Brendan and Cherie met while pursuing joint degrees in business and public policy at Harvard, and quickly bonded over a shared passion for driving change in government, from different vantage points - Cherie built and grew mission-driven startups, while Brendan served in city halls across the country. In their final year of the program, they spoke to over 100 city managers and HR directors across the country, developing a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing HR departments in attracting a talented workforce. They saw the need for powerful, data-driven solutions that can save time and simplify processes, and the opportunity to leverage new technologies to do it. In September 2023, they launched Holly - leveraging their deep expertise in civic innovation with the goal of empowering millions of Americans to pursue meaningful careers in public service.
Brendan has served across 5 administrations in 3 cities, instilling him with a deep love for pothole data dashboards, fire dept ride-alongs, and Maryland crab cakes. Talk to him about local gov ransomware preparedness, 100 day transition plans, and how to hire nearly 300 front line health workers in under a year.
Cherie has led biz ops and product for several startups that have improved the financial lives of over 5 million Americans. Talk to her about making government more accessible by building with users, cash transfers and the future of work, and creating diverse, inclusive, and supportive organizations.
