What started as a quick email signature has grown into my professional brand. No need to ask permission—please call me G. My students sometimes call me “Professor G,” but to teammates and collaborators, “G” signals openness, approachability, and trust.
Purple is my color, not because it’s trendy, but because it carries meaning. It was my father’s favorite color. He was my first and biggest supporter, cheering for me even when he didn’t understand design. For me, purple is a reminder: believe in yourself, believe in others, and lead with integrity.
When I transitioned into product design, I often said I was “wearing a cape.” At the time I was in graduate school, working full-time, raising a child, and keeping a family together. My cape wasn’t superpowers—it was my support system: coworkers, friends, family. That cape reminds me that leadership is never solo. It’s about empowering teams and building systems of support so people can do their best work.
I’m fascinated by the trinities of product making:
I often describe this as a three-legged stool, with the user sitting on top. If one leg is missing, the stool wobbles—and the user suffers. As a leader, I work in the intersections, helping teams balance these forces. That’s where inclusive, accessible, and trustworthy products are born..
