At Nielsen, I spearheaded the creation of a global design system tailored to the diverse needs of a multi-national organization. I developed a flexible token library and adaptable web components that seamlessly integrated with various tech stacks. My work ensured a cohesive design experience across the organization, backed by comprehensive documentation that facilitated widespread adoption and consistency.

Achievements:

• Global Design System Creation: Established a comprehensive design system that unified branding and design efforts across diverse international markets.
• Flexible Token Library Development: Built a versatile token library that accommodated multiple brands and tech stacks, ensuring consistent design implementation.
• Adaptable Web Components: Developed web components designed for easy integration, enhancing compatibility across various technology platforms.
• Comprehensive Documentation: Created detailed documentation that supported the global adoption and consistent application of the design system across teams.

As an instructor at Austin Coding Academy, I taught and mentored students in full-stack web development, covering essential technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js, and MySQL. My role involved not only delivering comprehensive, project-based coursework but also providing personalized mentorship to guide students through their learning journey. I focused on equipping students with the practical skills needed to build robust web applications and prepare them for careers in tech.

Achievements:

• Student Success: Mentored numerous students, helping them transition from beginners to job-ready full-stack developers, with many securing positions in the tech industry shortly after graduation.
• Comprehensive Curriculum Delivery: Delivered a well-rounded curriculum that combined theoretical knowledge with hands-on projects, enabling students to build a strong portfolio and gain real-world experience.
• Career Support & Job Placement: Provided career guidance and support, including resume building, interview preparation, and job search strategies, significantly increasing students' chances of landing jobs in the competitive tech industry.
• Community Building: Fostered a collaborative and supportive learning environment, encouraging peer learning and networking, which contributed to the overall success of the students.

During my time at Microsoft LEAP, I focused on developing innovative data visualizations using D3 and Machine Learning to enhance the dining experience on cruise ships. The project aimed to measure the number of people waiting in line at restaurants during peak times and provide real-time suggestions to customers. By analyzing foot traffic data and leveraging predictive algorithms, we informed customers of nearby restaurants with shorter wait times, optimizing their dining experience and reducing congestion.

Achievements:

• Data Visualization Expertise: Created dynamic, interactive data visualizations using D3, making complex data insights easily understandable for end-users.
• Machine Learning Integration: Developed and integrated Machine Learning models to predict peak dining times and optimize restaurant recommendations.
• Real-Time Customer Recommendations: Implemented a real-time suggestion system that guided customers to restaurants with shorter wait times, enhancing the overall customer experience.
• Impact on User Experience: Significantly improved customer satisfaction by reducing wait times and distributing foot traffic more evenly across dining venues.

When I joined Hearst, the design system was fragmented, with disconnected Figma designs, a React-based UI component library, and a cumbersome theming system. I spearheaded the transformation of these disjointed elements into a cohesive, efficient design system. By establishing a unified foundation, I reduced the time for theming changes and site redesigns, eliminated inconsistencies between design and code, and streamlined the entire workflow, enhancing collaboration across teams.

Achievements:

• Design Token Strategy: Defined and managed scalable design tokens across 50+ brands, ensuring consistency and flexibility.
• Workflow Automation: Automated the design-to-code pipeline, boosting speed, accuracy, and efficiency across teams.
• Component Architecture: Architected flexible UI components and APIs, optimizing React component construction and integration.
• Stakeholder Advocacy: Secured system-wide adoption by effectively communicating strategies and gaining buy-in from key stakeholders.
• Scalable Theming: Delivered a theming solution for 50+ brands, balancing unique brand identities with system integrity.
• Governance Excellence: Established governance to maintain system quality, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Led and mentored the design system team, fostering innovation and best practices.

At IBM, I drove innovation on the Hybrid Cloud team by creating rapid prototypes that proved design feasibility. I revamped the onboarding sign-up workflow, improving user experience and streamlining the process. I also contributed to a new component library for Hybrid Cloud 'spoke' components, built on Carbon Components, ensuring consistent and scalable design. Additionally, I graduated from IBM's Design Thinking Patterns Program, honing my skills in user-centered design.

Achievements:

• Prototyping Impact: Developed rapid prototypes that validated complex UX solutions for Hybrid Cloud.
• Onboarding Revamp: Enhanced user experience with a streamlined onboarding sign-up workflow.
• Component Library Contribution: Helped build a scalable component library for Hybrid Cloud, ensuring design consistency.
• Design Thinking Graduate: Completed IBM’s Design Thinking Patterns Program, mastering user-centered design.