Building Bridges Between Tech, Plants and People.
I believe that even the most advanced AI is meaningless if it doesn't solve a real human problem on a real lab, farm or production line.
If you had told me a decade ago, while I was finishing my Ph.D. in Law, that I would spend my days measuring leaves and discussing seedling viability in forests, I wouldn't have believed you.
My transition from legal practice to founding Petiole wasn't just a career change; it was a response to a passion. I saw a gap where technology was too complex for the people who actually needed it. My legal training taught me how systems are built, but my life as a founder taught me how they are broken — and fixed.
The Persistence of a Believer
Building Petiole wasn't paved with instant wins. It was built on a mountain of "No." I have lost count of the grant applications that were rejected and the doors that didn't open on the first try.
But I am a continuous believer in the good. Every "No" was simply a refinement of the mission. I believe that if you are solving a problem as vital as food security and the future of our planet, the universe eventually aligns with your persistence. I bring that same resilient optimism to every speaking session I have and every line of code we develop.
Today, my work sits at the intersection of three worlds: the precision of AI, the rigor of education and agrifood policy, and the reality of the field. Whether I’m advising agrifood leaders, speaking at the events or working with fellow innovators, my goal remains: to make innovation feel human and progress feel inevitable.