Olivia Holland

As a UX practitioner and leader, I am constantly humbled by the projects, people, and problems I have the opportunity to support. All have taught me the value of the pupil mindset with no one solution or structure able to work for all scenarios and no two problem spaces presenting the same. Especially while working in consulting and research with rotating clients, marketspaces, and goals/services this experience reiterated the need for adopting a practitioner mindset of adaptability backed by years of experience. In new scenarios, I am inclined to acknowledge my lack of knowledge, lean into vulnerability, and identify opportunities for flexibility, growth, and learning. I have found that this mindset also allows me to better empathize and assimilate with new audiences and future proofs my practice within the diverse and everchanging landscape of technology.

Skills

Values

Experience

Pluto
(2022-Present)

Product & Design Manager

• Designed, resourced, and delivered product initiatives in collaboration with adjacent leaders for high-quality, timely product launches 
• Worked to determine, continuously validate and communicate competing organizational priorities and resource accordingly as cross functional team manager 
• Worked with business, marketing, and sales teams ahead of development to research, identify, and design product opportunities and worked during development to guide go-to-market efforts 
• Led cross functional initiatives to develop the product roadmap in alignment with the company’s strategy and goals and present this vision throughout the organization to guarantee essential shared knowledge 
• Cultivated continuous open communication with executive stakeholders to ensure agreement and approval
• Defined and championed the product, design, and research practices for a growing start up with no previous investment of these spaces  
• Worked directly with CEO and COO to cultivate and govern the sensitive cultural landscape of a growing startup 

Intevity
(2018-2022)

Managing Consultant, User Experience Strategy 

• Built a team of 4 designers from junior UI roles to senior UX designers and researchers. Mentored each team member to facilitate growth and accelerate value. Furthered the organizational mission and values through individual and team embodiment including sustaining the mature (20+ years) remote culture. 
• Drove quality and timely delivery of product by focusing on UX acceleration and cross functional enablement. 
• Developed strategic product direction and reenforced this UX vision across multiple projects and cross functional teams. Achieved within the UX team by providing direct feedback and validation and achieved externally by positioning UX as a necesary and reliable resource for adjacent teams and ensured UX had a seat at the table to influence and protect the future of the product. 
• Created space for the UX team to thrive and individually advocate for their audiences/projects with my strategic support. Focused on collaborating with team members on identifying opportunities and advising on challenges as they arise. Assisted the UX team to unpack complex problem spaces to define elegant solutions. 
• Operationalized design processes to increase cyclical project success, clarify shared expectations, and reduce team/project ambiguity. 
• Worked alongside fellow managers to accelerate team productivity and collaboration. Cultivated cross functional relationships to define working standards from which all teams may work within clear pre-defined expectations. Accelerating product delivery and ensuring cross-functional support for the product vision. 

Prior roles with Intevity include

• Senior Consultant, User Experience Research & Product Design
• Consultant, User Experience Research & Product Design
• Associate Consultant, User Experience Research 

Vectorworks
(2016 – 2018)

Designer

• Spearheaded the UX design within and adjacent to the Vectorworks product suite including software installation and web services. 
• Advocated for the introduction of UX practices within the product development lifecycle of the Vectorworks product suite. 
• Contributed to the website redesign efforts, specifically working on the establishment, testing, and iterating of a new onbrand design system 
• Owned and managed the email design process for the marketing department. Built customizable templates for the communications team to use within Hubspot & managed the design and build of custom emails. 
• Managed the digital banner ad design process, templatizing a selection of on-brand standard ad styles and defined marketing and copywriting ad request process standards

Schlesinger Group, Baltimore Research
(2014 – 2016)

Qualitative Research Assistant

• Ensured a smooth, reliable, timely experience for both research clients and respondents, often acting as liaison between the two to ensure anonymity and consistency.
• Prepared all aspects of research studies including recruiting efforts, calling, screening, scheduling and confirming respondents; as well as physical preparedness of materials, room set up, technology needs, and equipment for both clients and respondents.
• Trained new employees on best practice for handling a wide variety of respondent and client needs.
• Mastered flexible professionalism and remaining adaptable to constantly-changing client and project needs to maintain a controlled professional research environment.