Hi, I’m Steven.
I like the moment when something complicated finally becomes obvious. I help teams get there—by combining human-centered design, clear storytelling, and practical problem framing.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND HERE
A small set of projects that show how I work: making messy problems legible, aligning people around the real constraint, and designing solutions that humans actually adopt.
WRITING
I also write regularly at IDspiration—usually around the intersection of culture, design system, and psychology. I sometimes go into other things, but I’m biased toward EQ, leadership modeling, and stretching comfort zones.
BIO IN 3 BULLETS
- I’ve worked in 5 countries on 5 continents; currently in Tokyo by way of Virginia, California, New York, Dubai, Amsterdam and São Paulo.
- Most of my work has focused on digital innovation (although I believe human-centered design can & should be applied anywhere on the org chart).
- I’ve traveled to about 75 countries and flown over 2.7 million miles (4.4 million km). I still stare out the window for every takeoff and landing.
I GEEK OUT ON
- Don Norman (“A challenge to the designers of the world: Make signs unnecessary” 🤯).
- Harold and the Purple Crayon & other children’s books. Real expertise shows up in simplicity, not complexity.
- Reframing problems (we often scramble for technical optimizations without exploring simpler, more effective psychological solutions).
WHO SHOULD (AND SHOULDN’T) WORK WITH ME
I’m not interested in politics, posturing, or making simple things sound complicated.
I’m interested in leading—with empathy, clarity, and intent—and making complex things seem simple.
My background is digital. But the deeper I’ve gone, the more I’ve realized: what actually moves teams and businesses forward isn’t technical wizardry—it’s understanding people.
I’ve led teams across continents and cultures, and one lesson shows up everywhere:
You can’t push the same buttons on everyone. You have to listen. Adapt. Earn trust.
That’s real leadership.
So don’t hire me to blindly take orders, to make things look good without making them work, or to fill calendars with repetitive meetings to create the illusion of progress.
Do hire me if you want someone who:
- Solves real problems with real people
- Simplifies chaos into clarity
- Builds systems that last
- Leads in a way that makes others better–not by being the loudest voice in the room, but by helping others find theirs.
- Kindness (dignity and performance are not mutually exclusive)
- Curiosity (good questions make better leaders)
- Simplicity (clarity wins, always)
- Agency (if it needs fixing, I’m on it)
If that sounds like a fit, let’s talk.
Thank you for stopping by.
Leave your email address below to get an occasional interesting thought from me, or drop me a line to connect!
