UX research

Think it's nerdy to be very into research? You are wrong, and honestly, I don’t like you.

Call it obsession, call it fascination, call it a natural interest in human beings: UX research is my BEAT baby. 

My formative years in the craft were as Research Director at MetaLab, Canada's world-class product design agency. I established the practice and supported a team of gorgeous senior researchers who were smart, hard-working, and talented.

Team leadership

While I love research, it turns out, I also really love researchers and people in general.

Research skills actually translate very well into team leadership. In order to drive my team toward a strategic vision, and make sure they’re getting the absolute most out of their time on my team, I have to listen, ask good questions, analyze, make recommendations, inspire, unite… all the things a good researcher should be able to do.

My leadership values include transparency, trust, investment, curiosity, and integrity.

Today I am putting these skills and values into practice at Late Checkout, the next big product design agency. Join us as we work with the biggest brands and the best people.

Analytics

At Bench, data is religion.

Being free to let my math freak flag fly was the most liberating work experience I've ever had. I worked on cross-functional strategic analyses ranging from recruiting to sales pipeline to product usage to client experience to literally all the metrics you need to report while casting about for funding.

I'm skilled at Excel, SQL, project planning, making decks, telling you when you don't have enough data, and volunteering to find you enough data. 

Product management

A natural option for my odd crisscrossed skill set. Communication, relationship management, organization, strategic design thinking, drive to create, and a deep optimism in the power of collaboration --- I'm made to make product.

At Bench, I worked on both client-facing and internally used tools. I supported the development of a mobile app, a messaging platform used to increase client experience and bookkeeper efficiency, and a smattering of other very sexy, very bookkeeping-specific product features.

I get Github, Trello, ProductBoard, Flow, and Sublime. Hell, I'll write a bit of code for you. It'll be bad though.

The fine art of getting shit done

Otherwise known as the catch-all section of other important stuff I've done that doesn't fit neatly into the aforementioned buckets.

I started working when I was 12. I found myself naturally aligning with a 'do what needs to get done' attitude since. Waitressing, retail merchandising, accommodations rental, housekeeping, marine work, literacy advocacy, customer service, events coordination --- this is all before graduating university. Throw in the IT management, recruiting, hiring, training, and the requisite fire prevention that comes hand-in-hand with the rapidly-growing startup space, and you've got a girl who will get shit done.

Plus there was a few months there where I worked at Dribbble. Mostly doing engineering stuff? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Community

I feel a bit of cognitive dissonance listing community involvement as 'work' but business school beat some things too deep into my psyche.

I mentor wonderful people through a variety of programs, including Locelle, Big Sisters Canada, and Out of Office Hours. I volunteer at North America’s only shelter for sex workers, WISH, and I run my local food bank. I organize big events like Pride and Bowfest. I’m deeply embedded in DEI, LGBTQ+, and climate action groups. I have a dog! And once upon a time I worked with A&W Food Services to raise $1.5 million for the MS Society of Canada.

I come from a small town and community is important to me.