Hola! My name is Michael and I'm from Brooklyn, NY. I specialize in Tech and Innovation Leadership and Strategy, Emerging Technology, Systems & Design Thinking, and building accessible digital experiences.
How I Got Started
Education: Human-Computer Interaction & Natural Language Processing (AI)
I have a Bachelor of Science in Human-Computer Interaction from the CUNY Graduate Center where I studied Computer Science, Psychology, and Human-Centered Design. The focus of my studies and thesis was creating accessible technology by leveraging Natural Language Processing, this representing the beginning of my Artificial Intelligence journey.
Introduction: Frontend Development & Visual Design
After taking a JavaScript class in high school (where I learned zero JS), I fell in love with building products using technology (at the time, building websites by writing code - manually!). After teaching myself Frontend Development, I landed my first job as a Frontend Developer at a tech company. After completing my HCI degree and being introduced to Design Thinking / Human-Centered Design, I focused on building digital experience through Visual Design, User Interface Design, User Experience Design, Product Design, and Design Systems. This technical and Design Thinking background is the foundation to my current practice as a Human-Centered technologist.
Entreprenuership & Community
In 2016, I founded a small web design and development agency focusing on supporting early-stage creative initiatives. In 2019, I founded UX Come Up, a community for UX beginners. In 2021, I founded Inclusive Design Lab, an educational community teaching Inclusive Tech & Design topics.
These initiatives have led me to Rita Co., a community-led collection of initiatives supporting students, professionals, and entrepreneurs. More simply put, Rita Co. is a holding company representing two main initiatives: 1. Mondai by Rita: a product supporting career journeys, and 2. Studio by Rita: a creative collective supporting businesses by offering digital services.
These experiences have taught me not only about business and problem-solving, but also about leadership, marketing, and community-building.
What Inspired/s Me
Mismatches for Immigrant Parents
Growing up, I spent a lot of time helping my parents navigate digital spaces, mainly due to language barriers. Specifically, city products and services that were necessary to use for things like signing my siblings and I up for school amongst other reasons. These experiences planted seeds in me that would later blossom into a passion: creating more accessible products and services that are available to all.
Creative Problem Solving
Before I call myself a technologist, a Systems or Design Thinker, or strategist, I consider myself a problem solver. I've always been passionate about leveraging creativity to solve real problems. This is a mindset that I carry with me to this day. And, yes, you can be both data-driven and creative!
Brooklyn
Shoutout to the Borough that raised me: Brooklyn. From its diversity to its creativity and from its directness to its toughness, as grandiose as it may seem, Brooklyn molded me into the person I am today. As a result, I'm spreading love, the Brooklyn way, every day. Who’s your favorite BK MC?
What I Care About
Mission-Driven Work & Tech for Good
While I'm passionate about technology in general, I'm driven and excited by human-centered technology that can be used to solve real problems. I'm also very passionate about both educational technology - merging both my experiences as a tech professional and as an educator - and government technology - finding tech solutions that have great public benefit.
Emerging Technology & the Future of Work
What excites me about technology is the ability to envision and create a future that benefits and improves the human experience. From an ethics perspective, there are real concerns with advanced technologies. With that said, I'm very motivated to find responsible and innovative ways to use emerging technology, like AI and AR, that positively shape the future of work.
Shaping the Next Generation of Technologists
While these days I do all that I can to find as many teaching opportunities as possible, I'm convinced teaching initially found me. Teaching has been one of the greatest joys of the work that I do. We are seeing the rapid advancement of so many technologies, so it is our responsible to serve as catalysts to the next generation.