I didn’t set out to work in tech. I just wanted to take an art class. But a detour through computer science led me to something deeper: a path that combined logic, creativity, and human-centered thinking. This essay traces how an unexpected beginning shaped my approach to design, helping me become the kind of leader who thrives in ambiguity and builds bridges between people, ideas, and systems.

As AI automates routine tasks, early-career roles are not disappearing. They are being reshaped. This piece explores how the middle of the job ladder is compressing, pushing junior workers into more complex responsibilities without traditional support structures. Drawing on historical parallels, it argues that AI raises the floor rather than eliminates it, and calls for new systems of training and mentorship to meet the moment.

I’ve been creating since before I knew what “legacy” meant. Art was never a race for me—it was how I stayed grounded. Some of us build from the margins, in connection, not competition. This is where I build from.

The Brutalist Mannequins series began as a way to process four decades of anxiety and depression, but it ended up revealing something deeper—the quiet unraveling of a 12-year relationship. Created during a personal breakdown, these works became a mirror for emotional truths I hadn’t yet faced. This reflection revisits the series five years later and explores what it helped me understand, express, and survive.

A personal reflection on the lasting influence of high school art teachers and the interdisciplinary art program, The Palette Paradigm, developed by Doug DePice. Through archived video lessons and storytelling, Eric explores how early exposure to the connections between art, science, math, and humanities shaped his critical thinking, creativity, and lifelong learning—revealing the deep impact of integrated arts education.