When you are retired and look back on your life, what is the biggest accomplishment you hope to achieve?

Retirement? Is that a thing in this industry?! Seriously though – and not to be morbid or anything – but I think a lot about end of life and the legacy I’ll leave behind when I’m gone. My hope is simple, that I’ve made a positive impact on the people in my life. Especially for my children (all 3, soon 4!), I hope they’ll grow to be magnificent humans – compassionate, optimistic, and completely fulfilled.

What does successful workplace culture mean to you?

Culture is an accumulation of patterns and behaviors… so, in a workplace, what are all those things that contribute to success? It’s being given the ability to do your best and most meaningful work, through autonomy, accountability, flexibility, respect, collaboration, and trust (and probably a few more traits).

What would you be doing if you were not working in this industry?

No idea! The roles I’ve taken on have evolved slowly over time, but I’ve always been in the design field. If you’re going to make me choose something completely different, I guess I could see myself in psychology, as a cognitive or organizational psychologist, to understand and improve how people and organizations operate. It would eventually lead to authoring several best-selling books and traveling the world to talk about my ground-breaking discoveries.

What do you listen to while working?

I’m basically an unpaid brand ambassador for Spotify. They're doing everything right. The curated playlists are absolutely perfect for working to, whether you’re in the mood to focus and need something ambient and atmospheric, or you’re on a deadline and need something hard-hitting and energizing.

What's your Kryptonite?

Twitter and Instagram, though I have a fair amount of self-discipline when necessary.

What's your beverage of choice?

IPA, better yet, double IPA. Either recommended from the bartender or from the nearest brewery in town.

What would you be doing if you weren’t here?

I grew up playing drums, and still teach a local drumline, so if I weren’t designing, I’d probably try to make a career out of playing and teaching music.

When was your best day ever?

Tomorrow.

What’s the most important part of your evening routine?

Evenings after work are so short, so I value every bit of time I can spend with my family. The most important part of our routine would have to be story time with the kids – a combination of education, entertainment, and laughter.

What valuable lesson did you learn from your parents?

Lead by example. My parents were never outspoken and they never really ever sat me down to teach me any "life lessons" – so I learned by watching. When you lead by example, you give others the opportunity to learn for themselves.