Design for Impact

Setting a clear vision and ensuring that it is well-communicated is fundamental.

Example: At Infor, I articulated a clear and compelling vision of creating "beautiful enterprise experiences.” I championed a fresh perspective that ERP software should not just be functional and reliable but also pleasurable and meaningful. This philosophy was foundational in guiding the re-imagination of Infor's product suite. This strategic clarity galvanized the organization, driving significant advancements in user experience and establishing a compelling differentiator in the enterprise software market.

Ensuring that each team member is aware of their impact on the organization and customer experience is vital.

Example: At Cisco while developing a new AI platform, I used a rigorous evidence-based design methodology that emphasized prototyping and user feedback to validate each phase of design for the team. This process involved clear goal-setting and continuous performance assessments to ensure alignment with user needs and business objectives.

Using a well-defined skills framework, I ensure consistency in performance evaluations, including metrics for vision, visual proficiency, interaction, systems thinking, communication, partnership, planning, accountability, effectiveness, outcomes, and grit levels.

Example: At Cisco I implemented a detailed performance calibration approach that included feedback mechanisms from cross-functional teams such as engineers and product managers, and created clearly defined team goals to align with the company’s strategic objectives.

At Infor, I created and led an agile product experience team of over 120 designers, strategists, and researchers. Our collective efforts pivoted the company to become the third-largest enterprise SaaS provider, creating over $5 billion in enterprise value. We modernized over 40 complex enterprise products, contributing to $800M in SaaS revenue over five years by focusing on usability, user experience, and market-ready design.

At TMRW Lab, I developed the TMRW Mapping design process that delivered a 200% increase in new revenue in its first year. This process leveraged design thinking and evidence-based strategies to help mid-market B2B clients unlock transformative value through technology and design.

As VP of Product Design & Strategy at RelationalAI, I launched a go-to-market design strategy for a relational database AI tool, leading to over $3M in consulting revenue within three months. Our human-centered design approach fostered a sustainable annual growth plan of over 14% for AI-driven projects.

At Outshift, I led a redesign of the onboarding process that resulted in a 30% increase in Product-Led Growth (PLG) leads within just 60 days. This redesign focused on streamlining the user journey, making it easier for users to understand and engage with the product, thereby boosting conversion rates and user adoption.

While at Infor, I worked on simplifying the onboarding processes for over 40 enterprise products. By enhancing usability and user experience, we significantly reduced friction points for new users, fostering a smoother transition and increasing user adoption across the product suite. This holistic approach contributed to the company's considerable growth in SaaS revenue.

Another significant contribution at Outshift was the introduction of an evidence-based design discovery process. This approach enabled us to align product iterations closely with user needs and feedback, which improved overall user experience, reduced churn, and accelerated user adoption for new product launches.

At Infor, I led the redesign of over 40 complex enterprise products, focusing on improving usability and user experience. By simplifying interfaces and making tools more intuitive, we significantly reduced user frustration and increased overall user satisfaction. This enhancement played a crucial role in retaining large enterprise clients and reducing churn rates.

At TMRW Lab, the TMRWMapping design process I developed was instrumental in tailor-fitting solutions to client needs. By engaging in detailed user research and iterative testing, we delivered bespoke solutions that significantly improved customer satisfaction. This personalized approach strengthened client relationships and enhanced our client's end-customer loyalty.

I launched the first Product Incubation “garage” at Infor, which focused on spotlighting emerging products and services tailored to customer feedback. This initiative not only increased customer visit win rates to over 95% but also significantly boosted customer satisfaction by demonstrating our commitment to continual innovation and responsiveness to their needs.

At Infor, I spearheaded the modernization of over 40 enterprise products, transforming them into market-ready solutions with a focus on usability and user experience. This effort not only positioned Infor as the third-largest enterprise SaaS provider but also created a strong differentiation in a crowded market by offering superior user-centric design and enhanced functionality.

As VP of Product Design & Strategy at Relational AI, I led the development and launch of a cutting-edge relational database AI tool. Our human-centered design approach set the product apart from competitors by providing a highly intuitive interface and clear value propositions. This differentiation was crucial in capturing market interest and driving over $3 million in consulting revenue shortly after launch.

Through strategic redesigns of our onboarding process at Outshift, we achieved a 30% increase in Product-Led Growth (PLG) leads within 60 days. Our focus on user experience and seamless onboarding differentiated our product in a competitive market, making it easier for users to adopt and engage with our solutions.

I led the integration of a key acquisition into our cloud security product in just five months. This transformation took two separate solutions and turned them into a cohesive CNAPP product, greatly reducing complexity and streamlining time to value. Additionally, I improved our onboarding and funnel strategies, which boosted our Product-Led Growth (PLG) leads by 30% within just 60 days.

I spearheaded the company's transition from an on-premise software provider to a cloud business apps organization. This strategic pivot resulted in increasing deal sizes dramatically—from an average of $25k to as high as $120M—ultimately generating over $5B in enterprise value. This transformation was pivotal in enhancing our ability to swiftly meet market demands.

I implemented an evidence-based design discovery process that was instrumental in the rapid launch of an emerging Generative AI product in under three months. This not only exemplified our operational agility but also established a continuous cycle of improvement, ensuring that our product development processes remained both efficient and adaptable.

