I lead the design operations team within the wearables organization of Reality Labs. Reality Labs brings never-before-seen technologies and wearable devices like the Orion prototype to life. In many ways, Reality Labs is designing the future. My team and I run operations, acting as a bridge between design and our cross-functional partners, including product management and engineering. At the heart of everything we do is a passion for crafting exceptional experiences and products. As the design team, we’re uniquely attuned to this goal. As design operations professionals, we’re especially dedicated to ensuring that every aspect of our work prioritizes user experience, satisfaction and delight.

People who work in design operations at Meta are proactive collaborators who drive efficiency and productivity, and ensure that design is deeply embedded in every stage of product development (hardware and software). Oftentimes, we are behind-the-scenes, orchestrating people and processes so that everything runs well, and designers can focus on doing their best work.

As a design operations director, I focus on guiding my team to tackle the right problems and influence outcomes. This can look like advising a colleague on how to best partner with a design operations professional, to coaching a team member on how to achieve consensus through balancing multiple perspectives and keeping business goals top-of-mind. Big picture, I ensure our teams are successful in creating high-quality designs that people love. I still hone my craft as a senior-level individual contributor, too, by working on areas of importance that span across the organization.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, I landed my first job as a software developer at a small insurance company. This role was a crash course in working with distributed teams and understanding the software development lifecycle. But it wasn’t long before Apple launched the App Store, and my brother and I saw an opportunity too good to pass up — we decided to start our own company focused on mobile device application development.

We bootstrapped our venture, pouring our hearts (and nights and weekends) into it. We hired artists, developers, marketers — you name it. And, of course, we faced all the usual startup struggles. But the highs were worth it: A couple of the apps we built reached No. 1 in the App Store. This experience taught me the importance of taking calculated risks and embracing uncertainty. It was during this time that I discovered my passion for design and operations and how I could leverage my unique skillset to drive impact.

After selling our startup, I sought out roles that combined operations and design, leading me to positions at Nook and Palantir. At Palantir, I established a design operations team and worked to integrate design into the company’s engineering-driven culture. Eventually, I joined Meta to explore new opportunities in mixed reality (MR), augmented reality (AR) and wearables.

A misconception in design operations is that the role is purely a support function. In reality, design operations professionals at Meta are seen as strategic partners. The role involves leveraging design expertise, program management and strategy to drive efficiency and promote effective communication and collaboration across teams. We are expected to influence direction and strategy by understanding the product deeply and contributing meaningfully.

At Meta, design is not limited to a single discipline but is a comprehensive approach involving product design, content design, prototyping, user experience research, industrial design, creative audio, hardware user experience, brand design and more. This multidisciplinary approach places design at the core of addressing product questions and impacting all stages of development.

1. Embrace calculated risk: Don’t be afraid to take bold steps, but do so with intention and a willingness to learn from the outcome. When setbacks occur, use them as opportunities to refine your approach and grow.


2. Seek diverse perspectives: Surround yourself with people who challenge your thinking and offer unique viewpoints. By weighing different opinions and considerations, you’ll strengthen your own perspective and identify key partners who can help you navigate complex challenges.


3. Dive deep into your craft: Invest time and effort in truly understanding the products and projects you’re working on. This means going beyond surface-level knowledge to grasp the intricacies of design, technical constraints and user needs. By doing so, you’ll develop deeper expertise and make more informed decisions that drive meaningful impact.