Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Zapolski.
Hi Haley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Originally from Iowa, I moved to Nashville 3 years ago for a role at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. That job gave me the awesome opportunity to get to know Nashvillians by meeting a variety of people starting and advising companies. In covid, my team developed and ran Renew Nashville, part of Nashville’s small business covid recovery program to help business owners pivot and survive during hard times.
Nowadays, I work at nonprofit tech boot camp Nashville Software School, where I partner with companies to get our graduates placed in junior web development, data analytics, and data science roles. With more and more tech companies and tech jobs coming into town, our grads are finding new opportunities by pursuing a career in tech!
Finally, my passion project has been building the Nashville startup community through NashTech.
Outside of work, I love to lift weights, run, and bike, I did an Ironman triathlon with my mom last year. I love hosting and gathering people. And I have a long list of restaurants to try in town that I’m plodding my way through.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve failed (a lot), but I’m grateful for each experience.
Going ALL the way back to high school I lost every year for student council and I struggled tremendously socially. I was a competitive rower and lost my team a chance in the finals at the World Championships in Germany. I never made it close to a top boat on my college team at Michigan. I got fired from my first job in NYC when I graduated college and had to move back home to live in my parents’ basement. And those are just the highlights, the list could go on.
Ultimately, it’s made me unafraid to put myself out there, comfortable getting a no, and ok with being relentlessly myself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My mission is to build an innovative and inclusive tech ecosystem in Nashville. That ecosystem has a lot of different parts.
I love my job at NSS because I get to see people launch their careers in technology.
I love building the startup community through NashTech because founders solve problems that need to be solved and every company started in Nashville is homegrown economic development.
Finally, I love being involved in my neighborhood of Bordeaux because I believe all Nashvillians should benefit from the city’s growth.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
Please reach out if:
-You are interested in hiring technical talent!
-You are interested in a career in technology (technical or non-technical- there’s room for everyone).
-You are starting a tech company or want to invest in tech companies.
Contact Info:
- Email: haley.zapolski@nashvillesoftwareschool.com
- Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-zapolski-zap%E2%9A%A1-a3a146119/
- Instagram: haleyzap
Image Credits
Inge Hooker
