As Head of Product Experience, I was hired to build a new product organization from the ground up at a fast-growing tax technology startup. I established the design team, hiring senior talent and defining processes for critique, PRDs, research, and reviews, while partnering closely with engineering and executive leadership to create the company’s first long-term product strategy. I led high-impact initiatives including redesigning the filing operations system—responsible for 50,000+ annual filings—and building Zamp’s first major customer-facing value features such as the Economic Nexus Tracker. I also played a player-coach role, designing key experiences myself while shaping next year’s strategic roadmap and presenting company-wide updates alongside the CEO and COO. My work improved cross-functional velocity, created clarity around product direction, and dramatically elevated the customer experience.

At Pantheon, I led a team of high-performing designers through major product and organizational transitions, including a complete modernization of a platform carrying 13+ years of design and technical debt. I drove craft excellence, consistency, and a clear strategic design vision across the team while partnering with product and engineering leadership on the roadmap. My team delivered foundational improvements such as a new information architecture, updated design system, and a rebuilt platform experience. I also guided innovation work, including PLG onboarding and straight-to-web publishing from Google Docs, and helped define processes and principles for the broader design org. Throughout constant organizational change, my team maintained the highest satisfaction scores and delivered consistently strong work.

At New Relic, I managed a team of 5 designers working across highly technical product areas, including activation, billing, pricing, and platform workflows. I played a key leadership role in major cross-company initiatives such as launching a new, more affordable user type—partnering with executives, PMs, and engineering to define permissions, entitlements, and experience patterns across the product. I also contributed heavily to org-wide quality governance, product principles, and design operations improvements that elevated consistency and clarity across the design team. My work helped unlock new revenue opportunities, streamlined key user journeys, and strengthened the connection between design and senior leadership.

At Pluralsight, I operated in a hybrid product manager/product designer role, leading the discovery, design, and development of nearly a dozen product experiences and internal tools. I worked closely with engineering teams in Utah and Ukraine, including managing contractors and coordinating cross-time-zone delivery. A notable project included building an automated transcription system that replaced manual workflows, significantly improving content production efficiency. I also supported and guided intern and master’s programs, helping early-career designers develop strong foundational skills. This role gave me deep experience with end-to-end product ownership, complex problem-solving, and cross-cultural collaboration.

I founded and ran a boutique design agency for more than three years, managing a team of four designers and delivering work for clients such as Hewlett-Packard, L’Oréal, and Overstock. I handled creative direction, client relationships, team leadership, and end-to-end delivery—balancing design excellence with real-world business needs. Our work focused on visually compelling, highly functional marketing sites and digital experiences. Leading a small agency strengthened my ability to context switch, build trust quickly, and maintain a consistently high quality bar. It also shaped my people-first leadership approach and appreciation for strong team culture.

As an adjunct professor, I taught interface design, experience design, and design communications courses to upper-division design students. I integrated industry-standard practices into the curriculum, emphasizing strong craft, critique, and clarity of decision-making. My students graduated with professional-level portfolio pieces and a deeper understanding of product thinking. Many went on to secure internships and full-time roles at top companies. Teaching reinforced my commitment to mentorship and helped shape my leadership philosophy around growth, clarity, and psychological safety.