ec·lec·tic (iˈklektik/) 1. deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
My life has taken me down many paths – teacher, faux-finish artisan, nonprofit founder, entrepreneur, consultant, graphic designer, and website developer. I moved from San Francisco to Kolkata in 1999 and have lived in Asia for more than twenty years. I’m now based in Vientiane, the rapidly growing capital of Laos. My interests range widely and include photography, travel, reading, cooking, gardening, art, and insects.
After several years of traveling to India as a tourist, I returned to Kolkata to volunteer—an experience that became a true turning point. My husband and I later moved back to launch Uddami, a project helping young people from low-income communities in Kolkata gain essential tech skills. We spent thirteen years building the program before handing it over to our extraordinarily capable team of former students, who continue to carry the mission forward. You can learn more about Uddami here: https://uddamiindiafoundation.org
Teaching tech skills revealed a talent I hadn’t expected: design. Today, I create websites and graphics that are practical, elegant, and simple. I listen closely to clients and work with them to transform their ideas into something not only functional but beautiful. I also encourage clients to learn how to manage and update their own sites, and I’m always happy to teach the skills that eventually make my role unnecessary.
