Radically inspired by humans.

I’m here for the skeptics rethinking what work is even for. The high performers running on empty. The builders who made something worthwhile and aren’t done yet. And the heretics, the pattern-spotters, the deep feelers, the second-act seekers, the recovering optimists, and the institutionally disillusioned. You know who you are.  

This isn't theoretical for me. Before it was my work, IT WAS MY LIFE.

Most of us walk into our careers wearing rose-colored glasses.

We’re ready to dive in and use our talents to solve big problems. I was no exception. Fresh out of grad school, anthropology training in hand, I believed that my work as a researcher would let me flex my social science muscles in the name of human-centered design. I wouldn’t be studying human behavior from a distance—I’d be seeing the fruits of my labor come to life in the real world. That’s what they hired me for, right?

Call it culture shock, or call it a rude awakening.

The gap between my expectations and reality quickly became apparent. My jobs weren’t quite what I thought they’d be. My sound judgment was questioned, my expertise devalued, and my ethical concerns were seen as problematic. Executives dismissed my work if it didn’t support the share price. My suggestions for improving workplace culture were never seriously considered. Most importantly, I couldn’t be myself.

Knowing this didn't stop me from trying or caring.

The signs were right in front of me, but for years I kept pushing, certain that if I just worked hard enough and learned to play the game, I could finally do work I was proud of. But I was tired of pouring my energy into fruitless efforts and things I didn’t care about. And I hated seeing it happen to my amazing colleagues. It took me a long time to fully understand that the culture of these organizations simply wouldn’t enable my definition of meaningful impact. Over the next decade, the more I reflected on my experiences and talked with others, the more I realized this wasn’t just my story, but a collective one.

I HAPPILY LEFT corporate in 2018.

The only move I could stand behind was to build something on my own terms, so in 2020, I opened my career strategy practice. The moments I'm drawn to are the ones without easy answers, and the same ones I was asking all along: what to do when your values and work collide, whether the path you're on still fits, and who you are when you make the change. Turns out, this is what advocating for humans actually looks like.

Where I’ve been

My practice draws on a 15 year career in user experience research and strategy, where I worked across a range of industries and product spaces, with stints at State Farm, eBay, Cambia Health Solutions, and design agencies. I ran my own UX consulting practice for seven years, with a client roster that includes Lowe's, General Motors, Databricks, Vetsource, Dexcom, Intel, and the City of Portland.

Education & training

  • Master’s in Applied Anthropology, University of Memphis

  • Bachelor’s in Anthropology, Eckerd College

  • ICF-accredited Professional Certificate in Coaching, New York University.

I also spent five years as a volunteer organizer with Tech Workers Coalition, working on organizational strategy and membership recruitment for global worker empowerment in tech.

My clients hail from

In their words

  • “Amy is like the Daria-cool big sister you always wanted. She tells you what’s what and supports your growth with acerbic wit and kindness. Her approach galvanizes people to imagine big and stretch their thinking to new understanding.”

    — Lindsey, Senior Researcher

  • Amy helped me dig into a major career transition and surface with a renewed clarity and deeper sense of purpose. Amy's "anti-BS" style is profoundly refreshing, and her skills as a listener and thought partner pushed me and supported me at the same time.

    — Sarah, Urban Planner and Funding Strategist

HILLS I WILL DIE ON:

We can’t discuss your life, career and options without naming the organizational dynamics and institutional incentives shaping it.

It’s ok to do a job just to pay the bills. It doesn’t have to be your whole identity, and it’s not a reflection of your worth as a human being.

It’s challenging for most of us to do our jobs in the way we want to. Sometimes the most useful move is caring a little (or a lot) less.

We were sold a mythology of career advancement and retirement at 65. Now the mask is off and we’ve got to get real, so it’s crucial to know your goals before you start working toward something new.

You don’t have to throw away twenty years of work to start something new. There’s always a throughline if you look for it, and my job is to help you find it.

Vital information for your everyday life. I am…

A certified
bird nerd

Like every other elder Millennial, I took up birdwatching during the pandemic. I’m at 500+ species across three countries, and yes, I keep a list.

A card-carrying 90s kid

My origin story includes McDonald’s Happy Meal runs, SNES (IYKYK), and brokering Halloween candy trades with my brother. I still lament the Choco Taco’s discontinuation.

Dangerously competitive at board games

My best friend and I keep score in a spreadsheet, which he creatively edits in his favor. Curiously, any game I beat him at gets retired from the rotation.

A lifelong medieval history romantic

My obsession started with my childhood LEGO castle sets. It’s still a fantasy escape, but you won’t find me going as far as cosplay, D&D or renfaires.

I’d like to hear your version.

I've been on your side of this. If you're somewhere in the story above, let's talk about where you are now. You don’t have to sort it out before you reach out.

Let's Talk >

A newsletter exploring what it means when your work and who you are no longer fit, and what to do next.