Many engineering and design efforts prioritize novelty and technical sophistication, often at the expense of usability. My approach is different—I start with the user and treat innovation as a tool, not the goal. I define problems through early-stage outreach and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that constraints and needs are clear before solutions take shape. From there, I use rapid prototyping across all levels of fidelity to test ideas early and often, reducing unnecessary complexity and grounding decisions in real feedback.
Collaboration is central to how I work. I run design reviews where every team member is encouraged to contribute, regardless of experience level, because strong ideas are not tied to seniority. By creating space for diverse perspectives, I consistently see more thoughtful, creative, and effective solutions emerge.
I also approach leadership as a developmental process. I’m committed to mentoring and supporting emerging engineers while contributing to a more inclusive field—particularly as a queer and first-generation student in a traditionally homogeneous industry. My goal is not just to build better products, but to help build teams and environments where unique, high-quality ideas can thrive.