About me
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““En todo hay diseño; en una nube, en una huella digital, en la arena o el mar, puestos en movimiento por el viento.””
Like Clara Porset’s journey from Cuba to New York to Mexico, mine flows from Costa Rica to Washington DC—always translating complexity into clarity, bridging cultures and contexts to create transformational business impact.
I help organizations navigate ambiguity and build futures that honor both innovation and humanity. As a strategic design leader, I translate vision into execution by connecting teams, systems, and cultures to deliver measurable change.
At Capital One, I’ve scaled design culture across 700+ designers while leading platform transformations that serve thousands of customers. I’m currently modernizing a commercial banking origination platform to introduce massive cost savings and significantly increase throughput—work that reshapes how businesses access capital and grow.
Beyond internal impact, I co-lead Service Design DC—connecting 1,000+ practitioners across the Mid-Atlantic—and I’ve spoken as a panelist for Service Design Mexico, sharing frameworks that bridge Latin American context with global design practices.
What guides my leadership style
Clarity over certainty: Teams thrive when they see purpose even in ambiguity. I zoom in on details and zoom out on vision to keep everyone aligned—so we can move forward with confidence, not paralysis.
People over process: Processes and tools are enablers, not drivers. I build trust by creating psychologically safe spaces where creative tension sparks breakthrough ideas, not burnout.
Collaboration over consensus: True alignment comes from co-creation, not compromise. Through targeted facilitation rituals, I surface hidden insights, foster shared ownership, and accelerate decision-making.
Growth Through Listening: The best leaders listen deeply and ask better questions. I cultivate curiosity by coaching emerging talent and modeling a learning mindset—so teams grow stronger together.
My Path Into Design
I began my career in Costa Rica—in ecotourism and international business—guiding travelers through the rainforest and navigating global trade dynamics. A human-centered design sprint in Tokyo was my “aha” moment: I discovered how simple prototypes could shift systems and spark innovation.
That led me to:
Introduce design methods into Latin America’s supply-chain operations
Earn a Fulbright scholarship to study Strategic Design at Parsons School of Design
Design and facilitate human-centered solutions for purpose-driven organizations
Scale design cultures, leading cross-functional teams through complex transformations
Beyond the work
I was born and raised in a coffee-growing town in Costa Rica—so yes, I take my coffee (and my weather) seriously. Having lived and worked across the Americas—from San José to Washington DC—I bring a global lens to every challenge.
Outside of work, you’ll find me exploring DC on bike, coaching emerging designers, and helping lead the Service Design DC chapter of the Service Design Network, where I curate events and spark conversations about inclusive, systems-driven design.
Let’s connect
Whether you’re designing a product, building a team, or navigating complexity—let’s build what’s next, together.