Pixel pusher. Coder. Sketcher. Storyteller. People watcher. Bridge builder. Maker. Learner. Mentor. Long-time UX designer.
I’m a principal-level UX design professional with 20+ years of experience. I was born in Japan, grew up in Hong Kong before landing in the US for college, which gave me a natural multicultural perspective. I’m perpetually thirsty for new knowledge, experiences and believe strongly that a keen ability to learn is the only way to lead.
I live to learn, which is why I always advocate for cross-functional collaboration. I enjoy venturing out beyond the tribe, to see how things work outside of my own discipline, meeting new people and connecting the dots. I enjoy being proven wrong. To navigate the complexities of designing experiences, I focus on 3 things to stay on track: simplicity - for ease of use, modularity - for efficiency - and emergence - for the "watch and build" cycle needed to make greatness a reality.
I look out for opportunities to work with lean, in a work culture that's based on trust and knowledge-sharing. I believe that leadership is not just about team-building and people management, but above all, it's about demonstrating clarity of the common goal, courageous decision making, accountability and the ability to listen and empathize.
I've raised 2 incredibly interesting people who continue to challenge me. I strive for a healthy balance between work and life. I enjoy making all kinds of things. Last but not least, I have 3 dogs who bring me joy and are a profound part of my life.
