Who I Am
The most important pursuit of one’s life is discovering and articulating who you are.
Student. Engineer. Teacher. Human. Creator.
An out-of-the-box, solution-driven individual, deeply fascinated by the intersection of engineering, creativity and human-centered design*.
From childhood, I’ve been captivated by the art of invention and haven’t stopped creating since. I am on a journey to reclaim this identity.
As a child, I was an avid inventor, creating whatever came to my head. My Erector (Meccano) and Lego sets became raw materials as I formed new creations. This early passion for innovation led me to earn a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, followed by working as a systems engineer… but then the path ended…
Since then, I have concentrated on my personal and spiritual development searching for my next steps. Reflecting on my childhood and healing various aspects of myself has been such a beautiful journey which I share all about.
Quitting my engineering job provided me with the first exposure to self-reliance, the attitude that my path is much better than any other prescribed path, even though unknown.
Living in an intentional community of those seeking a similar non-traditional (deeper) path opened more doors than I could have otherwise in this season of my life.
Becoming a teacher deepened my understanding of being human, my blessings and of engineering and design. I grew more aware of life beyond my immediate spheres of influence. Having experienced those three years, I am dedicated to participating in activities that promote inclusive design. There’s simply no way to ignore it after seeing the affects of its absence.
Creating Courageously has allowed me to embrace my humanity and creativity as an engineer in a much more substantial way. I can create for the sake of bringing ideas to life. Answering the call of the muse whenever she visits. No fear in creation.
I believe in the power of collective action; the power of the crowd. By embracing the creativity of others and striving to make engineering more accessible to those without the privileges I have now, I aim to contribute to a more equitable and innovative world. My goal is to redesign experiences by dismantling barriers to accessibility, particularly for minorities. I am dedicated to using my gifts to make my communities better, alongside other amazing visionaries.
I created a page dedicated to the last six years. It’s raw. It might stir some emotions. You’ve been warned.
Philosophy
* ‘Human-centered design’ is a redundant phrase. I want to be a part of the collective that erases the distinction.
Design has the transformative power to overcome barriers. I believe that more intentional design can dismantle obstacles that prevent individuals, from fully participating in and benefiting from engineering opportunities.
In this field, I see empathy being a part of innovation, not a nice-to-have. I seek to deeply understand diverse perspectives. I want to co-create with people.
To create technology for empowerment, not dependency.
My mission is to make engineering accessible, breaking down barriers of privilege (take a guess as to what this means) and enabling everyone to either contribute to and thrive in a more inclusive and innovative future.
It is our responsibility as engineers and technical creators to redefine what it means to participate in this field. I outline what I mean in my manifesto, below.
Book list
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
- The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition by Don Norman
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values by Robert M Pirsig
- Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All by Tom Kelley & David M. Kelley
- Change By Design by Tim Brown
- Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship by Gregory Boyle
- The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America’s Leading Design Firm by Tom Kelley & Jonathan Littman
- The E Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
- Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant
- No Rules Rules
- Richest Man In Babylon by George Samuel Clason
- No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings & Erin Meyer
The other parts of who I am
If any of this jibes with you,
