This belief started early. In 6th grade, I watched Slumdog Millionaire for the first time. As a kid growing up in a 900-person town in Oregon, I was captivated by the vivid world on screen. More impactful was the story of resilience and building something meaningful from struggle. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, I saw my family’s story reflected in that film. Since then, I've been curious: How can we design a world where everyone has the opportunity to rise to their potential?

This question has shaped my career. It’s taken me from celebrating peoples’ milestones through painting to designing digital experiences at Planned Parenthood. It’s now brought me to Columbia Business School; I believe business acumen is the next step in helping design reach its full potential.