Leadership Collective
Leadership Collective
Andrew Hogan
10:30 - 11:30A
Leadership Collective
10:30 - 11:00A
Rituals to unbreak planning
11:00 - 11:30A
Strategic behaviors and mindsets of design executives
10:30 - 11:30A
Leadership Collective
Andrew Hogan
he/him
Head of Insights at Figma
Andrew leads Insights at Figma. His research focuses on the digital product and design industry and the ways the most successful teams work. Previously, Andrew spent 7 years at Forrester, a leading research firm, analyzing the intersection of design and tech.
10:30 - 11:00A
Rituals to unbreak planning
Last year, Yuhki and Shishir gave a popular talk exploring rituals for having great meetings and this year, we’re back with a sequel on another meaty topic: planning. When we talk to PMs and leaders across the industry, so many people tell us that “planning is broken.” This prompted us to go study how many world-class companies approach planning, and we’re here to share our insights — as well as teams’ unique rituals — that will hopefully help “unbreak” planning at your company.
Shishir Mehrotra
he/him
Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder at Coda
Shishir Mehrotra is CEO and Co-founder of Coda, the all-in-one platform for business, which combines documents, spreadsheets, and applications into a single canvas. Before founding Coda, he co-ran YouTube as the CPO / CTO, overseeing the YouTube product, UX and engineering. Prior to Google, Shishir spent 6 years at Microsoft and held leadership roles in the Windows, Office, and SQL Server divisions. Before Microsoft, Shishir was the founding CEO of Centrata. Shishir is an MIT graduate, and was awarded the Technology Review's TR35 ("35 innovators under 35") award in 2012. He has been an advisor to Spotify since 2015 and joined the board in June 2017.
Yuhki Yamashita
he/him
Chief Product Officer at Figma
Yuhki Yamashita is the Chief Product Officer at Figma, where he leads the product and design teams. Before joining Figma, he was at Uber for over 4 years, where he led the redesign of both the rider and driver apps. Prior to that, he was responsible for the YouTube app on iOS at Google.
11:00 - 11:30A
Strategic behaviors and mindsets of design executives
Unpack case studies of how three leading design executives from CNN, Warner Music Group, and Target leverage strategic design leadership to drive business transformation. This panel expands on research conducted by Design Executive Council in collaboration with Figma, which examines the key mindsets and behaviors behind their enduring success and strategic business impact. Explore the mindsets and behaviors that work across both large and small design team environments. The session offers tailored, actionable insights for design leaders aiming to elevate their influence and effectiveness at any level.
Gordon Ching
He/Him
Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Design Executive Council
Gordon Ching, Founder & CEO of the Design Executive Council (DXC), champions strategic design leadership alongside influential senior executives, CEOs and board directors. Noting that only about 5.3% of Fortune 1000 companies have a chief design executive, DXC aims to boost this number, enhancing the influence and value of design functions in companies. Under his leadership, DXC has emerged as the premier member network for global design executives and board directors, providing executive networking, research, advisory, and business insights. With a background in design, research, and marketing at leading companies like Apple and Affirm, and a Master's in Design Management from SCAD, Gordon is at the frontier of elevating and integrating design's strategic role in transforming businesses worldwide.
Purvi Shah
She/her
Vice President, Head of UX Design, Research, and Accessibility at Target
Purvi is a seasoned design leader with extensive experience in global payment, commerce, and retail. With roles at Target, Amazon, and Visa, she’s driven large-scale transformations, enhancing design maturity, digital innovation, and business impact. Currently, as VP, Head of UX Design, Research & Accessibility at Target, she oversees all aspects of guest and team member experiences, aiming to boost UX’s strategic value in the company’s vast operations. Her background includes positions at Amazon and Visa, focusing on design excellence and global strategic design, respectively. Purvi’s diverse experience spans multiple industries, contributing to her adaptive and business-focused approach. She holds degrees from Parson School of Design and is a founding member of the Design Executive Council.
Alex Hsiao
He/Him
Vice President, Product Design at CNN
Alex Hsiao, Vice President of Product Design at CNN Digital, steers the global product design and user experience across platforms including mobile and web, establishing CNN as the top online news outlet. An acclaimed design leader and entrepreneur, Hsiao has driven startups and global companies towards impactful user experiences and design-led success. His portfolio boasts collaborations with industry giants like Netflix and Marriott, earning him recognition such as Gold Horizon, AVA Digital Awards and features in the Wall Street Journal. Hsiao, a cum laude graduate in Graphic Design from American University, lives in Washington, D.C., and is a founding member of the Design Executive Council.
Christina Goldschmidt
She/her
Vice President, Product Design at Warner Music Group
Christina Goldschmidt, VP of Product Design at Warner Music Group, is celebrated for scaling product design teams for major impact, utilizing data to foster cultures that advance business and social outcomes. With 25 years of experience at companies like Etsy and American Express, her work spans digital innovation and cross-functional leadership. A mental health advocate, she promotes authentic management styles. Christina is a founding member and board advisor for the Design Executive Council. Holding an MBA from NYU Stern, where she's a leading lecturer, and a B.S. in design from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, her expertise is recognized across the design and business sectors.
session hosts
Andrew Hogan
he/him
Head of Insights at Figma
Andrew leads Insights at Figma. His research focuses on the digital product and design industry and the ways the most successful teams work. Previously, Andrew spent 7 years at Forrester, a leading research firm, analyzing the intersection of design and tech.