About ME
How it all started...
I started my career as a software developer fresh out of college, landing at a Fortune 500 company during the dot-com boom. While I learned the technical ropes, I quickly realized my real strength was understanding people—their needs, frustrations, and most importantly how to get projects done by taking people on the journey with me.
That discovery and my desire to keep learning shaped every step of my path.
A few years later, I joined Frito-Lay, where I moved beyond code into business-focused roles. In an environment without formal project managers, I learned how to lead by listening, collaborating, and problem-solving—skills that would become the foundation of my career.
Craving new challenges, I moved to San Francisco and joined a startup. The experience taught me that good ideas aren’t enough—leadership and culture make or break success. I loved the fast pace and the opportunity to step into virtually any role in the company to get hands-on experience.
Back in Texas, in an attempt to try something new, I pivoted to contract work and took on a major project in the public sector, helping replace a 30-year-old legacy system. I wore every hat on that project —project manager, product owner, analyst, mentor, change agent—and learned my most important lesson: empathy turns resistance into advocacy.
That experience led me to the realization that tech projects are universal in any environment, and once you've seen the problem patterns firsthand, you can develop a playbook that can be applied anywhere. I decided to embrace my entrepreneurial spirit, and work with early-growth tech companies.
That early startup experience opened doors to 15+ years of startup work, leading professional services teams and managing change across growing companies. I became known for spotting risks early, keeping clients calm, and helping businesses scale by applying right-sized frameworks. Eventually, I moved into executive leadership, leading business operations, customer experience, and strategy. I found the most fulfillment in building something new—from redesigning processes to launching an innovation incubator after my last startup was acquired.
Through it all, one thing has stayed true: I’m at my best when I’m helping people move through change with clarity, empathy, and confidence.
