Beyond the Portfolio
My Story
Six chapters — defining moments, experiences, and turning points that shaped how I think, design, and show up. Let's reverse engineer how I got to where I am today.
Chapter 06
The Alphabet Year and Half — You're never invited where you don't belong
In 2024, a week after being hit by an ice cream truck on my bike, I applied to the Google Apprenticeship program for UX Design. I was 1 of 8 UX Design apprentices selected for the 18 month 2025 program in collaboration with the New York Department of Labor, to teach us entry level skills to start new careers. I was placed on the Cloud team, with some of the best in the business with design, ideation, and execution. I started the program uneasy and uncertain of my belonging, due to lack of "tech" knowledge.
Now at the completion of 18 months, I realized how many other intangible skills make up those that work in "tech", and adaptability is a true super power of mine.
Chapter 05
The Ice Cream Truck — Perspective of what really matters
In August of 2024, I was victim of a Hit & Run while biking in Brooklyn. An ice cream truck ran a red light, hit & dragged me for two intersections, then keep going. No broken bones. No brain damage. No I didn't have a helmet on either. My injuries were some really gnarly road rash from the dragging and some joint swelling.
This incident gave me perspective as I applied for the Google apprenticeship a week after I was hit. I wasn't able to even walk on my own just yet.
Chapter 04
The Achilles Tear — Going against the grain
On August 1st 2023, I tore my Achilles playing basketball with my best friend from middle school, two days before my father's funeral on August 3rd. I decided against surgery, and chose to heal on my own with a non-operative route that went against the opinions of everyone I knew.
This injury, gave me the confidence I needed to defend my own decision making, while also allowing me to research others who chose to take the non-operative healing route.
Chapter 03
Off The Strength, on the mic — 7 years of podcasting, exploring all things wellness culture
I began podcasting in January of 2019, starting the journey with 3 others co-host, which quickly went to 2, and then just one. Lots of life happened between 2019-2026, over 350+ episodes were aired, we crossed 100K streams, and had numerous in person activations with live shows.
If had to distill some lessons learned over the years, they would be about perseverance, authenticity, consistency, and the power of story telling.
Chapter 02
Bike Yoga's Big Stage Debut — From ideation to execution
As a tenured cyclist and yogi, creating a merger of the two disciplines was only a matter of time. I had this idea back in 2020, and have shared this practice with cyclists multiple times since. The idea was simple, use your own bike as a prop, the same as way you would use a yoga block, or strap, paired with targeted movements specifically for cyclists. Through hard work and some luck of the draw, I was able to partner with Hudson River Park to offer Bike Yoga for a Healthy on the Hudson summer programing series at Pier 76 in 2024.
I don't think I'm the first to combine bikes and yoga, but I'm definitely the only person to have Bike Yoga as a free offering to the cycling community at Pier 76 with the photos to match!
Chapter 01
Micro-Influencer Making Macro Moves — Thinking outside the box
Brand partnerships is something that has come with the territory after years of podcasting and wellness influencing. What's changed is the intentionality with attention to detail growing with each event. Since I have experienced so many injuries, my healing ability has informed my movement practice heavily.
Sharing my movement practice in unorthodox places is very on brand for me, just like my ideas and solution oriented thinking outside the box.
