Mints Mods Unplugged - Vicky Keston

We’re back with our next edition of our “Mints Mods Unplugged” series! The feedback from our community has been outstanding since we launched. We love hearing how these stories are resonating, and how the series has been helping Mints make connections with one another. We also appreciate being able to give readers an unfiltered look into the moms who work hard to make our community what it is today, and our next moderator is one who’s been with us for five years.

Meet Vicky Keston, who is the Bay Area Regional Director for Art of Problem Solving, and in her spare time a consultant who helps families seek out the K-12 schools that are right for them. You’ll find her most often in our subgroups for single moms, teens and tweens, San Francisco, and neurodiversity. In this interview, she shares insight about what it’s been like to be a mom to teens, and how she balances the demands of her career with motherhood and running a household.

Read on to learn more about Vicky, what first attracted her to our community, and where she finds the best advice in the Mints world. 

Want to catch up on any posts you’ve missed? Check out our conversations with Annie Tsai, Angela Schmeideke, and Sandhya Simhan, and stay tuned for more interviews soon!

• How long have you been a mod/volunteer with Mints?
  
  Since mid-2020
  

• What initially attracted you to the community?
  
  It’s a community of smart, kind moms without the negativity typically found in so many other online communities.
  

• Which subgroups are we most likely to find you in on any given day?
  
  Single Moms, Teens & Tweens, San Francisco, Neurodiversity
  

• What do you do in your professional life?
  
  I just started a new job as the Bay Area Regional Director for Art of Problem Solving, where I’ve been a customer for over a decade. The organization developed the popular Beast Academy and AoPS math and language arts classes, and there are six centers in my region. In my spare time, I consult for families seeking K-12 schools. Similar to a college consultant, I curate their school lists (public and private) and help with private school applications. 
  

• What has been the most useful or valuable advice/interaction/learning that you’ve had through your membership in Mints?
  
  The jobs networking subgroup is amazing, so many members are willing to lend a hand with an introduction. I learned in business school how important networking is for job hunting, and this network of moms in tech offers such important connections.
  

• What advice do you have for a new mom in tech? What helped you most when you were a new mom?
  
  Prioritize childcare over “things,” and use shortcuts for meals and household tasks. There are so many hand-me-downs available locally in Buy Nothing groups, but trying to work, watch kids, and take care of the home can leave anyone exhausted. My most recent find, Walgreens delivers most prescriptions (no affiliation!).
  

• What is your favorite thing to do with your kids?
  
  We enjoy cooking meals together and family game night.
  

• What’s your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
  
  What spare time? LOL. I have been baking since the pandemic, mostly sourdough bread and challah.
  

• What are some areas in which you’re hoping to grow your career or professional development? And, how can other Mints help?
  
  I would love advice on balancing a demanding new job with family. I will be traveling once a quarter to San Diego and working some evenings. On the work side, I’d like to plan yearly or semi-yearly regional team building events and grow strong relationships with my teams.
  

• Is there anything else that you’d like to share with fellow Mints? Or anything you wish I’d asked that you’d like to add?

My eldest will be starting the college application process soon! In addition to learning this process, I’d love to chat about bucket lists for that last year with your teen before they leave the nest.