Love Where You Live

Some of us have heard the stories – the cereal bar, the whimsically decorated cubicle and office spaces, the fun and games amidst the hard work; not to mention the animated films that have turned kiddy movies into art. 

Pixar is arguably one of the most exciting and creative environments to be employed.

And InterVarsity has an alumna who works there.

Kirsten Peterson works as a Production Coordinator for Pixar – that means she makes sure that deadlines for her department are met in a way that is collaborative, efficient, and still fun. 

She explains, “I have the lucky job of hanging out and talking with fun and smart people all day!” 

Professional Community-Builder

In a sense, her job is to build a healthy community—a value she grew up with, developed through her time in InterVarsity, and has now taken with her into the workforce.

While Kirsten grew up in a Christian home in the San Francisco bay area and attended Christian schools her whole life, it wasn’t until she encountered radically different world views as a freshman at Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo that she began to look at her faith and think about how to approach those with vastly different outlooks and beliefs. 

Her new friendships reinforced her own faith while deepening her desire to love people.

Taking InterVarsity Values into Workplace

Kirsten’s first encounter with InterVarsity came her junior year when she met people who lived graciously and authentically, and valued community as much as she did.  They encouraged her to keep seeking the character of God and how He views relationships – both between him and us, and between each other. 

Her involvement with InterVarsity only strengthened her desire to both share God’s love and to develop community – in and outside of Christian circles.

At Pixar, Kirsten has found a work community that she describes as being almost like family.  Not everyone who works there is a Christian, but everyone shares a common vision – namely, working hard together to tell the world beautiful stories. And that common vision creates a sense of family.

Kirsten says, “I believe that God equips you with different skills for different phases of your life, but there are some that just kind of stick with you.”

For her, that’s a heart for fostering community and genuinely loving the people surrounding her. Kirsten was blessed with an amazing job and community after college.  She not only loves what she does, but has fun doing it.

And not just because Pixar is great, but because God is great; He has given her plenty of gifts – gifts of love and joy and the ability to administrate tasks, all of which she has taken advantage of in order to bring His kingdom to her little corner of the world.

Looking for Opportunities

Like all of us, Kirsten continues to discover everyday how to follow Christ more closely.  She longs to be a good friend and a good listener. Her thoughtfulness leads her to constantly ask questions like, “What kind of example am I setting for those around me? What do my actions say about my own spiritual confidence?

Wherever we live, whatever we do, we are all called to follow Jesus’ example and openly love on a community that doesn’t follow Christ.

Where has God placed you? How can you begin building a witnessing community at your work?  In your neighborhood?

Being a Production Associate isn’t Katie Montei's first role with InterVarsity. After college, she worked as a writer for InterVarsity’s editorial team before getting her masters in communication management. Now she develops and edits scripts for us. She’s got a few other things up her coat-sleeves (hey, it’s cold in the office), including a love for Pixar, good food, and a few children’s stories in the works. She met her soon-to-be-husband over books (of course!)