About Me

A Passion for Design That Drives Impact

With over 20 years of experience in design leadership, I am driven by a passion for creating user-centered solutions that delight users and advance business goals. I've had the privilege of leading design initiatives at some of the world’s top technology companies—including IBM, Grammarly, and Grubhub—where I've shaped products that millions rely on daily. Design should catalyze positive change, making products accessible, efficient, and impactful. My leadership approach empowers teams to turn ambitious ideas into solutions that address real human needs, all while meeting critical business objectives.

Growing and Maturing Design Practices

Throughout my career, I’ve been focused on scaling and maturing design teams to drive meaningful impact. I’ve successfully optimized cross-functional processes, expanded and gained adoption for design systems, and significantly improved the quality of design craft. Most importantly, I’ve been deeply invested in growing individuals into highly impactful designers and leaders, helping them unlock their potential and contribute at the highest level. My approach blends strategic vision with hands-on mentorship, creating environments where teams thrive and deliver exceptional results.

I’ve developed a streamlined hiring process to build high-performing teams, starting with aligning goals, crafting clear job descriptions, and creating actionable scorecards. My interview cycles incorporate behavioral questions, portfolio reviews, design exercises, topgrading techniques, and cross-functional feedback to assess candidates holistically and ensure alignment with team and organizational needs.

Building the Bridge Between Design and Business

My approach to design leadership is rooted in the understanding that design is not an isolated function but is central to a company’s success. By closely partnering with product management, engineering, marketing, and sales teams, I ensure design thinking is woven into every strategic decision. This philosophy guided my work in expanding Grubhub’s design system across the product portfolio, enhancing scalability and efficiency, and leading the 0-to-1 creation of Elevate K-12’s design system, significantly improving quality, usability, and accessibility. These achievements reflect my dedication to driving impact at scale, from the most minor interaction to the broadest organizational shift.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation and Collaboration

Design thrives on a culture of experimentation, inclusivity, and openness to new ideas. I’m passionate about fostering environments where team members feel empowered to take risks, innovate, and grow. My time at Grammarly is a testament to this, where the design team often led cross-functional ideation and design workshops that brought the entire team together to envision the future. Creating this supportive, inclusive atmosphere is critical for tackling "wicked" problems and delivering products that truly matter to users.

A Personal Commitment to Lifelong Learning

Continuous learning and adaptation are fundamental to excelling in design leadership. I am deeply committed to personal and professional growth, ensuring I stay ahead of industry trends and make a meaningful impact. To remain sharp, I actively engage with industry leaders, read extensively, and have thought-provoking discussions with colleagues.

My most effective strategy for continuous learning, however, is teaching. Teaching challenges me to refine my expertise, embrace diverse perspectives, and learn from my students. As an adjunct instructor in DePaul University’s Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) graduate program, I have mentored aspiring design leaders for 17 years. At DePaul, I have introduced and designed the curriculum for various HCI courses, including Design for Startups, Design for Emerging Technologies, and Mobile Design. I have been recognized for excellence in teaching, with recent student surveys highlighting a 4.7/5.0 rating for the “effective presentation and clear explanation of course content.”

Additionally, I am authoring a book aimed at helping startups build and mature their design teams, offering actionable insights and strategies to navigate the challenges of rapidly evolving environments.

Committed to Social Impact

I am driven by a passion for harnessing design and technology to craft impactful solutions that address real-world challenges. This passion has fueled my journey as the founder and leader of social impact organizations like Headway Collective, where we developed TinyChoices—a mobile app designed to inspire small, meaningful actions that contribute to a better world. Additionally, I founded the edtech startup Transcend Innovation Group, which created CareerNoodle, an engaging career exploration tool that empowered students to discover future pathways through fun and immersive experiences. These projects exemplify my commitment to creating positive change in people’s lives.

Beyond Design: Personal Interests and Values

Family is at the heart of who I am, and I take great pride in supporting my teenage children as they pursue their dreams. My daughter is a passionate basketball player and sprinter with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, while my son is a gifted guitarist with an unwavering enthusiasm for aviation. Although my park district basketball coaching days have ended (I don’t think the referees miss me), being closely involved in my kids’ unique journeys inspires me and reinforces my commitment to nurturing potential in others.

My passions extend beyond design, with music playing a significant role in my life. As a musician and songwriter, I’ve had the joy of collaborating with musicians and creating music that has reached listeners around the globe—a creative outlet that continually inspires and grounds me. While my keyboard and drums may be collecting a bit of dust these days, I never miss the chance to immerse myself in music, whether revisiting favorite artists or exploring new sounds. Contemporary Jazz, Classic R&B, and MPB (Popular Brazilian Music) remain my go-to genres, fueling my creativity and keeping my love for music alive.

I don’t have much spare time, but I tend to spend it continuously learning about our world through reading (I subscribe to far too many news apps), watching documentaries, and traveling. Despite many imperfections and injustices, our world is also a source of inspiration, filled with remarkable individuals who demonstrate compassion, innovation, and an unwavering drive to create a better future.