Product Design Leader / Strategic
Problem Solver / Research-Driven Innovator / 0-to-1 Product Builder
0-to-1 Product Builder & Innovation Leader
I spent nearly a decade embedded in Allstate's internal startup accelerator, operating with the velocity of a founding team inside a Fortune 100 company. Working alongside ex-Google and ex-Amazon leaders, I built 15+ products from scratch using Lean Startup and Pivotal Labs XP, shipping MVPs in as little as 4 months, from pioneering the first U.S. membership-based insurance platform to launching products generating $300M+ in revenue.
Customer-Centered Leadership
I build high-performing multidisciplinary teams that tackle complex problems through a human lens, creating experiences that simplify complexity and help people feel confident in the moments that matter most. Through coaching, mentorship, and purposeful innovation, I grow talent while delivering measurable business impact across Insurance, E-commerce, and Healthcare.
Research-Driven Strategist
Operating at the intersection of business strategy and user needs, I translate insights into actionable frameworks that guide product direction and organizational change. Embedded alongside Behavioral and Data Science teams, I develop research strategies that drive enterprise-wide decision-making. Through strategic facilitation, I align cross-functional stakeholders around shared priorities and measurable outcomes.
Design Systems Pioneer
I pioneered Allstate's first enterprise design system from zero - establishing vision, principles, React components, and accessibility standards through a grassroots movement scaling to 80%+ adoption across 100+ teams without executive mandate. Currently building J&J's marketing design system for 70+ Innovative Medicine brands, I understand what it takes to establish, scale, and sustain design systems as strategic business assets.
FEATURED WORK
FOUNDATIONAL DESIGN WORK
Earlier UI and interaction design work at Grainger, Humana, and Allstate that shaped my human-centered approach to product design. While my focus has evolved to product strategy, UX research, and design leadership, this hands-on foundation informs how I think about craft, usability, and intuitive experiences at every stage of the design process.
FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND: INSURANCE MEMBERSHIP PLATFORM
Pioneered the first membership-based life and insurance-adjacent platform in the U.S., disrupting traditional insurance models through startup-velocity execution inside a Fortune 100 company. Collaborating hands-on with an ex-Google VP and ex-Amazon leaders, I defined product strategy, built and led a cross-functional design team during a hiring freeze, and delivered a validated MVP in 4 months using Lean Startup methodology
DESIGN SYSTEM PIONEER: FROM GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT TO ENTERPRISE SCALE
Built Allstate's first enterprise design system from zero - establishing vision, principles, React components, and accessibility standards through a bottom-up movement that scaled to 40+ teams within the first year without executive mandate. Over the following years, secured C-level funding to evolve it into a standalone product achieving 80%+ adoption across 100+ teams, and developed a comprehensive research-based governance strategy to sustain its growth.
100 DAYS: LAUNCHING SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE FROM ZERO
Shipped a cutting-edge commercial auto quoting platform in 100 days - transforming a process that took several days into a 10-minute digital experience. Led discovery research, co-creation workshops, and usability testing to identify strategic opportunities, collaborating with Product and Engineering to launch a product generating $300M+ in revenue within its first year.
TESTIMONIALS FROM
MY COLLEAGUES:
I've had the privilege of collaborating with remarkable individuals. Here are a few testimonials reflecting their insights and experiences.
Kendrick Lim
Creative Director, Accenture Interactive
(vendor partner at Allstate)
Without Monika's help during our time on the project together, I don't see how the project would've succeeded at all. Monika understood all facets of the UX and UI practice, that she led her team to be as efficient as possible. I'd say it was a match made in heaven! Monika's knowledge and drive really shined during the toughest stretches of the project. She took lead in assigning work, made sure everyone had what they needed, and made every person accountable for their responsibility.
Her deep knowledge of UX and UI became a continuous reminder to the team to uphold the brand values of Allstate. By the end of this project, our team was celebrated because of what we accomplished in such a short period of time. This project was not a revamp of something existing. This project was creating something entirely new from the ground up. Monika is a true force in the industry. I will not hesitate to work with her again when given the opportunity.
Jon Gunnison
Technical Product Manager at Allstate
(my technology counterpart for the Design System)
“Monika has a knack for leading large projects and initiatives optimally across disciplines. Monika is a talented and outstanding leader; any company would be lucky to have her.”
Seth Goodchild
Product Director, Allstate Business Insurance
(one of my business partners at Allstate)
“Monika is an advocate for high-quality UX process, dedicated to evidence-based design and fun to collaborate with. Bottom line, Monika is valuable to the team. Smart, kind and skilled. We’re happy to have her as a design lead."
Jocelyn Yumang
AVP, Product Design Wells Fargo
(my mentee and designer on my team at Allstate)
“Monika is a Leader, a Teacher, and an Innovator. She taught me the principles and standards of user experience. Monika is knowledgeable, dedicated, ambitious, thoughtful, and passionate in her work.”
Nicholas Paredes
Executive Director User Experience, JP Morgan Chase (dotted line manager at Grainger)
“Monika has contributed to the Mobile UX team at Grainger as an embedded designer. She has been effective at building strong relationships with the business, development, and UX team members, and the quality of her work has been great.”
More recommendations are available on my LinkedIn profile.