Some days, I’m building campaign strategies and leading creative reviews. Other days, I’m cutting PB&Js into dinosaur shapes while answering Slack messages with one hand. Most days, I’m doing both — with music playing in the background and a laundry basket waiting for me just out of frame.

Balancing a career in design and leadership while being a mom and musician is… let’s just say, a beautiful chaos. But here’s the truth: I wouldn’t trade it.

From surfboards to slide decks, I’m still learning the balance, but every part of it makes me who I am.

Being a mom taught me patience in a way no deadline ever could. It’s sharpened my instincts and reminded me that creativity doesn’t live in perfect conditions — it lives in the quiet moments, the in-betweens. Some of my favorite ideas have come during late-night lullabies, Saturday soccer sidelines, or a quick solo in the garage while everyone else is asleep.

Parenting gives you perspective. Work used to be everything, and it still matters deeply — but now I also know the power of stepping away. Sometimes, space is the best strategy. And other times, it’s the messy, imperfect days that remind you why you do what you do.

And when I do get those rare windows of free time, you’ll find me hanging with my family, cheering on the Warriors (Go Dubs!), strumming a tune, or daydreaming about the waves I used to surf before the diaper bag replaced my board. That version of me is still in there — just with a few more snacks packed and a lot more stories to tell.

Leading a team while leading a family isn’t always graceful. But there’s strength in the juggle. It’s made me more human, more thoughtful, and more intentional in everything I create.

And for the record, drum machines and toddler tantrums have a very similar rhythm. It’s all about how you handle the drop.