Michael Strautmanis
Obama Foundation
Austin, TX USA
"Go hard. If you’re going to do something, really work at it."
Career Roadmap
Michael's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Government, and Upholding a Cause and Belief
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Work hard at learning the basics of whatever it is you want to do. If you're really good at the basics, then people can rely on you, which can help open a lot of doors.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Advertising
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Doctorate
Law
University of Illinois College of Law
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I grew up between two cultures—Black and Latvian—and learned to navigate the world by listening closely.
2.
As a bike messenger, I walked into a law firm, saw 300 lawyers, and decided there might be room for me too.
3.
I got my first law firm job after calling the head of human resources monthly for 13 months—that’s where I met Michelle and Barack Obama.
4.
They saw something in me I couldn’t yet see in myself, and that changed everything as they brought me along on this bigger journey.
5.
I left a stable law career to work in Washington, D.C., driven by a deep need to serve and give back.
6.
At the Obama Foundation, I lead external affairs and My Brother’s Keeper, helping young people unlock their potential.
