About

Innovative. Creative. Builder.

In my 20ish years my title has changed a few times but I have always done 1 thing, shape technology. I have been fortunate enough to have a part in releasing some amazing products known in every household to specialists working in a secret basement.

I loved collaborating, storytelling, hearing inspiring ideas, and strategizing how ideas would manifest. Product building always felt natural but loving business came late to me. I had always dreamt of my own startup but never understood all the mechanics of what it takes to launch a brand, a company, that customers would be curious to try and eventually love to use. It all came together slowly while I spent time working closely with sales, marketing, customer success, legal and leadership from various functions that provided real-life lessons. Participating in high-stakes negotiations, winning pitches with Fortune 100 C-suite, succinctly packaging years of strategy for a chance to win a contract in under 15 min, provided the right level of confidence boost.

Building Chekable (my legal-tech startup) was really hard. I had never worn so many hats. I loved it, excited to get out of bed, take on the challenges of running a business and still focusing on delivering product. I was successful on many fronts, raising capital, hiring a great team, building a differentiated product, and failed on even more. 70+ hrs/week for 3 straight years on 5-figures, lots of ramen and optimism.

I am naturally excited about AI. Couldn’t be a better time for product builders. Value now is what people can’t do it themselves with AI or think they can. Bar is high and getting higher faster than products can keep up. It’s going to be ride and what a time to be alive.

Product stories (WIP)

2019 to 2022

Director, Digital Studio, Trianz Inc. CA, USA

  • Built Trianz Digital Studio website

  • Created Process and Methodology for Digital Studio

  • Grew the design team to a team of 10 researchers, strategists, visual designers, and interaction designers by matrixing Digital Studio across all technology verticals. Instituted hiring process, service offerings, go-to-market strategy, and business development plan and training to help increase Trianz’s capabilities. Managing project deliveries, providing design direction from strategy and end-end product lifecycle. Pivoted and restructured operations due to the impact of COVID-19 and successfully moved a 100% remote consulting model.

2014 to 2019

Slalom, UX manager/principal, San Francisco CA, USA

  • Helping Fortune 500 Bay Area companies on a wide range of problems from business intelligence tools, e-commerce sites, enterprise portals to facilitating workshops. Helped Slalom evolve the design practice, mentor direct reports and evangelize design thinking across the organization.

2010 to 2014

Samsung Electronics, Innovation Lab R&D, Seoul, South Korea

  • Authored more than 60 patents amassing an expertise in IP process and creation. Worked on transparent technology, flexible technology, multi-modal interfaces, 3d-technology, facial recognition and depth sensing.

2008 to 2010

(RISD) Rhode Island School of Design, MFA Digital+Media, Providence RI, USA

  • Presented a paper at a conference, won a graduate fellowship award and was an honor student. Taught a graduate class and was a TA for photography courses and wood workshop.

2007 to 2010

Architecture and Interior Design, New Delhi, India

  • A mix of free-lance and full-time work designing offices and residences.

2005

6 month internship, Idiom Designs and Consulting, Bangalore, India

  • Worked on office furniture design, space planning, retail design and hospitality spaces.

2001 to 2007

Interior Architecture degree, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

  • Designed sets for music concerts, designed tensile structures, his thesis work corrected some facts on history of architecture in New Delhi.

Before 2001 - Early days

Wanted to design flying cars as a boy growing up in that era

  • You could find sketches behind all my notebooks, my pottery got sold out at school fairs. Visited my fathers construction sites and furniture factory on weekends and during summer. Carpenters at the factory spoiled me with unlimited supply of hand made wooden toys. Eventually, I designed my bedroom for our new house in 8th grade with elevations, plans, and specifications that I gave to my father which he got built.

Trainings

  • Dale Carnegie leadership training for managers, 2019

  • NN/g UX Leadership certification, 2018

  • Certified Scrum Master, 2017

  • MBA for Designers (2 day course)

  • NEXT Leadership trainings - Organizational effectiveness, Management and Operations, 2017

  • Providing and Receiving Feedback - Direct Feedback Framework, 2017

  • How to Coach - Coaching vs. Mentoring, 2017

  • Widening the Circle - Inclusion and Diversity classes, 2017

  • Franklin Covey Sales Training: Qualifying opportunities and the sales funnel, 2016

  • Competency Based Interviewing training and framework - How to hire, 2016

  • Managing Direct Reports, 2016

  • Design Leadership, Cooper U, 2015

Writing and research

Etc..

  • Invision: Design Disruptors - Movie Screening for SF design community - host and organizer, 2017

  • Monthly Design Talks - Slalom lunch and learn 2016 series organizer and giving talks

  • AIGA SF Design week Panel- Design doesn't matter - Host, organizer and moderator

  • Red Dot Design competition participation and entry, 2015