Hola, hello, gude! 👋🏼
I'm Gabriela, a product design leader and strategist skilled at simplifying complex problems, and finding the best tools and processes for any challenge. I thrive on building cohesive teams and products that share a common vision to reach collective goals.
Currently leading design at Kalepa, an AI-powered commercial insurance underwriting tool.
I focus on creating long-lasting products by establishing a strong foundation of product thinking.
To bring ideas to life, I use a systematic design approach and collaborate with cross-functional teams, contributing to product strategy, architecture, and interfaces, ensuring we cover different perspectives to achieve lasting results.
By regularly conducting feedback sessions, workshops, and leading knowledge-sharing initiatives, I empower designers and product creators to effectively utilize their skills and align their efforts with broader team objectives.
My ultimate goal is to avoid the build-trap and collaborate effectively to drive the product by understanding the problems and exploring opportunities.
Career overview
Lead Product Designer @ Kalepa
2024 - present
Lead all aspects of product design, guiding the vision of the product, while fostering innovation and efficiency within the team.
Sr. Product Designer @ Wolt (DoorDash Intl.)
2022 - 2024
Led the desirability vision, strategy and implementation for the B2B2C product development of Wolt.
Sr. Product Designer @ CLARK
2019 - 2022
Led design initiatives of insurance recommendations that increased revenue by more than 300K€.
Sr. Product Designer @ Namely
2019
Led design integration of government employee verification platform.
Sr. UX Designer @ J.P. Morgan
2018 - 2019
Defined vision and strategy of AI initiatives for investment money movement, and service support.
I have a business-oriented mindset and design through strategic iterations of my work.
My professional identity is a combination of roles, I am a business analyst, information architect, stakeholder manager, facilitator, and designer. I firmly believe that each of these roles is essential for fostering teamwork and creating a shared understanding of the challenges we aim to solve.
Through an object-oriented process, I lead teams in efficiently navigating the complexities of every project, ensuring a clear vision is set early on. I advocate for a balanced approach to design, emphasizing the value of 'just enough design up-front' through collaboration with engineers, and business partners.
As a team lead, I organize productive sessions to optimize resources, bridge knowledge gaps, and capture collective insights. I prioritize simplicity and functionality, recognizing their fundamental role in the success of complex systems. Guided by iterative frameworks, I drive sustainable growth and innovation in all aspects of a project.
Words from my colleagues
Combining great product design skills with design ops and excellent communication skills comes to my mind if I describe Gabriela.
Besides her work in the product trio, she helped me a lot in setting up the processes ceremonies and introducing new ways of working in the Design Team. Gabriela has excellent communication skills, and I saw her stepping up her facilitation skills, running multiple workshops with teams and stakeholders.
Dominik Kenzler, VP Product Design
(Dominik managed me directly)
For over a year, Gabriela has been an invaluable mentor and guide in my professional journey.
The insightful syncs with her have significantly expanded my understanding of UX methodologies. Gabriela's guidance also extended beyond technical skills. Her advice and example instilled in me a deep understanding of the critical role that design plays in the product development triad, alongside engineering and product management, in shaping the overall product strategy.
Sofia Secchi, Product Designer
(Sofia worked with me on different teams under the same group)
Gabriela became a true partner in helping strategize and execute on what problems to solve and how to solve them.
Gabriela was able to come away from just pixel perfect and work hands-on with me on topics such as customer research, problem definition, prioritization and solution exploration. She could think big and small and I felt that I could trust her to do the job we needed to in order to bring about the product and business outcomes we were responsible for.
Maria Lasprilla, Product Manager
(Maria worked with me on the same team)
During less than 2 years I’ve seen Gabriela consistently demonstrate the behaviours and skills of a true design leader.
Gabriela’s views on product creation, the role of design in the product trio model, her sharp observations in crits and hands-on work she delivered within her product team have inspired me to think in new ways and influenced how I approach my own team’s work. I’m thankful for having learned so much.
Livia Hakala, Sr. Product and Service Designer
(Livia worked with me on different teams under the same group)
Gabriela does not stop at the superficial understanding of the domain she's working in, she does her best to also understand what's happening under the hood.
Her designs always come from an analytical place of what are we trying to solve and which are the problematic bits, instead of aimlessly redesigning things for the sake of redesigning them. Gabriela is super organized and keeps her work well-structured.
Riku Heinonen, Sr. Backend Engineer
(Riku worked with me on the same team)
Gabriela's collaborative approach drives decisions that align with strategic goals and customer needs.
She communicates design decisions, ensuring alignment with all stakeholders. Gabriela set a clear vision for our team and actively listened to stakeholders and customers, adapting designs accordingly. As a leader and coach, Gabriela provides solid guidance through educational initiatives and workshops, demonstrating a remarkable ability to facilitate discussions and achieve goals effectively.
Elisabeth Panic, Product Marketing Manager
(Elisabeth worked with me on the same team)
