Emily Theis

I'm a product manager interested in public good, a journalist by training, and an active hobbyist.

I lead teams in the Office of the CTO at the Department of Veterans Affairs. We build user-focused products to get Veterans their disability benefits in minutes, not months.

I got to VA after working on federal government technology projects with 18F. Prior to that, I was Head of Producers at Upstatement, where I guided strategic design and engineering projects for clients like On Being, PBS NewsHour, Harvard Gazette, Emergence Capital, and the MIT homepage and undergraduate admissions. I started my career as an editorial designer and illustrator — at The Boston Globe and The Star Tribune in Minneapolis. I grew up in Indianapolis and studied journalism graphics and Spanish at Ball State University.

Music

I occasionally write and play indie pop music under my last name, Theis. More on that: Bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram.

Hobbies and side projects

I like sewing, especially quilting, hanging out with my tiny adorable dog, running, yoga, and writing. I've written about missing my time in Minneapolis, minimizing my wardrobe after college, and the art of having a bazillion hobbies

I created the Breakup Survival Guide, a site powered by listeners of the Death Sex & Money podcast that serves up randomized heartache cures. The project was graciously profiled by the Poynter Institute, as well as Jetzt, the digital magazine from Germany’s biggest nationwide newspaper (wunderbar!).

Be my pal

I'm always up for making friends (#midwestern) or taking on side projects, so get in touch via any Internet method you please!