Listening Before Building

When I first started working on Well Heard, I didn’t want to just make another app. I wanted to solve a real problem. I spent time listening—really listening—to the community. What barriers were people facing in accessing mental health support? What information were they missing? That’s when I realized: technology alone doesn’t create impact. Impact leads innovation. The tech is just the vehicle to get there.

Ethics in Every Decision

Handling sensitive data isn’t just a “nice-to-have” ethical guideline—it’s a daily reality. Every design choice, every feature, every data-handling decision had to prioritize user trust. Transparent privacy, bias prevention, and thoughtful design weren’t optional—they were the foundation. That’s how you build a platform people feel safe using.

Making Research Reach People

I’ve learned that research isn’t finished when the analysis ends—it’s finished when people can actually use it. In our AI scam project, we turned complex findings into a comic book and a podcast. Suddenly, abstract insights became something people could relate to, understand, and act on. That’s when research transforms into real-world impact.

Prototype, Test, Pivot

Ideas are fragile until they’re in motion. Using tools like Canva and Illustrator, I could prototype early, test quickly, and pivot based on real feedback. Watching how people interacted with the platform before committing big resources saved us time, clarified our path, and ultimately led to a product that genuinely resonated.