About
Designer for the parts of a product that have to mean something.
A look at the philosophy and practice driving my design leadership
Bio
Design leader with 20+ years of experience driving AI-powered, human-centered product strategy across enterprise platforms, content systems, and e-commerce.
I lead with clarity and scale through systems: building design orgs, launching embedded AI experiences, and delivering results across UX, documentation, and platform design. From cutting handoff time by 40% to growing client revenue 15x, I bring strategic vision, team leadership, and a deep belief that joy and simplicity are essential to every experience.
My experiences empower and inspire. At DigitalOcean, I led a talented team delivering intuitive, impactful solutions for cloud developers, blending data-driven insights with creativity to drive real results. My work at IBM focused on crafting self-service tools that met the needs of even the most technically complex environments, pushing design at the speed of business.
With an MFA in Communication Design and a BFA in Graphic Design, my background in theatre and design drives my approach. I emphasize collaboration, innovation, and a relentless focus on human-centered design, and I'm passionate about mentoring and building teams that push boundaries, solve problems, and anticipate the future.
Leadership for me is about fostering environments where ideas thrive, driving alignment, and empowering people to deliver excellence.
Design as Story, Leadership as Direction
Philosophy of Leadership
Leadership, like theatre, is about creating connection. It's knowing your audience, pacing the story, and orchestrating moments that resonate. I lead teams like a director: bringing diverse voices together, setting a clear vision, and ensuring every detail contributes to the larger narrative.
From my time in academia, I bring a love of experimentation and a focus on measurable outcomes. I believe in crafting environments where bold ideas are tested, refined, and brought to life with both creativity and precision. Like a great production, the work should feel effortless, but only after rigorous preparation.
Core principles
Connection to Audience
Every design begins with empathy, anticipating needs and creating solutions that feel intuitive, personal, and impactful.
Pacing and Energy
Leadership requires rhythm: knowing when to push, when to pause, and how to keep the team aligned and inspired.
Iterative Excellence
Borrowing from academia, I embrace rubrics and experimentation, blending creativity with metrics to guide both design and growth.
Status
Available for new work
First and foremost, open to full-time design leadership roles. Also open to fractional engagements, advisory work, and select projects where the brief is real and the stakes are interesting.
Formerly
- IBM
- DigitalOcean
- SCAD
Great design tells a story. Great leadership shapes the cast and choreography that make the story possible. Together, they create experiences that leave a lasting impression on teams, users, and the future.