1. Principles and Guidelines
2. Component Libraries and Patterns
3. Agile Methodologies
4. Collaboration and Documentation
5. Scalability and Flexibility
6. Governance and Management

I implemented a strategic shift from an opinion-based decision-making process to an evidence-based framework. This rigorous design discovery process validates each hypothesis from initial discovery to prototyping and market testing, we ensure our products met the customer’s and our key business performance metrics. This approach has helped align team effort with our overarching strategic goals, ensuring that every product we develop is firmly rooted in validated user needs and market demands.

With the introduction of the first Product Incubation “Garage” I was able to help align our emerging cloud products with market needs by fostering innovation and accelerating time-to-market. This shift was pivotal in increasing new business win rates to over 95%, underscoring the importance of a central framework and process for strategic alignment in driving business success.

I co-developed a proprietary design thinking and discovery process called TMRW Mapping, which delivered a 200% increase in new revenue in the first year. This process was essential in aligning design strategies with business objectives, ensuring that every project not only met users' needs but also contributed to our strategic business goals.

Facilitate Collaboration: Act as a bridge between different teams, facilitating effective communication and collaboration to drive alignment.

Providing Support and Resources: Offer design-thinking help to other teams to overcome challenges. Whether it's providing design assets quickly or helping articulate an idea, always be service-oriented.

Ownership and Accountability: Take ownership of the design outcomes while also ensuring that the credit is shared with all contributors in order to foster a strong spirit of teamwork and mutual respect.

While co-founding Qonsent, a platform focused on consumer privacy, I was responsible for both the design and product strategy, as well as the co-creating the investor story. This narrative was pivotal in securing over $5M in funding and forging a partnership with key corporations. By clearly explaining the disconnect between consumer perceptions and the actual use of their data by brands, and presenting a privacy-forward future, we were able to establish strong investor confidence and engagement.

I implemented a strategic shift from an opinion-based decision-making process to an evidence-based framework. This approach involved rigorously validating each hypothesis from the initial discovery phase through to prototyping and market testing. By doing this we were able to generate more reliable outcomes and foster a culture of transparency. This cultural shift helped build trust among stakeholders as they could clearly see our design processes aligned with key business performance metrics.

At Infor, one of my key achievements was transforming the perception of product design by building a consultative approach to our team. Historically, design had been an afterthought, often relegated to enhancing aesthetics towards the end of the development cycle. By embedding design from the outset and fostering close collaboration with PMs and developers, we were able to realize a shared vision, helping to accelerate alignment on key value outcomes, earning trust from stakeholders.

Early and Continuous Involvement: Design should be an integral part of the product development process from the very beginning. By collaborating closely with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders early on, we can help articulate and realize a shared vision.

Evidence-Based Decision Making: Shifting from opinion-based decision-making to an evidence-based framework is crucial.

Focused Alignment on Outcomes: Our design goals go beyond aesthetics to focus on key outcomes such as stakeholder alignment, user adoption, and conversion.

At Meta, I managed a design team focused on enhancing the user experience of Facebook's internal recruitment platform. Our efforts resulted in a 20% increase in candidate velocity, which reflects the speed and efficiency with which candidates moved through the recruitment pipeline. Additionally, the long-term impact included a 154% increase in platform usage over six months.

At Outshift I personally created a groundbreaking AI initiative designed to optimize user workflows and task management within the enterprise called “Lens.” Key features included context-aware collaboration with a “Context Button” for querying UI objects, multi-item selection for coherent analysis, and interactive UI enhancements like the “Intuitive Contextual Screenshot Region Picker” and “Precision Data Spotlight.”

I led the redesign of our onboarding and funnel strategies, an initiative that resulted in a 30% increase in Product-Led Growth (PLG) leads within 60 days. This improvement was instrumental in significantly enhancing our user acquisition and conversion rates, demonstrating the direct impact of a refined user experience on vital business metrics. By ensuring a seamless and engaging onboarding process, we not only attracted more users but also facilitated their journey towards product adoption and loyalty.

At Infor, I led the initiatives to accelerate the company's emerging products and services. This effort resulted in a significant increase in new business win rates, exceeding 95%. By fostering a culture of innovation and providing a structured environment for the development and testing of new ideas, we were able to align closely with market needs and rapidly bring new products to market. This initiative not only opened up new business opportunities but also reinforced Infor's position as a leader in enterprise software innovation.

As a co-founder of Qonsent, I was responsible for crafting the design and product strategy, as well as creating the investor story that secured over $5M in funding. By clearly articulating the disconnect between consumer perceptions and the actual use of their data by brands, we were able to attract significant investment and forge crucial partnerships with corporate sponsors. This effort positioned Qonsent as a pivotal player in the consumer privacy space, opening new opportunities for growth and innovation.

I led the design strategy for Motific, a new AI product designed to streamline enterprise AI assistant deployments. By focusing on solving real user problems and not just adding new features for the sake of novelty, we created a product that emphasized usability and practical outcomes. Customers quickly recognized the intelligent design and thoughtful user experience. This release highlighted the significant new business opportunities we Cisco can unlock with highly differentiated and innovative products.