Path to Product
A humanities mind, an information systems foundation, and real-world leadership experience: the mix that made me the product leader I am today.
My path into product is intentionally non-traditional, and it’s one of my greatest strengths. Studying history taught me to pattern match, understand context, and recognize bias. My MLIS trained me to architect information systems and design for how people actually find and use information. Years in restaurant management taught me how to stay human in the midst of chaos.
My product leadership was built not from titles, but from repeatedly bringing clarity, structure, and cross-functional alignment to ambiguous, high-stakes problems in regulated environments. That foundation is why I’m able to bridge strategy, systems, and people across enterprise and compliance-heavy teams today.
Education
Master’s, Library & Information Science (MLIS)
Simmons University, Boston, MA
A program centered on information systems, taxonomy, metadata modeling, database design, and user experience.
I built a working interlibrary loan system from scratch, completed an intensive UX practicum (interviews, observation, persona development, and strategy), and learned how to structure complex information so it’s intuitive, navigable, and scalable.
These skills now shape how I architect enterprise platforms, design scalable enablement systems, and bring clarity to complex workflows across teams.
Bachelor’s, History (BA)
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
A deeply research-driven, writing-intensive program that trained me in narrative analysis, pattern recognition, and user-centered thinking.
My undergraduate thesis relied on digital archives — my first exposure to DAM/CMS systems — and taught me how to synthesize information, interrogate gaps and bias, and understand how context shapes human behavior.
These foundations now guide how I approach UX: questioning assumptions, designing for diverse users, and making complex information accessible and intuitive.
Certifications & Professional Development
Product Leadership Certification, Product School
Focused on strategic leadership, cross-functional influence, and building scalable product practices. Strengthened how I create clarity, align teams, and drive decision-making across complex enterprise environments.
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), CPrime
Focused on outcome-driven delivery and iterative execution. I don’t come from a project management background, so CSPO helped me deepen the operational mechanics of shipping — ensuring the ideas I champion translate into aligned, measurable, and scalable outcomes.
AI Product Management Specialization (in progress), Duke University via Coursera+
Focused on responsible AI, enterprise governance, and integrating machine learning into high-complexity, regulated environments — with emphasis on decision clarity, risk modeling, and cross-functional alignment.
How This Shapes My Work
I lead with the belief that systems and people have to work together — and that clarity, connection, and empathy are non-negotiable in effective product leadership.
Humanities trained me to understand people: how they think, what they need, and how context and narrative shape behavior — the foundation of user-centered problem solving.
Information science trained me to organize complexity: structuring systems, taxonomies, and workflows so teams can make sense of information and move with confidence.
Restaurant leadership trained me to lead under pressure: staying calm, removing friction, solving problems fast, and building trust across diverse teams.
This combination is the why and the how behind how I navigate enterprise environments, design scalable product systems, communicate across technical and non-technical teams, and drive meaningful outcomes in high-complexity, highly regulated spaces.
Ready to see how this foundation shows up in the work?
Through every chapter, the constant has been the same: clarity, connection, and solving complex problems with humans at the center.