I’m Anu (uh-noo) a design leader based in Ohlone Territory (Berkeley, CA). Currently I sit on the design leadership team at Code for America with a focus on transforming the tax filing experience for low-income populations across the US.
In my free time, I’m creating space for Black and Brown designers through outreach and education at Inneract Project.
Born in India, raised in the Midwest, blooming in California. At my core, I’m wildly curious about people. My greatest joys come from working closely with the people I’m serving. Whether that’s in the classroom or in a workshop, I love the human side of design.
I care about creating more access and equity through design. I believe that we all deserve well-designed experiences, and use optimism as my strategy for designing a more beautiful, inclusive, and thoughtful world.
How I lead
As a leader, I focus on creating open, honest, collaborative spaces that make room for everyone. Hard problems, smart people, a little joy sprinkled in, that's the work I love most!
I lead with equity and impact in mind, staying hands-on throughout. As a player-coach, I've unified rituals and practices across disciplines, led multiple 0 → 1 launches, and let user research guide the work toward what people really need.
What people have said
“Anu consistently demonstrated a high level of accountability for her assigned tasks and deliverables, producing work of exceptional quality… she frequently went above and beyond her role… Her proactive approach, embodied in her frequent assertion, "we don’t wait for anyone," was evident in the leadership roles she undertook beyond design.”
design peer“Anu consistently shows strong skills in developing personal relationships with folks and helping teams collaborate and feel heard. All of Anu’s peers spoke to her strength of listening to others and understanding where they are coming from.”
manager“In general, with Anu as a manager, I feel genuinely supported as a person and not only as someone producing output. This was made very clear when I informed her of my upcoming leave and her response was so human. It made a stressful life transition feel much less stressful professionally. Anu encourages me to find joy in my work.”
Direct Report“She is such a light! thank you for helping to hold this team together and constantly striving to help us humanize each other and stay connected”
cross-functional peer“Anu has been effective at providing the guidance and support I need to be successful in my role. She has consistently helped turn ambiguity into concrete next steps, especially during periods of shifting project demands, staffing transitions, and performance review cycles.”
direct report“One peer called her "the glue that holds us together", due to her encouraging approach and unflagging engagement. Another peer noted the grace with which she navigated difficult conversations and advocated for design and a more collaborative approach to the work. Anu has earned a great deal of credibility and the trust of her team.”
managerThings I enjoy
working with youth
delightful conversations with strangers
sketching around oakland