I've been in design long enough to know that the hardest part is rarely the design itself. It's usually the ambiguity before it, the stakeholder alignment around it, and the systems that have to hold it together after it ships.

I started my career at a nonprofit design agency in Ohio, where I got my first taste of startup culture at a small scale. When a dream project with Nike became a reality, my husband and I packed up our car and drove west to Portland. That opportunity led to more work with brands like Meta and Intel on strategy and UX research. Those years taught me how to move quickly in unfamiliar territory, build credibility, and translate between creative and strategic thinking.

In 2020 I joined AudioEye, an accessibility tech company, as their founding marketing designer. The job was building something from nothing, which meant hiring, establishing systems, defining direction, and doing all of it with less than I'd like and faster than felt comfortable. I never planned on staying anywhere more than a few years, but six years in, I still feel like there's more to build.

The work I'm most proud of is the people I've managed and their growth. I care deeply about helping them think strategically, communicate their value clearly, and do their best work without burning out.