Leading Through Design: My Philosophy
In 2000, when I started my career, design was not the strategic powerhouse we talk about today. It was treated as the last step before launch, something added at the end to make things look polished. Design was not about the user. It was often a “make it pretty” task list. As I grew in my career, I began asking bigger questions. Why are we making this? Who is it for? Are we solving the right problem? That shift from being a task taker to a problem solver completely changed how I viewed the role of design in the world.
Over the past 25 years, my experience using design to increase user engagement, eliminate technical debt, unify over 600 designers at a Fortune 100 company, and improve the bottom line has shaped the principles that guide me today.
Start with Listening
Everything meaningful begins with understanding. It starts with listening to users, teams, and partners to uncover what truly matters.
Empower People
The strongest teams are those where everyone feels supported and empowered to do their best work.
Make Experience the Priority
The best outcomes happen when everyone in design, product, and engineering works together to create value for users.
Bridge Vision and Execution
Great ideas are only as good as their execution. Leadership is about connecting strategy to delivery, ensuring every detail aligns with the big picture.