My Superpowers

I am a Full Stack Javascript Developer | MERN Stack: React | UX | UI. UX-minded and hailing from a creative, visual background. Proven results for disruptive ideas for how to conceive, create and deploy compelling digital experiences. 2x TEDx speaker and Ignite speaker, and Web 2.0 keynote and other high-profile events. Focused on bridging the gap between UX, Design, and Code. Passionate about building the future of visual experiences with collaborative teams that focus on user needs.

Master Storyteller

Visual Storytelling runs through my veins. I've worked in 28 countries, became an award-winning photojournalist and filmmaker, was invited to present twice at TEDx and other high profile events.

Tech Savvy

Full Stack Javascript Developer, MERN Stack, React. I speak fluent geek and easily collaborate with with engineers, designers, PMs, TPMs, and most of all, customers.

Business-Minded

Founder of several successful businesses and have a deep understanding of customer obsession, how to face and analyze ambiguity, and making decisions.

JavaScript developers who understand the human factors that go into building great products and businesses are the rarest of finds – they possess deep understanding of UX, storytelling, and technical development along with the know-how necessary to imagine, build, and ship great things. Amanda Koster is that kind of developer. From her work in international advocacy / storytelling as founder of SalaamGarage to her time doing new product development at Amazon, I've gotten the chance to work with Amanda on several projects over the years. Beyond being relentlessly creative and technical – Amanda knows how to fiercely execute on projects from ideation to delivery My advice? Work with Amanda any chance you get – She’s the kind of developer you do not come across every day.

Bryan Zug, Sr. UX Producer @ AMAZON

"Amanda is great to work with and cares about the details. She has creative vision and pushed to see what could be accomplished, how things could be applied differently, and what was around the corner."

Adam Riggs, TPM @ AMAZON

"Amanda worked hard to keep the project organized and the technical requirements clear for her producers, which was not an easy task when working with a product in beta. There were several technical challenges that occurred during the project, and Amanda maintained calm leadership of her team, working with the technical resources on the client's team to understand and solve the technical complexities, then explain the solution to her production team. She not only possesses great problem-solving skills, but remains unperturbed when problems arise."

Anne Watkins, Editorial Lead @ MICROSOFT PROJECTS

"Amanda is a talented and captivating storyteller, who brings compassion, a sense of adventure and inspiration to to do good to the table."

Maryam Scoble, Lead @ GNOMEDEX

"What Amanda brings to the table is focus and a relentless drive toward completion. She is able to marshal large projects, clearly define the work to be done and the resources needed to do the work, and push individual tasks through to the end. Her ability to cut through noise and maintain focus on the job at hand has been extremely valuable to me."

David Larkin, Lead PM @ CARE

Case Studies

Fun Facts

31

Awards

28

Countries

3

Languages

5

Summits

Skills and Experience

Executive Producer

Executive Producer and Content Designer for multiple, inaugural products such Amazon Kindle in Motion eBooks and 'CARE', a computer-based, SaaS healthcare platform. Executive Producer for several award-winning projects such a This Is Beautiful, AIDS Is Knocking, SalaamGarage, and more.

Public Speaker

Two-time TEDx (invitational) and Ignite presenter. Web 2.0 keynoter, Q Commons, Gnomedex, universities nationwide and more. Former Lecturer at University of Washington Evans School graduate students, developed the "Good Stories Matter" series.

Startup & Product Design

Founder of internationally known SalaamGarage and award-winning hackathon startups such as the Hololens app DisastARcons and SheRox.

Software & Languages

React, Redux, Node, Mongo DB, Sass, Express, JQuery, AJAX/JSON, REST API, SQL, Linux CLI, GitHub, Atom.

Sr. Content Producer

End-to-end producer and manager of high quality visual content such as video, photography, illustration, animation, web site, eBook and traditional book publishing. Author of extensive creative briefs.

Project Manager

Author of product documentation, white paper specifications, project scopes for content and Saas products. Experience with Agile development and UX design projects, fieldwork, online research, interviews, contextual inquiries, usability studies, prototype, and survey studies. Author of editorial calendars and schedule task master.

Vendor Manager

Author of RFPs and contracts, artist and agent contract negotiations (>$1M). Vendor research, identification, interviewing, selection, and onboarding.

Amanda Koster

I make visual sense of mental spaghetti.