Steph Kenealy is originally from Melbourne and moved to NYC in 2022 to help establish Schmidt Sciences. There, she supports ideas, people, and techniques across the disciplines of science and technology to catalyze results for society.
What did you do in Aus/NZ? And, why did you move to NYC?
My work brought me to NYC in early 2022. It was actually my first time in the United States. Back home, in Melbourne, I worked with an incredible team at a very large private trust. There, I built out and managed a portfolio of grants and impact investments. Years later I was connected with someone at Schmidt Futures; a philanthropic initiative of Eric and Wendy Schmidt. They offered me a role and the rest is history!
What were your first impressions of NYC and how has that changed since you have lived here?
I didn’t have the same affinity for NYC that many others arrived with. I hadn’t visited before and was moving for a job rather than a city or lifestyle. I didn’t appreciate the hype over my first few months. I think the turning point was building habits and making more friends. As my husband and I developed good friendships and social circles for different things, I enjoyed the city 100x more.
Now, I appreciate the hype! For me, the allure of NYC is something about freedom. The extreme density means people don’t have time to worry about you. You hear people talk about being able to do anything or wear anything. The density sort of forces authenticity because why not be yourself? No one is watching.
What do you do in your ‘spare time’ in NYC?
I periodically write about ideas that matter to me, such as decision-making, capital allocation, team management, and driving positive impact (folks can subscribe to my articles on Substack here!). I love weight training! My husband and I go together every second day. My friends back home and I have scheduled calls about every week – that’s always a highlight. My brother lives in Toronto, so I’ve been lucky to visit him more frequently now, too!
What is the biggest difference between home and NYC that comes up in discussion?
It feels like NYC has more diversity in career paths. I’ve met comedians, podcasters, lawyers, writers, philosophers, academics, software engineers, consultants, etc. The list goes on. The crazy part is that you can meet all these people at one party. That’s happened to me a few times now. It broadens your sense of what is possible and offers new ideas that are interesting and that you may never have thought about.
What are your top 3 tips for friends visiting NYC?
Carve out lots of time to plant yourself in a neighborhood and move around aimlessly. You get a greater sense of the character and charm of each neighborhood by simply watching and walking the streets. Get up high to appreciate just how expansive and dense NYC is. Create a list of the sites you want to see ahead of time, because there are a lot!
What is the best way for AWNY members to get in touch with you?
You can reach Steph via LinkedIn.
AWNY | Australian Women in New York 