Since I was a little kid, my interest was in clothing and drawing. But growing up in the highly competitive atmosphere of Silicon Valley, I had been on a more traditional academic track. It wasn’t sophomore year of high school that I realized fashion was my true love, so I got my portfolio together, applied to art school, and was overjoyed to get into Parsons in New York City.

When I had been out of school and in the workforce for a few years, I felt like it was time to get back to my California roots, and snagged a coveted interview at Old Navy. I started out as an associate designer in the maternity department, and two promotions later, my role expanded to include knit tops, tees, and a size-inclusive line. At first, the scope of the job was a bit intimidating: I didn’t know anything about designing maternity wear. But I learned quickly. Working at a brand like Old Navy meant developing a relationship to the customer, and keeping them front of mind.