My guiding principles as a design leader

Prioritize impact

In the hustle of innovation, it's essential to keep our eyes on impact—both for the business and our core audience. Regular prioritization and evaluation is essential as objectives evolve, ensuring our efforts yield meaningful results.

Lean into action

Our road to solutions can often be murky and winding, especially at the start. Instead of getting bogged down in endless discussions, we should act on our strongest hypotheses. Early testing of these ideas lead to new discoveries, alignment, and inspiration for real solutions. Progress favors the doers.

Show, don’t tell

Whether we're setting goals, conducting daily check-ins, or providing feedback, clear communication is a must. I’d rather over-communicate than leave room for ambiguity. Using visuals and examples to illustrate the point has been my trusted approach to help others truly understand what we aim to convey. When we are clear, we are kind.

Build connections daily

While our work is serious, we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously. I lead with optimism, humility, and a sense of ease. My aim is to cultivate a positive and psychologically safe environment where everyone feels empowered to share their ideas and challenge the status quo. Genuine connections and a touch of humor can elevate morale and drive creativity.

Team norming is one of many tools I use to kick off a new team, setting expectations and modes of communication

Snippets of our team dynamic in Figma

My journey to design

From sketches to solutions

Growing up in Macau, I found joy in sketching fashion and interior designs, playing teacher with my sister, and obsessing over the graphics on everyday items. Little did I know, these childhood passions would shape my path into the world of design.

Fast forward to my undergraduate years in Abilene and Austin, Texas, where I found myself in Biology studies with plans to pursue a career as a Medical Technologist. However, an unexpected visa interruption led me to explore Design studies. This one obstacle became a pivotal career moment, igniting a passion that not only felt natural, but set me on a new trajectory.

Discovering the art in the science of design

After immersing myself in further education for what felt like ages—earning an Associate degree in Graphic Design and then diving into an MFA in Communication Design—I enthusiastically made a leap from the world of Science to the realm of Design.

Grounding my career as a visual designer amidst the explosion of iOS and Android apps in 2012, I've since evolved my focus to encompass a more comprehensive understanding of the user journey, technology, and business objectives.

My childhood daydreams of doing it all finally found their match in UX design. Now, I get to wear many hats—creating, teaching, and turning needs into tangible solutions—be it digital products, strategic concepts, or as a story that connects the dots for audiences.

What fills my cup

I believe in getting outside our bubbles and drawing inspiration from the world.

A few things that energize me: tennis, cooking, reading, traveling, and spending quality time with my loved ones.

  • My tennis practice

    Follow through, finish high— on the court and also in life

  • Sketch of Maru

    Sketching break with Maru

  • A park in Copenhagen

    Love the perspective shifts from traveling — a park in Copenhagen

  • Rose apple pie

    A rose apple pie that won the office bake-off