About

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Hello! My name is Kyle Gerstel and I am a freshman at Stanford University. I enjoy leading teams, scaling organizations, and shaping strategic narratives.

So… what have I actually done?

Throughout high school, I spent most of my time leading Penguin, a production company that unites youth leadership with professional mentorship. I revamped Penguin’s business model, created innovative programs, developed a $30,000+ budget, managed adults, coached other youth leaders, and built relationships with partner organizations. I worked with all four of Seattle's premier regional theaters: The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Rep, Village Theatre, and Union Arts Center. After I left Penguin, I authored an article in The Seattle Times about teen leadership in the arts.

I am also passionate about journalism and civic engagement. I served on editorial boards at The Islander and TeenTix, worked with the Participatory Budgeting Project to allocate $27 million in public spending, and spearheaded my school's response to the Israel-Hamas conflict as the president of our No Place for Hate club. Over the summer, I was the Communications Director for Mercer Island City Council candidate Dr. Julie Hsieh.

I am currently exploring the role of artificial intelligence in the media industry. If you would like to connect or collaborate, please reach out at kgerstel@stanford.edu.