A little about me
UX background
I’m a creatively inclined, number-loving people person with a UX background stemming from marketing and psychology and 10+ years of experience in ecommerce and consumer technology.
After beginning my career in digital marketing & operations, my affinity for consumer insights coupled with the good fortune of having a VP who was my biggest advocate led me to discover the world of user experience research (UXR), which turned out to be the dream job I didn’t know existed until I found myself doing it.
I describe UX research as the study of human behavior at the confluence of art and science. What I love most about this career is that it allows me to deeply connect with people, understand and empathize with their experiences, and think critically and creatively about how to design solutions that make their lives a little easier.
A year of travel
In the spring of 2023, after years of planning, my husband and I took a career break to fulfill a shared dream of long-term travel. We spent a full year eating our way through Europe, living out of our Subaru Outback on a good old-fashioned American roadtrip, exploring the natural and historical wonders of South America, and immersing in the diverse cultures of Asia. We traversed 29 countries on 5 continents, thru-hiked the 210-mile John Muir Trail, visited 3 World Wonders, rode camels in the Sahara desert, went to Wimbledon, trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp, witnessed a volcanic eruption, went deep into the Amazon Rainforest, and so much more. It was the experience of a lifetime, and now we’re happily settled back into our home life in Columbus, Ohio.
Beyond the 9-5
Outside of working hours, I stay active with family and friends, and regularly lend time to three endeavors that are near and dear to my heart.
Since 2015 I’ve taught yoga at studios in Columbus and beyond. Whether it’s an intense Vinyasa Flow or a Deep Stretch class, I strive to cultivate deep mind-body connections through mindful movement and intentional breathing. Over the years I’ve had the privilege of teaching beginners, lifelong yogis, professional athletes, expecting mothers, kids, teens, and folks well into their 80s, and I treasure the impressions they’ve each made on me.
I’m also involved with my local rock climbing gym’s Adaptive Ascents program, which welcomes climbers of all ages with disabilities/exceptionalities to experience the thrill of climbing. Belaying a 7-year-old girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder or cheering on a 32-year-old blind man as they send their first route is absolutely electrifying; it’s hard to tell who’s having more fun.
Finally, I volunteer seasonally at Flying Horse Farms, a nonprofit medical specialty camp for children with serious illnesses. As a camp counselor, I aim to create an environment in which campers can forget about being sick and focus on being a kid by facilitating as much fun as humanly possible. Camp is a truly magical experience and I have never once left dry-eyed (or glitter-free).
On weekends at home, you can likely find me running or biking along the Olentangy Trail, catching a show at KEMBA Live, grabbing drinks with friends on the Columbus Ale Trail, planning a trip, or hanging out at home with my husband and our one-eyed cat named Steve.