About Me
I’m a UX researcher and designer based in Silicon Valley, grounded in empathy, curiosity, and resilience. My path into design didn’t begin with a formal program, it started with a need to create, to communicate, and to make sense of complexity.
While studying Marketing Communication at San Jose State, I built websites on the side — part creative outlet, part survival strategy in the Bay Area. That chapter taught me more than code or layouts. It taught me resourcefulness, perseverance, and how to create with intention.
From there, I joined Google’s User Experience team, contributing to beta features across Google Maps, Google My Business, and AdWords. I still remember watching real-time traffic data reshape the way I and millions moved through the world. It was a powerful reminder: when research meets design with empathy, it can transform everyday experiences.
Later, I brought that same mindset to Meta’s Ads team, where I worked on shaping the future of advertiser experiences. Eventually, I returned to the Bay Area to rejoin Google Ads bringing with me a deeper understanding of global user needs and cross-functional collaboration.
But some of the most defining moments of my journey happened outside of work.
When the U.S. travel ban separated me from my wife, we made the difficult choice to relocate to Istanbul. Living in uncertainty tested my patience and resilience — but it also opened me to new cultures, new ways of seeing, and a deeper appreciation for adaptability, empathy, and hope. Reuniting in California felt like more than coming home — it felt like rediscovering my “why.”
These days, you’ll find me playing tennis, hiking Bay Area trails, battling it out in chess and pickleball, or getting lost in PS5 adventures like FC and Assassin’s Creed. I love sharing meals with friends, discovering new music, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Lately, I’ve been practicing the art of stillness, learning to pause, reflect, and listen more deeply. I often return to Socratic and Platonic texts, not as theory, but as tools: to ask better questions, uncover deeper truths, and stay grounded in the purpose behind the work.
Because for me, UX research isn’t just about answers, It’s about finding the right questions.