What motivated you to become a designer (or current role?)?

I consider myself an information broker. My degree is in economic development and internships during college led me away from the NGO route. After working in international business (Japanese trading company, and US software company) for almost a decade, I got intensive career counseling. After a year, the recommendations were to be a Radio Talk Show Host, a Work in intelligence, a la NSA, CIA, FBI, or Serve as an information broker. I was stymied at first, but then used these skills in higher education, then in the arts. At Bergmeyer, I hope to help connect people to ideas and resources that facilitates their success in a creative environment.

What does successful workplace culture mean to you?

To me a successful workplace culture means that staff from all different backgrounds can thrive. For me, a related formative experience happened when I was 6 years old. My parents took me with them on a cross-country road from then West Germany to Spain to visit relatives. In southern France, my parents taught me how to ask for a baguette, gave me some money and sent me out of the car. I was not allowed back into the car until I successfully purchased the bread. I was initially angry because my parents were very strict. However, when I got into the boulangerie, there was another little girl on the other side of the display counter. I realized she was as afraid of the encounter as I was. Between my mangled French and body language, I emerged with the bread. This encounter taught me to not be afraid to meet new people from all over the world and to try to communicate across linguistic barriers. I thrive in work environments that cultivate diverse teams.

What would you be doing if you were not working in this industry?

The world has been quite tumultuous. Nonetheless, I love nothing more than connecting creative people globally across disciplines so that they make unforeseen breakthroughs. I have been able to do this with people from different fields when I didn’t even deeply understand their areas of expertise.

What’s the most rebellious thing you’ve ever done?

Informing my parents June of junior year of high school that I would not return to high school.

What are your top three travel destinations?

In alpha order, here are my top four travel destinations:

Brazil, France, Philippines, and South Africa.

Introvert or extrovert?

Extrovert

In a parallel universe, what is your profession?

Serving as an intellectual matchmaker, connecting brilliant creative people, is something that comes naturally to me. As an out-of-the-box thinker, I am passionate about facilitating ‘aha’ moments across disciplines and helping people realize their creative potential.

What’s the best live music show you’ve seen? And/or been in?

I was a guest musician with the Super Rail Band in Bamako, Mali for the National Celebration of artist Malick Sidibé’s Golden Lion win at the Venice Biennale.

What’s your ideal superpower?

Teleportation – this superpower would save me time and cut down on carbon emissions!