About Me

September 2000

Psychology @ York U

When I dove into the world of human behaviour and motivation I found myself constantly amazed at how much there was to learn about the way people think and act. That experience sparked a lifelong interest in understanding others, shaping how I connect with people ever since.

September 2000

January 2007

Flight Attendant (Business Class)

I travelled the world for 16 years. Looking back, I feel so lucky to have had that experience. I gained a deeper understanding of people and their cultures—insights that could never be learned from a psychology textbook. These lessons came from empathy, lived experiences, and immersing myself in the cultures and places people call home.

Michael in his flight attendant uniform standing next to an Air Canada logo.

January 2007

November 2015

Founder @ CALIBER Swimwear

Over time, I felt a growing desire to channel my creativity. Having been deeply involved with swim teams, lifeguarding, and swim instruction throughout my youth, I decided to launch an eCommerce swimwear brand.

This is where my journey in UX and web design began. I built and constantly iterated on my company’s WordPress website. This increased conversions and overall customer satisfaction each rebuild.

I also handled all digital and social media marketing, SEO, photography, videography, editing, graphic design, fabric pattern making, and so much more.

Michael sitting amongst his design tools.
November 2015

March 2020

Founder @ CALIBER Design

When COVID erupted, my job at Air Canada and orders at my eComm practically stopped overnight as the world sheltered in place and braced for the worse.

COVID’s sudden disruption made me realize that my extensive toolkit had uniquely prepared me for this adversity. I seized the opportunity amid the crisis by working freelance as companies rushed to establish an online presence.

March 2020

August 2021

Lead Product Designer: Crave @ Bell Media

As the lead product designer at Crave, I’ve learned the art of negotiation, presenting key strategic possibilities to senior leadership / C-suite executives, and how to work collaboratively with cross-functional stakeholders to reach common goals.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role was mentoring and growing designers. I’ve loved seeing their skills develop and their confidence grow.

Through this experience, I’ve learned so much about my own leadership style; how to inspire, guide, and support my team effectively. It’s been incredibly fulfilling to help others reach their potential while also evolving as a leader myself.

Michael standing outside of Bell Media HQ

 
August 2021

June 2025

Sr. Product Designer: AI Products @ Applied

Transitioning into the AI space gave me the perfect canvas to merge human motivation with foundational UX principles for the next generation of software. 

As the UX Lead for Eva AI, I’ve transformed complex accounting and dense personal and commercial insurance workflows into intuitive, generative/agentic AI tools that drive agency efficiency. From establishing a new unified visual design language to fine-tuning each product and feature through targeted beta programs, my goal has been to ensure that no matter how fast technology evolves, the human experience remains at its core.

The UX team at Applied Systems during our UX Summit 2025

June 2025