Who am I and what brought me to you?
How I got here
I have for as long as I can remember desired to feel authentic connections with people as a way of belonging.
Growing up in Madrid as a concert pianist with multinational parents (Spain and Japan) gave me a unique perspective in discipline, communication, and how creative expression can aid in personal connections. However, it also made me feel “othered.”
At the age of 15 I moved to the US as an exchange student and from there to multiple cities like New Orleans, NYC, Houston, Chicago, and San Francisco all without my family. I had to count on my inner strength to progress my life positively and relate with others. After being a concert pianist for almost 20 years, a regrettable accident drove me to Architecture as a beautiful way to understand complex/intertwined systems, the human psyche, and how to improve lives through good design that’s rooted in context, history, culture and the body.
I worked small and large studios for 14 years, got my license and opened my own Architecture and Design Studio. What was notable about it was that I had the opportunity to select clients that were personally invested in their projects as fulfilling goals for their lives. It changed my purpose.
In 2014 I serendipitously joined Google to follow a mission of improving the everyday of work-life through design. Working with Psychologists and exploring Behavioral Science, we truly believed in having a positive impact on what people need to thrive in the space where they spend most of their lives: the office. My 10 year tenure as an executive leader was a fantastic journey into the complexity of humankind; career ambitions; change management; leadership and org complexities; and multinational, global cultures. Running a global team with the largest portfolio region at Google allowed me to lead responsibly to meet company goals, but also to care for a team that was overworked and often times, overlooked. Helping them grow became a natural pillar of my core objectives.
Twice throughout my time there I received executive and life coaching from immensely talented coaches and something about it clicked like nothing had before. I fell into deep awe of the impact good coaching can have when someone is struggling and their innate resourcefulness has been engulfed by life and/or work pressures.
I decided to take a leave of absence from work for 5 months and figure out what this was all about. People; Development; Growth; Support; Authenticity; Purpose; Community… These values emerged as my driving forces. With that, I knew that coaching and mental health was my true calling. It became the first ever assurance in a future that came from within!
Now I spend my time as a ceramicist, casual pianist, pup owner, avid sportsman, adventurer, friend, partner, son, brother, uncle, and most importantly a supportive human to anyone who is feeling a sense of loss, confusion, trapped, stuck, or cognitive immobility.