At a glance: 2023
LearningHow to get better at bouldering
About regenerative travel
How to speak Spanish
Reading + WatchingGive Work by Leila Janah
House of Dragon
MakingA lot of South East Asian food
Our rooftop into a city oasis
Hello, I’m Sara!
I’m a UX practitioner, living in Seattle with my partner, Tom, and my dog, Pepper. In the last 8 years, I’ve worked across a spectrum of organizations from scrappy startups to large corporations, in both the non-profit and for-profit space. I’m drawn to mission-driven organizations in the social impact space.
Currently, I’m a Senior Product Designer at Kiva.org, working on products that make financial opportunities accessible to all.
On Design
As I’ve grown as a designer, I’ve developed the mindset that good, life-bettering technology starts with a user-first company culture. To me, this includes things like ensuring cross-functional teams are speaking the same language, establishing systems that lead to holistic experiences, and elevating the importance of listening to users. Basically, the things that help people build better products for people.
On Leadership
I believe that user-centric, innovative design decisions come from a trusting, safe working environment, so I strive to provide that to those I mentor and manage. As a leader, I value transparency, idealism, adaptability, and pragmatism. Applying these values in practice has been equal parts humbling, nerve-wracking, and rewarding.
On Learning
I’m well-traveled – I’ve visited over 50 countries – and enjoy learning about other cultures, especially if it involves food and history. Having lived in 4 countries, I’ve learned to traverse differing social values and customs that have made me adaptive and open-minded. It’s been a wonderful privilege to see the world, and I feel beyond lucky that I grew up in a household that considers travel necessary for growth. To this day, I’m a strong believer that the best ideas are formed by stepping away from the desk and talking to people with diverse perspectives.
If you would like chat further, send me a message. Don’t forget to ask me about my dog, Pepper!