Returning to AAA
Returning to AAA in 2020, I joined Iron Galaxy to reconnect with the kind of ambitious, craft-driven work that first pulled me into games. I quickly found myself in the middle of high-stakes productions where clarity, alignment, and momentum mattered as much as artistic excellence. As an Art Director, I partnered closely with production and engineering to keep teams moving in fast-paced, interactive environments, translating complex creative goals into executable plans without losing the quality bar. I built trust across disciplines through honest, empathetic communication, consistently ensuring the work—and the people doing it—felt supported, understood, and set up to win.
Over time, my role expanded from leading art execution to strengthening the structure that help a studio scale. I developed an outsourcing management system from the ground up, leveraging my production experience to create structure where it was needed most. It improving visibility, streamlining coordination, and raising consistency across external partnerships. In parallel, I worked with the department head to build a detailed growth matrix and leveling system across sub art disciplines, giving artists clearer expectations, clearer pathways, and better coaching support. These weren’t “nice-to-have” logistics, they were practical tools that improved efficiency, reduced friction, and reinforced a culture of accountability and growth.
As I evolved into a Managing Director and ultimately Head of Art, I coordinated across multiple disciplines and business units while continuing to operate with a simple north star: produce at quality, be efficient doing so, and collaborate to elevate each other. I led teams through high-profile partner relationships (including Riot, Netflix, Amazon, and Universal), aligning expectations early, bridging gaps between groups, and keeping delivery focused and realistic. During my time at Iron Galaxy, I helped the studio ship major titles including Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, Rumbleverse, and Killer Instinct—while also investing in the foundational leadership work that doesn’t always show up in a screenshot, but is the reason teams stay healthy, motivated, and capable of great work over the long haul.