How I lead
I want designers involved while a product direction can still change. My job is to help them develop the judgment to challenge assumptions, make difficult decisions tangible and own the experience alongside their Product and Engineering partners.
Creative partnership
The strongest teams share responsibility for the experience. I expect designers to challenge product strategy, and Product and Engineering to challenge design execution. Good ideas should get better through that exchange, regardless of where they started.
Influence through the work
An early design can make a strategic argument real enough to debate. I use exploration to open up choices, then research to get past competing opinions. Sometimes my role is to push hard on a decision; other times it is to help someone else lead it.
Impact over output
Before committing a team to significant design effort, I want clarity about the problem and the decision we need to make. I like ambitious direction, but I also want experiments that tell us what deserves the next investment.
Craft that holds up in the product
A strategy can sound convincing until you see it in a real interaction. I stay close to critique and validation because I care about whether the experience actually makes sense when somebody uses it.
Helping people do their strongest work
Clear expectations and thoughtful coaching matter, but so does giving designers room to exercise judgment. I want people confident enough to direct their own work, without waiting for me to make every call.
Creating the conditions for people to do their best work
I've invested in clearer expectations, better opportunities to grow, more meaningful recognition, and a stronger sense of belonging. Over time, we've seen substantial improvements in how the team experiences its work.
Favorable team engagement, 2024–2026
+37percentage points
Improvement across three annual surveys
Biggest improvements YOY
- Feeling of belonging+43
- Feeling energized at work+40
- Motivation to go beyond+36
- Clarity on what's expected+29
- Opportunities to learn+26
- Sense of accomplishment+24
Percentage-point improvement since 2025
Top areas scoring above the broader design org
- Work-life blend+29
- Work process+17
- Performance & accountability+16
- Training+15
- Respect+14
- Belonging+11
Percentage points above the design org average
0
Voluntary attrition over the past three years
Under my leadership, the team has had no voluntary departures during that period.