Coach

Getting the most out of my team starts with an assessment of where they are and where they want to grow into, and being honest about what it takes to get there.

• Onboarding designers by asking what they want to develop, then pairing them with work that builds exactly that.
• Giving timely feedback using the SBI method, with empathy and focus on solutions.
• Encouraging and empowering my reports to speak up in meetings and asking questions to get to the why.
• Treating my reports as people first, providing mentorship, encouragement, and candor in equal measure.
• Handling interpersonal issues on the team hands-on.

Diplomat

Design earns trust with product and engineering by speaking their language.

• Spending time understanding the ins-and-outs of the business.
• Learning the tech stack well enough to have an informed conversation about feasibility, not just throwing deliverables over the fence.
• Working lock-step with engineering.
• Building a design QA loop, integrating design presence in engineering demos.
• Gaining product owner trust by using data to support that the proper design process saves time and prevents rework.

Champion

Executives speak the language of data and analytics.

• Presenting designs directly to executive leadership, establishing a direct line of communication and avoiding "swoop and poop" critiques.
• Making a data-backed case for understaffing and advocating for more headcount.
• Using data to make changes in team-wide practice, protecting dedicated time slots for design work.
• Serving as my team's voice in leadership meetings, representing their concerns, communicating decisions back down, and escalating issues until resolution.

Architect

Process, at its root, is a deep understanding of people and how they work.

• Reworking the critique format for a 30-person, multi-timezone team, building a safe space and a lively community.
• Spinning up a "pattern squad" that allowed cross-domain designers to share design component usage and align on patterns.
• Introducing a weekly design review cadence with partners that cut delivery time significantly.
• Architecting a New Ways of Working that codified ownership and processes.

Self-Management

I show up as my authentic self. That means some days I am the team's cheerleader, and some days I am working through real uncertainty. One thing stays true, I am 100% candid. I share what I know, and I don't shy away from hard conversations.

One of my favorite mentor's mottos was "Assume Good Intent," and I have carried that with me through all of my engagements. Self reflection is a big part of my process. Looking objectively at the wins and opportunities are the only way that we can grow.