Recently, with show tunes blasting and champagne flutes clinking, my best friend, Lisa, and I examined 40 years of friendship through the lens of old pictures and letters. One of these mementos was a card I sent her on her sixteenth birthday. It contained a message, scrawled by me, that hints at a flair for drama and the unconscious wisdom of a 16 year-old teenage girl. I wrote: “How swiftly time is passing us by. So many places to see, feelings to feel, people to love—my head swoons at the thought of all we have yet to experience.”

A sense of impending adventure, an urgency to encounter all life has to offer. It still rings true for me. Though I am well past my sixteenth year, my head still “swoons” at the thought of the amazing journey ahead.

I was born Carol Ann Valenti in San Jose, California to Corrine and Joe – both Italian-American! Though our family was small -- Mom, Dad and my “little sister" Julie -- a close extended family enriched my childhood with love, enviable role models and great memories.

In one important way, my upbringing was atypical for that time. My mom had a career, a life separate from her role as daughter, wife, and mother. She worked from 8:00-5:00, and Dad sold real estate and insurance and, because he had more flexibility, made our dinners and packed our lunches. I learned early that I would be free, even expected, to pursue a career and be the very best that I could be. And … that “real men” cooked dinner and vacuumed.

In fifth grade, my Catholic school world was rocked when I met my lifelong friend, Lisa Lindberg, who introduced me to musical theater. Together we channeled our love of musicals into performance. We choreographed songs in our spare time, and used the beautiful and catchy lyrics to frame our life experiences. From star to chorus, from assistant director to simply working the lights, I participated in over 25 productions from the time I was 11 until I was 18.

Though I no longer perform, I never stopped loving the theater. On a milestone birthday last year, Lisa and I commemorated our friendship with a trip to New York where we attended five Broadway musicals in six days!

My personal story wouldn’t be complete without including my life partner, Frank Mahoney, and son Douglas, who turns 21 on September 26th! My husband and I are living proof that “opposites attract”. He is 17 years my senior, African-American, born and raised in Philadelphia, and a Myers Briggs ISTJ (I am a proud ENFP). For 13 years we owned and operated Copy Plus, a business we built together and he ran. He’s a strong guy’s guy who keeps our house clean, walks our dog Luke, pays the bills, and day-trades now that he’s retired.

Frank and I share two major interests. We are devoted to our bright and kind, non-conformist, musician son. He was the center of our universe before he left for college, and he now attends school in San Francisco. Filling the gap he left behind is our home in Pacific Grove, where we moved two years ago. Our home’s location represents our second interest: a deep love of the ocean.

My work life has been filled with many proud moments, as well as a few spectacular failures. I have forged close and productive relationships with mentors and mentees; clients and bosses. And though my work has been interesting, I’ve ached to do more…to create something of import and value that would leave an imprint on the “world” around me. In May of 2009, I left my position at Yahoo! to make my dream a reality. The question I had to ask myself was, “If not now, when???” Now is the time to fulfill my dreams, to bring “passion and purpose” to my life, and to the lives of others.
It is time to Live and Leap.

professional bio