Why I’m Passionate About Working at Alloy

When I think about why I work for Alloy, it’s not just because I found a company with a great mission, values, and reputation, though as a communications professional, that’s exactly the kind of company I seek and want to shout about from the rooftops. It’s also because I found a place where the work we do is deeply personal to me, where the values align with my own, and where every day, I’m part of a team that’s committed to something bigger than just business.

In my 30s, while many of my friends were starting families and raising children, I was stepping into a very different role, becoming my mother’s primary caretaker. My mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when I was a child, and even though she appeared healthy to the outside world, I saw the struggles she faced. She herself, at the time of the diagnosis, was still young, in her early 40s, but there was a weight she carried, physical and emotional challenges from a disease no one could really see. On top of that, she was likely navigating the changes that come with menopause, which added another layer of complexity to her health journey. As a family, we managed her care, with my father overseeing doctors’ appointments and taking the lead on supporting her medical needs.

Then in 2007, almost two decades later, we lost him unexpectedly. Suddenly, I became not just my mother’s caretaker, but also my father’s mothers. It was during this time that I learned how easily something as common as a UTI could lead to serious complications like delirium, cognitive decline, and even hospitalization. In fact, UTIs are one of the leading causes of hospitalization among older women and can sometimes be fatal, yet these risks are rarely discussed and were never brought to my attention, nor did I think to, or know to, ask. Thinking back, neither my mother nor my grandmother, nor I as their caretaker, were ever asked if they were on vaginal estrogen, a question that, in hindsight, could have changed everything. I kick myself now for not knowing this piece of the puzzle back then, especially after seeing my mother struggle through frequent UTIs. Despite attending countless doctor visits and speaking with nursing home doctors about her condition, the only explanation I ever got was, “It’s her MS and age,” but no one ever once mentioned vaginal estrogen. 

I now know it could have been a lifesaver. We lost my mom three years ago, after she spent her final years slowly declining from a UTI she never fully recovered from. It was a lingering, painful process, one that unfolded over time, day by day, and it was a reality I came face-to-face with, a reality that no one had prepared me for. 

A year later, I joined Alloy, and that experience has guided every decision I’ve made since. As I enter perimenopause, I realize the importance of not just preventing health issues for myself, but also raising awareness for others. I am committed to ensuring that both my generation and future generations of women don’t have to face the same struggles that I did with my mom and grandmother. And it's not just about preventing issues; it’s about making sure that women everywhere have the resources and knowledge to navigate their health journeys without facing the same gaps I encountered.

The work we do at Alloy is exactly what the world needs. The entire team, starting with our co-founders, Anne Fulenwider and Monica Molenaar, and our Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Sharon Malone, is incredibly smart, passionate, and committed to women’s health. It’s rare to find a company where the mission is so clearly aligned with its culture, where you know that every day, you’re contributing to something bigger than yourself. The support, collaboration, and purpose we share here is something I deeply believe in.

And there's a personal aspect too. As a former caretaker, I can’t help but reflect on how those of us in these roles often don’t get the support we need. So much of my journey was learning as I went, without the tools or resources many caregivers should have. This, too, drives my commitment to ensuring that not only the women we care for but also the caretakers themselves get the recognition and support they deserve.

There’s no place for regret in my life anymore, only growth and the drive to make sure the mistakes of the past don’t define the future. This is why I work for Alloy. To help others, to learn, and to make sure women’s health is prioritized in a way it never was before.