Joan Hestenes

Platforms IT Leader, Life Technologies

Paths to Success - Stories from the Front Lines of Tech

Joan is an IT leader supporting the Platform executive teams at Life Technologies, delivering strategic roadmaps and projects that span functions and IT systems areas. Over 16 years her career grew from entry level to executive leadership, through a key passion for project management. Her experience has included roles with Facilities, Finance, Tech Support and Service, Sales and Marketing, eBusiness and B2B, IT Project Management Office, Strategy and Governance, New Product Introductions, Manufacturing, M&A and Divestitures, and Business Platforms.

Joan's early career was in the nonprofit arena, as Co-Founder and Exec. Director of Village Enterprise which helps rural African entrepreneurs to start microenterprises to alleviate poverty. Over 23,000 enterprises started since 1987, and GiveWell named the organization in the top 10 of 400+ charities.

Joan holds an MBA in Economic Development from Eastern University in St. Davids, PA, an MDiv from San Francisco Theological Seminary, and a BA in International Relations from Univ of Calif Davis.