MY STORY

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Origins of a Creative Eye

I’ve always been drawn to beauty, not just in how things look but in how they make you feel. Early on, I trained myself to really see things. Not just what was in front of me, but what it could become and why it might matter to someone. That way of seeing is what makes me good at what I do, and honestly, it’s still what keeps me curious and inspired to keep going. Over the years, I’ve led big rebrands, built creative teams from the ground up, and helped brands find the version of themselves that feels most true and most meaningful to others. What I love most is the beauty that comes through the whole process—the ideas, the people, the joy in making something that actually connects. That kind of beauty is what stays with you, and it all starts with learning how to see.

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Launching My First Agency: Bamboo

I started Bamboo in Minneapolis because I wanted to build something of my own. But it was never about building me as a designer, it was about creating the kind of environment where great ideas could actually become reality. I had no clue how fast it would grow, but before long we were leading national campaigns for Target and working with Coca-Cola and General Mills. Being named one of the Best and Brightest Design Firms in the U.S. by Graphic Design America was a proud moment, even if we were too busy working to really celebrate it. The awards and accolades were great, but what I’m really proud of is the culture we built. People felt comfortable taking risks because they knew we had each other’s backs. We pushed when it mattered and made space for the work to go somewhere new. We never played it safe. And it helped that we weren’t the kind of agency that just said yes to everything.

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A World-Stage Brand for a World-Class Brand

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Eventually, I decided it was time to start over. I traded my boutique agency for a global stage and joined LPK to lead the worldwide rebrand of Olay for P&G. It was a chance to stretch in new ways, and as someone who loves to learn and reinvent herself, I was all in. The work took me across cultures and continents, reshaping a brand that needed to feel true in places like Latin America, China, and the U.S. It was big, complex, and incredibly rewarding. And somewhere in the middle of all that, I met my fiancé. Just goes to show, starting over doesn’t mean losing what you’ve built, it can lead you somewhere even better.

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The Leap That Changed Everything

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Have you ever said yes to something without knowing if you could actually pull it off? Or kind of pretended you could do the job just to get the job? That was me when I agreed to launch Hornall Anderson’s New York office. I stepped in as both Managing Director and Executive Creative Director, which meant I was growing the business, leading the team, overseeing the work, and figuring out how to make it all run, sometimes all at once. I had no idea if I could do it. But by the end of that first year, we were profitable, energized, and genuinely proud of what we’d built. That leap taught me more about leadership, resilience, and trust in myself than anything else. It really did change everything.

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From the Boardroom to... Omnicom's Senior Management Program with Harvard

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And I thought running Hornall Anderson New York was hard. All my efforts earned me a spot in Omnicom’s leadership program with Harvard Business School. It stretched me in all the best ways as a leader even if it was my second job.

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A Decade-Long Client Turned Co-Founder

One of the most gratifying parts of this journey has been building real, lasting client relationships. One in particular led to a full-circle moment: a client I worked with for nearly a decade eventually became my business partner, and together we launched Courage. That kind of creative partnership is rare, and I’m deeply grateful for it.

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Learning Never Stops

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I’m someone who’s never really at rest. I learn by doing, and I’m always chasing what’s next. Whether it’s playing around in Figma, testing out motion, building a site, or just keeping up with the rhythm of culture, I love staying hands-on. Curiosity has always been a part of who I am. It keeps me engaged, keeps the work interesting, and honestly, keeps me growing.

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Beautiful Outcomes, Always

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These days, I’m still driven by the same mission I’ve always had: to push past the expected and chase work that feels beautifully original. I lead with the belief that the best work comes when we’re brave enough to explore past conventional boundaries, smart enough to build with intention, and when we’re committed enough to make it all matter. In the end, life’s too short for outcomes that don't move people in meaningful ways.