About Me
I have launched multiple products, spanning hospitality, educational, cultural, and residential developments, successfully managing international teams from concept to completion. As a Product Manager with a background in architecture and user experience design, I focus on creating user-centered products across both physical and digital spaces. I bring multi-disciplinary teams to deliver the best user experiences, driving product success and customer satisfaction.
Design
From architecture, design
To product, technology and business
My journey began in the realm of architecture, where I developed a deep appreciation for the impact that built environments have on human experiences. Over time working as an architect to principal architect, my focus expanded from purely structural elements to understanding the broader needs of the people inhabiting these spaces. I realized that architecture, in its essence, is not just about constructing buildings but creating environments that enhance human experiences. Design does not end in a completion of a building but rather continues to shape the experience of users as I continue to shape the product it offers. This revelation became the foundation of my transition into product development and business.​​​​
Product
Design
Tech
Growth as design manager to product manager
As my understanding of human-centered design evolved, I began to see clear parallels between the way architecture shapes physical spaces and how product design shapes digital experiences. Whether it’s crafting a hotel’s wayfinding system or designing the navigation for a website, the goal remains the same: to improve user interaction and meet their needs seamlessly. As a design manager, I have leveraged my background in architecture to approach problem-solving holistically, integrating branding, user experience (UX) design, and business development.
​
I have had the opportunity to work on two major hospitality projects, where I collaborated with cross-functional teams to elevate travelers' experiences through architecture, branding, and web design. These projects were more than just creating beautiful spaces; they involved shaping a 360-degree experience that could compete with international hotel brands. The challenge was to create environments that were both physically and digitally cohesive. Travelers needed to feel a seamless connection from the moment they walked through the hotel doors to their interactions with the hotel’s online presence. It was this interplay between physical space and digital design that excited me.
​
As a product manager, my top priority has always been understanding the user, meeting their needs and aligning all business functions with the vision to provide solutions for users. Whether I’m designing a hotel lobby, improving the information architecture of a website, or building out a new product feature, I start with the user. By empathizing with their needs and anticipating their problems, I can ensure that the solutions I create don’t just look good but actually solve real challenges. I believe strongly that user advocacy is not only a design principle but a business strategy. When you solve problems for your users, you build loyalty, and with loyalty comes long-term business success.​​
Interdisciplinary Ideas Management Methods
As my career progressed, I became fascinated by the idea of cross-pollination—how ideas can be transferred across disciplines to create something more powerful. My experience in architecture, branding, web design, and business development gave me a unique perspective that I could apply to product management. In validating product-market fit, for example, I pull from my architectural roots, ensuring that the foundation of any product is strong before building outward. At the same time, I use my business experience to ensure that the product aligns with market needs and has the potential to thrive.
​
​In managing ideas, I apply structured methods to generate, capture, evaluate, and implement them. I use brainstorming and design thinking for idea generation, collect ideas through collaborative tools, and evaluate them against market needs and business goals. Once ideas are selected, I lead the cross-functional implementation while refining feedback loops to foster a continuous innovation culture.
​Looking to the future, I aim to bring digital transformation to more businesses by continuing to integrate emerging technologies with the built environment. I believe that the worlds of architecture, design, technology, and business are not distinct but interconnected. My role is to bridge these worlds, leveraging the strengths of each to create products that not only succeed in the marketplace but also improve the lives of the people who use them.​ In this way, I see myself as an interdisciplinary bee, pollinating ideas across fields and watching as they take root and grow.
Zad
Fun Facts about me:
I like to read. Sapiens and Homo Deus are the books that impacted me on my perspectives. White Umbrella, Freedom from Fear, and Quiet are my life compass in navigating this world. Big Harry Potter fan and I'm a Ravenclaw! Oftentimes, I usually find myself descending into a rabbit hole of finding and reading a lot of random stuff on Wikipedia (but not nerdy enough to make edits).
I love dogs (and lately, cats. Historically, anything that's alive from ladybugs to hermit crabs.) Nature gives me the most inspiration. If I weren't thinking about design, I'd likely be either a botanist or a farmer as I'm fascinated plants, flowers and fruits.
​