Our Team

Image of Patrick Metzger

Patrick Metzger

Director of Product

As the Director of Product, I help shape the vision and strategy across Idealist's digital products. Combining insights from data analytics and user research, I collaborate with our tech team to ensure we're building the best possible user experience for the global community of Idealists.

Before arriving at Idealist, I worked on Planned Parenthood digital products at the national level, focusing on the full-scale redesign of PlannedParenthood.org. I got my start in the digital space at Graphika, a social media analytics startup where I helped transform a highly technical data product into a user-friendly platform for use by clients like Conde Nast.

Outside of Idealist, I write about patterns in music, culture, and the universe. I also play bluegrass banjo and make folk music with my wife, Amie. I grew up in Chattanooga, TN and now call Beacon, NY my home!

Rachel Saunders

Business Systems Manager

At Idealist, I engage idealists around the word to support them & their communities in their on-the-ground efforts to make a difference. I love connecting like-minded and like-hearted people from different backgrounds to find creative solutions to common problems. Before coming to Idealist, I worked at TED conferences, growing the TEDx community and keeping the TED brand consistent across different cultures and interpretations.

When I'm not actively talking with someone halfway around the world, I'm busy traveling somewhere halfway around the world :)

Learn more about our values and commitment to working with each other and with the community.