why you should hire me
I deliver positive impact where it matters
I kick ass at leading both work and teams
I deliver design & strategy results. Period.
I’m one of the best in the field at mixed method, quant and qual research and synthesis
My workshops are the best at bringing creativity & collaboration across an org
I’m amazing at building healthy, trusting work relationships
I’ve worked in some of the most complex, difficult sectors and industries
And I never equivocate or avoid the hard decision
Shipping bad software is easy.
Anyone can call themselves a good designer. It’s not about ‘taste’, which is just as problematic as design thinking. The difference is, I have standards, sense, & experience to help you do better.
What sets me apart
My observation, listening and synthesis skills are second to none because I’ve been doing this work for a very. Long. Time. I’ve learned all the hard lessons about poor business results that incorrect methods, bias and anecdotal findings have to teach, so you don’t have to.
My research and design results are relevant, actionable, prioritized, & backed by data. And most importantly: successful.
I know more about business models than most CEOS. It’s possible I know as much as a therapist about human behavior.
I spend more time doing, not talking about what I will do. I have spent as much time in my career shipping as I have leading.
I use systems thinking, ethics and principles when I work.
I update my point of view and methods when new information arrive or previous ways of working become outdated.
I make artifacts that deliver intended outcomes and meet high standards.
Part of this career in tech thing is just keeping up with what’s coming next (oh hai, AI) and figuring out if I should use it. I constantly refresh my skills and perspective, then bring the best methods, tools and skills into teams I work with.
Peep my full list of skills
Don’t take my word for it.
This is what people I’ve worked with have to say about my strategy, research and design skills.
“Shelby is the kind of design leader everyone hopes to work with but hardly ever finds. She really listens, understands the details, and makes hard problems easier to solve. She can talk business with executives, guide new designers, or jump in to do the work herself. Her projects don’t just get finished—they make a real difference for teams, products, and people.”
— Samantha Voelkel, Co-Founder | Information Architect, Word Nerds LLC
"Listening" may sound like a soft skill amidst the LinkedIn word salad, but it's essential for a UX practitioner and staggeringly important for a UX leader. Many people stop listening as they move up in their careers. Instead, Shelby has embraced it even more and seen terrific results.
—Laura Nash, Design and Operations Leader at 18f
Shelby is that rare but perfect mix of leader, do-er, mentor, and advocate. Her work, from discovery to completion, goes beyond checking off tasks. She digs deep to find the root of problems and solves them with smart, thoughtful solutions that work (and delight).
— Courey Gruszauskas, Design Manager at Morningstar
Even in our first conversation it was obvious that Shelby got it. Her experience is deep and diverse. That's equipped her well to handle what UX experts need to do today: strategize, organize, advocate, and educate. I felt I could get a project in her hands and watch it succeed, no matter what the circumstances. She is a superb communicator, facilitator, and leader.
Shelby is one of the very best people I've ever had the honor of working with. I'd recommend her in an instant.—Paul McAleer, Head of Experience at Livefront
My track record is not the number of features released.
75% of the time that is not a decision made by me.
It’s about empowering and enabling teams to deliver the most successful work we can.
We need better leaders. I am one of them.
I know! Big claim, right?
After decades of working in design and technology, I have seen a lot. I I am confident enough to declare with certainty that I am one of the better leaders in tech today.
I choose to build an inclusive, balanced, cooperative community that works to have a positive impact on the world around us. Ethical, curious, humble leaders are imperative.
This approach has definitely not taken me to the highest heights of leading in FAANG companies (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix or Google) even though I’ve been recruited by them many times.
Sometimes I have FOMO about that, worrying that those decisions have hurt my long-term prospects. But I can sleep at night knowing I have not contributed to the many problems those big companies have created.
What sets me apart
I believe that 90% of time, more brains are better and make sure to include the people carrying them around.
I am a long-term systems thinker who can translate a vision into short-term, feasible roadmaps.
I see implications of decisions further out and more accurately than most people.
I have principles and I follow them. I’ve had a lot of time to practice because of the gaslighting and bullying running rampant in tech. Even when it’s easier for me to set aside a principle “just this one time,” I don’t. I’ve learned the hard way that this leads to terrible results.
Almost everyone I’ve ever been privileged enough to manage has been promoted or had their career or lives change due to my leadership.
Nearly everyone I’ve led has told me I’m the best manager they’ve ever had. Many still come to me for mentoring long after we have parted ways.
Again - don’t take my word for it.
This is what people I’ve worked with have to say about my leadership and people skills.
Shelby is a true strategic design/UX leader, manager, and advocate. My highest recommendation. I hope to have the opportunity to work with Shelby again -- wherever she goes, they are very lucky to have her.
—Denis Underwood, CSPO, Product Leader at Docusign
Shelby is a phenomenal manager. She leads from the field, helping her team hone in on and develop their strengths. Mistakes are celebrated and she is quick to reframe failures as learnings.
Her enthusiasm and big ideas propel projects forward in complex, highly regulated industries. She habitually challenges assumptions, including her own.
— Maggie Slavin, Lead Designer at DocusignShelby is an inspirational leader. She develops relationships with all the key stakeholders, innately understands the business needs and creates the compelling story that connects everything in a holistic, impactful way.
—Ann Dvoretsky, Engineering Leader, now therapist
I've been working under Shelby for the past year and I have to say that I've never worked for anyone quite like her. I say that in a positive way - she's wonderful. The best thing about Shelby is her unapologetic approach to UX. She knows how things are supposed to be, and she is not afraid to express it. This empowers the team to go off and design, and ultimately makes my job easier knowing that she's got my back.
She has also pulled the UX team out of obscurity and put us in front of new teams and parts of the organization that we've never been able to touch before. Her management style is that of mentor more than taskmaster, and that approach promotes harmony within our team. I would work with Shelby again in a heartbeat.
—Patti Sievert, Design Leader at Threefold