Shivani Bose Varela

There, I was always taught to give back, pay it forward and help anyone in need. I moved to the United States in 2001 with my mother and brother after my father passed away. My dad was a true public servant who always helped anyone in need. The uncertainty of my future and assimilation to a new culture led me to find and connect with mentors and leaders in education, who helped me be the public servant I am today.  

Currently, I am a Project Manager at the California State Library, where I led a team to build the state's first tool that provides a centralized location for grant seekers to find California state grant opportunities and for state grantmakers to submit the information. I get to do great work, think strategically, manage vendors, drive technical decisions, most importantly work directly with the public (nonprofits, underserved communities, businesses and tribal government) to share this tool and teach them how to use it to its full potential. I enjoy working on state’s information technology projects that build trust between people and government along with delivering a product that is valuable to the public. My goal is to continue building bridges and coalitions that inspire others in government to make a difference for the people we serve.