How I Measure Leadership
First: how UX impacts the business. I set OKRs that my team can be measured by, tangible user impact that maps directly to organizational success. If we cannot measure our impact, we do not do it. This is how a UX team earns strategic influence: by speaking the language of business outcomes, not just craft quality.
"Katie is always there to support me and I am absolutely delighted to have her as my manager."
Direct Report
Second: the progression and growth of every individual on my team. My success is their success. A leader's true legacy is the people they develop, and I have maintained a 100% promotion rate for eligible direct reports and a 95% retention rate (vs. 75% industry average) across 3 time zones.
How I Build Teams
To get the best out of a team, I build environments of trust and safety. This is not a soft philosophy, it is essential for knowledge sharing, execution speed, and durable outcomes. Trust is the infrastructure that makes everything else possible.
"She is the cheerleader I did not know I needed, and my most recent successes are because she believes in me and challenges me in a way that is empowering and fun yet professional."
Direct Report
I celebrate wins loudly and take the weight of misses. The buck stops with me. My job is to set expectations, clear the path for top talent, and guide through outcomes and success metrics rather than prescribe every tactical step.
"Katie is the epitome of strong opinions, loosely held. She does not make you feel like she is above you, but instead lets you know she is beside you."
Direct Report
I build baseball teams, not synchronized swimming teams. Different strengths, one shared goal. I am not building a team that looks like me. I am building a team that is better than me.
Awards & Recognition
Robert F Kennedy Award for Humanitarian Journalism | Cloudflare Top Performer 2020 & 2021 | Certified in Product Management for AI & Data Science | Agile Scrum Certified
Beyond the Work
Shidokan Karate Black Belt & Instructor: Certified instructor who taught at YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta.
Professional Football Player: Teamwork, strategy, and performing under pressure are second nature.
Mother: The ultimate exercise in patience, prioritization, and building for the long term.
Traveler: New cultures and perspectives continue to sharpen creative thinking and empathy.