Resume
ron@rjfernandez.com
www.linkedin.com/in/ronfernandez
Systems Design & UX Strategy | Senior Leader & Mentor | Storyteller
Strategic UX and product design executive with 15+ years’ experience leading digital transformation initiatives in enterprise software, SaaS, AI/ML, IoT, FinTech, healthcare, communications, and regulated industries in North America and EMEA. Proven track record delivering strategic, customer-centered digital products for startups and Fortune 250 companies while aligning cross-functional stakeholders across product, engineering, compliance, operations, and executive leadership.
Expert in end-to-end UX strategy, leadership, Design Thinking, platform architecture, user research, journey mapping, scalable design systems, and agile product delivery. Extensive experience translating complex technical and business requirements into intuitive digital experiences that improve adoption, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Known for building and mentoring high-performing UX organizations, leading multiple concurrent strategic initiatives, and driving organizational alignment across business units while also being hands-on and detail-oriented. Strong executive communication skills including board-level presentations, investor storytelling, strategic workshops, and product vision development. Expert user of design tools and processes (Figma, AI, prototyping, etc.).
Products and services I have designed have contributed to more than $1 billion in direct and associated revenue, including Amazon Kindle, Palm handhelds, SaaS enterprise platforms, and large-scale digital transformation initiatives.
Platform design experience for both consumer and enterprise
Deep alignment with Development, Product Management, Customers, and executive stakeholders
Creative and innovative leader, manager, and mentor
Agile design methodologies expert
Experience in regulated industries (medical, fintech)
Platform design expertise with both consumer and enterprise experiences
Strong science and math background
User research and journey mapping
Always useful, delightful, user-centric design solutions
Employment & Consulting
Head of Design, Gallup
5/2025 - 11/2025
Led first unified design team. Implemented new, scalable design methodologies and procedures, including integration into development processes and business planning and strategy.
Established first consistent enterprise-wide design methodology and UX practice.
Created first multi-quarter schedule for all technology initiatives; fully integrated design requirements into product development roadmaps to provide a single source of truth.
Integrated AI-assisted workflows into core UX deliverables including architectures, user journeys, and strategic planning.
Senior Vice President, User Experience Product Manager, U.S. BANK
4/2022 - 8/2024
ed end-to-end UX strategy and product design for a cloud-based enterprise platform supporting data governance, analytics, AI/ML services, and regulatory compliance initiatives.
Directed UX strategy for a large-scale enterprise portal enabling migration of regulated data and analytics workflows to the cloud.
Translated complex governance, compliance, and operational requirements into scalable, user-centered digital workflows.
Collaborated with executive stakeholders, compliance leaders, data governance teams, and engineering organizations.
Evaluated and influenced selection of third-party data quality tools including Microsoft Purview, Manta, and Collibra Data Intelligence.
Head of Design, PARSABLE TECHNOLOGIES (startup)
7/2019 - 1/2022
Led UX strategy and design operations for an enterprise SaaS “connected-worker” platform serving industrial and regulated-industry customers.
Developed long-term UX vision and “north star” platform strategy to improve enterprise adoption and workflow alignment while ensuring minimal backend impact.
Built and managed a multidisciplinary UX team that grew from four to nine designers with specialists in accessibility, healthcare systems, and product design.
Created scalable design systems and enterprise interaction models for connected-worker platforms used in regulated industries.
Wrote and designed investor pitch deck and re-branded the company contributing to a successful $60M funding round.
Insulin pump app design, Eversense (subcontract with Dubberly Design Office)
2019
Re-designed mobile glucose monitor application (which was FDA approved). Simplified real-time status display, standardized notifications model, updated visual design.
Senior Design Director, Senior Marketing Manager, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS
7/2016 - 2/2019
Led cross-functional design, product innovation initiatives, and outbound marketing for in-house Internet of Things (IoT) software and hardware R&D team.
Managed multidisciplinary teams across UX, software, hardware, and strategic marketing initiatives.
Directed rapid innovation programs for CES showcase technologies, including voice-enabled smart device prototypes.
Developed strategic product storytelling, sales enablement content, and executive presentation materials.
Authored Samsung’s IoT data privacy policy supporting GDPR compliance initiatives.
Head of Product, ACME Technologies (startup)
5/2014 -6/2016
Led product strategy and UX design for multi-platform/SaaS venue management and ticket sales platform.
Designed multi-platform enterprise and customer-facing workflows supporting venue management and ticket sales.
Developed B2B2C workflows enabling multi-vendor ticket sales partnerships and operational scalability.
Designed backend data models and UX frameworks supporting dynamic pricing capabilities.
Helped secure strategic customer wins including Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New Museum, and DeYoung Museum.
Head of Product, Palate Home (incubator startup consulting)
5/2014 – 12/2015
Led UX and product strategy for an IoT smart appliance startup within the Y Combinator ecosystem at the request of Don Norman (Nielsen Norman Group).
Designed and delivered iOS application experiences for connected IoT grill.
Led product storytelling, brand strategy, and executive presentation development.
Executed a complete premium-market rebranding initiative.
Presented strategic product demonstrations to investors and prospective enterprise partners
CES Strategist, Asurion (six-month contract, extended)
8/2013 – 4/2014
Led strategic UX vision and presentation design initiatives for CES 2014.
Designed enterprise support and customer-service platform concepts for CES executive showcase demonstrations.
Developed interactive product strategy prototypes and future-state experience concepts.
Created integration strategies for newly acquired technologies and service workflows
Vice President of Design, HAN:DLE (startup)
7/2012 - 8/2013
Led UX, product strategy, and launch positioning for a productivity and communication startup.
Designed integrated communication, email and task-management platform inspired by GTD methodologies.
Directed product launch activities including PR strategy, analyst briefings, demos, and messaging.
Represented the company at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield (HAN:DLE came in second place).
Senior Director of Kindle User Experience, AMAZON
7/2010 - 7/2012
Led UX strategy and product design for three generations of Amazon Kindle eReader devices.
Directed UX strategy and delivery for three generations of Kindle products across international markets.
Delivered innovative UX solutions reducing hardware complexity and operational costs with supporting internationalization required for EMEA product launch.
Rebuilt and led Kindle UX team in support of large-scale hardware and software innovation initiatives.
Designed customer experiences enabling internationalization, digital commerce, advertising, and content ecosystems.
Presented UX strategies and product concepts directly to senior executive leadership including Jeff Bezos.
Director of Product Design, Strategy & Emerging Technologies, AVAYA
Director of Product Design, Traverse Networks (acquired by AVAYA in 2008)
5/2005-6/2010
Led enterprise unified communication platform design strategy spanning mobile, desktop, and web experiences.
Designed enterprise workflows and clients to integrate voice, video, messaging, and collaboration services.
Developed strategic product requirements supporting platform integration and acquisition initiatives.
Collaborated closely with engineering and product organizations on enterprise architecture and workflow strategy.
Patents
Visual voicemail management
US8396456B2
Conference material bot method and apparatus
US8290136B2
Specified Constraints For Message Responses
US20100262921A1
Adapting display fonts for reflective displays
US9190025B1
Real-time communications application
US20180249004A1
CallorNot alerting application
US20160316056A1
Stanford University
BA in History
Aargauische Kantonschule (Canton Aargau Technical School), Aarau, Switzerland
Publications
The Palm Zire 71 Camera Interface
Paper and presentation to SigCHI in Vienna, Austria
Approaching Macintosh (first and second editions)
Addison-Wesley