Built for Square

In early 2012, my father's small handyman business was growing and so were the invoices. Installing new ceiling fans, replacing low-flush toilets, re-painting bedrooms. Larger projects meant strictly accepting cash was no longer convenient or safe. After a brief deep-dive on business forums and YouTube (original video here), I found a very promising solution — Square's mobile card reader. Considering I had just purchased an unlocked iPhone 4, this felt like the perfect match. I immediately showed him the video and after a minute he exclaimed, "That is exactly what I need! Order it!" A few clicks later and it was on the way.

I distinctly remember the feeling of surprise opening up the package. How could something so small and simple move money through a headphone jack? We plugged it in, opened the Square app and processed a $2 test transaction with a Visa credit card. After seeing the success screen, we were left with only one emotion: awe. The combination of software and hardware was truly magical. I could see my father envision a new world of possibilities for his business. I knew he wasn't alone. It was in this moment a burning desire to transform local economies with technology was born inside me. I was unsure how this vision might take shape over time, but I dreamed one day it would involve partnering with millions of small business owners as a Square teammate. My journey to-date has been a targeted effort to realize that dream, all with the same passion bred the moment I opened that package with my father. As it turns out, the timing couldn’t be better.

Square's credit card reader, launched in 2009. Converted magnetic stripe data into an analog audio signal. My first exposure to the magic of Square's marriage between hardware and software.

Car magnet for my father's small handyman business. They were placed on each side of a champagne 2003 Nissan Xterra. Yes, these are early flashes of my graphic design skills.

Specialized work has been the backbone of how we work for centuries. The modern world was erected on the back of the division of labor. It enabled mass production, economic growth and higher living standards. Now, AI is changing everything. Machines are upending the economic logic of labor, replicating specialized expertise with more precision and consistency at a fraction of the cost and time. This new production environment requires versatile orchestrators that can thoughtfully design and deploy agent networks that harness the raw power of this new digital workforce. People that can bridge gaps between domains and recognize patterns that would otherwise be siloed. All with a level of human taste that values quality over output. I’ve become the creative person and talented operator described, form-fit for Square's vision of an AI-native, automatable future.

Thanks to two empowering high school teacher parents, I've always been an insatiably curious learner with little interest in being fit into a defined box. That generalist drive has consistently drawn me to conditions that push me to grow into my best self. All with the same belief — dynamic individuals move the needle most. I've built a medical device, designed a modern inventory operating system that resembles Square, launched retail customers in the field and created an AI-powered chat bot for chronic pain. I've even raised thousands of dollars from my community to send a beloved school employee on her dream vacation. This range of experience has led to the development of a T-shaped ecosystem of acumen and abilities. One purpose-built for complex, evolving environments where rules are being rewritten in real time. As Square accelerates into an AI-shaped future that stewards millions of small businesses, now is the right moment to bring on a design-led, product generalist who can drive rapid change by strategically connecting user, product and machine.

My cross-team perspective, grounded in product and design, allows me to uniquely leverage AI to elevate craft and velocity.

I've always led with extreme care. That means going the extra mile to support a customer, recognize an employee birthday, etc.

I'm at an inflection point in my career and life. I've only scratched the surface of what I'm capable of and the hunger to learn is as strong as ever. To continue evolving, I crave a scaled environment that fuels growth and impact through ownership. One that understands a future defined by AI will be architected by dynamic builders, like myself, who can innovate with customers at the core. All with the singular goal to help underserved populations generate economic freedom. That place is Square.

I strongly believe the APM program is where I can chart a new trajectory that will define my next several decades. Its rare blend of economic influence and global exposure generate product challenges that I'm uniquely equipped to solve. I envision myself in this role as a shapeshifter, bringing a design-heavy push to the program and product organization at large. Why? Unlike standardized frameworks such as codebases and functions, AI will continue to lack refined taste and artistic soul. This requires lived experience and true opinionation. Owen, Korean-fusion restaurant owner, and Nancy, boutique clothing store manager, want Square to feel less like 0's and 1's and more like their favorite human co-worker helping them achieve their wildest dreams. Blending this divide between man and machine requires a hybrid of product sense and cross-disciplinary design. I bring all that and more to the table.


With gratitude and enthusiasm,
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