As VP of People, Meara works to make sure that our team is as Optimistic as ever—and that our company supports them every step of the way. She spends her days maintaining—and improving—our award-winning culture, as well as supporting our Optimists for successful marketing campaigns.

Meara grew up in Slidell, Louisiana, where she dedicated most of her teenage years to connecting with other fandom enthusiasts across the world through social media. She earned her Bachelor’s in Film Arts with minors in Marketing and Hospitality from the University of New Orleans, where she worked for over two years under the Director of Marketing. Meara credits her people skills and culture cultivation to her education—not the classes, but her many leadership positions throughout the years. She then began as a Specialist here at Online Optimism in 2017 and has since grown with the company, from Social Media Strategist to Sr. Director, and now VP of People.

These days, Meara is remotely based in Chicago, spending her free time crocheting, at the movies, or crossing another title off of her never-ending “To Be Read” list.