The PM Podcast: Never In My Wildest Dreams – A Conversation with Maya Kuppermann
Introduction
In the episode titled "Never In My Wildest Dreams: A Conversation with Maya Kuppermann," hosted by Jay Frost and brought to you by DonorSearch, Maya Kuppermann shares her inspiring journey from a young philanthropist to the co-founder and CEO of Tamelio. Maya's unique blend of experiences in technology, nonprofits, and strategic consulting provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of philanthropy and grant making.
Early Life and Influences
Maya Kuppermann grew up in Davis, California, a community characterized by its blend of academic excellence and agricultural roots. As the oldest of three daughters, raised by two medical professors, Maya's early life was steeped in discipline and curiosity. Her passion for dance began at the tender age of two, eventually leading her to found "A Chance to Dance" at twelve—a nonprofit aimed at providing free dance classes to children in migrant farm-working communities.
"I felt such an urge to do something about this thing that felt so horrible to me and ended up teaming up with my friend Alex, who I met through dance. We started a little nonprofit that went to the various migrant centers across Davis and Woodland..." [05:23]
This initiative not only brought joy to many children but also highlighted Maya's early recognition of privilege and her commitment to community service.
Education and Shift from Medicine
Maya pursued her undergraduate studies at Stanford University, majoring in human biology with a focus on global child development and minoring in education. Initially considering a career in medicine, a pivotal lecture in a health economics class redirected her path. The professor's assertion that education significantly impacts population health more than the medical system itself resonated deeply with her, leading Maya to explore broader avenues for impact beyond traditional medical roles.
"I was like, I'm doing all of this to play at number three. I really want to be playing at number one." [17:51]
This realization steered her towards philanthropy, culminating in an internship at Sheryl Sandberg's family foundation, which solidified her passion for impactful work and mentorship.
Consulting at McKinsey
After Stanford, Maya joined McKinsey & Company, following mentors' advice to gain exposure to diverse industries and develop transferable skills. During her tenure, she worked on projects that intersected government, education, and nonprofit sectors, including a notable pro bono project with Khan Academy during the COVID-19 pandemic. This experience underscored the complexities and challenges within the philanthropic landscape, particularly from the grantee perspective.
"I think when I spent time on the grantee side... that's really when my wheel started to turn." [24:11]
Maya's time at McKinsey honed her strategic thinking and reinforced her dedication to creating systemic change within philanthropy.
Founding Tamelio
Driven by her consulting experience and the inefficiencies she observed in grant management, Maya co-founded Tamelio with engineer Ruth Wick. Tamelio aims to streamline grant-making processes for small to mid-sized foundations by leveraging AI to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative burdens.
"We spoke to hundreds of people across the space and started to see a need emerge within the small to mid-sized grant maker space." [42:11]
Maya and Ruth assembled an advisory board of over 50 individuals from various segments of the philanthropic community, ensuring that Tamelio's solutions were grounded in real-world needs and collaborative insights.
Insights into Philanthropy and Grant Making
Maya identified two primary challenges in the philanthropic sector:
- Inefficient Grant Application Processes: Nonprofits often submit repetitive information across multiple grant applications, leading to wasted time and resources.
- Data Management for Foundations: Foundations struggle with collecting and analyzing data from grantees, balancing the need for comprehensive reporting with the desire to avoid overburdening recipients.
Tamelio addresses these issues by offering a grants management system that automates repetitive tasks and provides advanced data analytics tools. This allows foundations to focus more on building relationships and understanding the true impact of their funding.
"Our goal is just to allow people to save time with the things that they were doing that were very manual... to let those five hours a week be spent in the community." [33:07]
Impact of Government Actions and Foundation Responses
In the current administrative climate, where federal funding and directives increasingly influence philanthropic activities, Maya observes a trend of private foundations becoming more bold and autonomous in their funding decisions. Foundations are striving to protect their mission-driven work despite external pressures, reflecting a commitment to substantive social change.
"The foundations that we talk to are being much more bold. They exist because they care about the topics that they fund... pulling back because of directives would be antithetical to why they exist." [56:33]
This resilience showcases the private sector's pivotal role in addressing gaps left by fluctuating government support.
Future Plans and Vision
Looking ahead, Maya envisions Tamelio continuing to innovate by integrating advanced AI features that further reduce administrative burdens and enhance data-driven decision-making. She emphasizes the importance of listening to the philanthropic community to ensure that Tamelio's tools evolve in alignment with their needs.
"Our job is to facilitate... to be a part of the conversation and facilitate some of the more exciting things that can happen within the philanthropic industry." [58:02]
On a personal level, Maya is passionate about mentoring the next generation, including her younger sister, hoping to inspire her to pursue ambitious and impactful careers.
Conclusion
Maya Kuppermann's journey from a young philanthropist to a strategic leader in philanthropic technology underscores the transformative potential of combining passion with strategic innovation. Through Tamelio, she is reshaping how foundations manage grants, ultimately enabling more effective and meaningful social impact.
Notable Quotes
- "I felt such an urge to do something about this thing that felt so horrible to me..." [05:23]
- "I'm doing all of this to play at number three. I really want to be playing at number one." [17:51]
- "When I spent time on the grantee side... that's really when my wheel started to turn." [24:11]
- "Our goal is just to allow people to save time with the things that they were doing that were very manual..." [33:07]
- "The foundations that we talk to are being much more bold..." [56:33]
- "Our job is to facilitate... to be a part of the conversation..." [58:02]
About the Host
Jay Frost introduces Maya as a visionary in the intersection of technology and philanthropy. With a background in human biology, education, and strategic consulting, Maya brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her role at Tamelio, making her a pivotal figure in the future of philanthropic endeavors.