive to help bring it about, the imbalance does not negatively impact me on a daily basis. I have been fortunate to largely be surrounded by people who also appreciate and desire diversity of all kinds in the workforce. Or I suppose I have carefully chosen to be around those people.
While I acknowledge that it may be harder for some than others, I have seen other women be so much more affected by the imbalance to the point of even being consumed by it. I have never understood how embracing victim status is productive. It isn’t a good way to influence change. I think the best advice I can give is to seek out people who think like you (regardless of gender because advocates and friends come from every group). Know that you are not the only one who thinks or feels like you. I made that mistake in college of thinking I was alone only to find out that my experiences were not unique. Imposter syndrome turned out to be a thing many people have gone through, not just me. I wish I had been more honest about my insecurities back then so I could have had the courage and support to persevere earlier in my career.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given (career-related or otherwise)?
Get someone to take a chance on you and then never let them regret it.
Was there a particular path you wanted to take after Dartmouth? If so, how closely did you stick to it?
I thought it was computer animation. Then that changed. I am not a proponent of a set path. I used to think it was a problem that I didn’t know exactly what I wanted out of my career. Now, I think it is a good thing to keep as many doors open as possible. Who knows what is next? When you keep an open mind, it is easier to find a great next step
What is your number one bucket list item for Dartmouth seniors?
Make friends with people outside of your immediate friend group. They will probably add something to your list you had never even thought of.
