Product Design Manager (FY17–FY19) • Scaled 2→6 designers • Delivered 5 new Talent modules • Enabled HCM expansion

North Star: Deliver complete Talent suite to unlock enterprise sales and per-employee product growth.

Outcome: +62.5% revenue growth, +100% value per employee

Context & Mandate

Joined during Paylocity’s shift from payroll into a full Human Capital Management (HCM) provider.

Mandate: build a scalable design practice, accelerate delivery of missing Talent modules (Recruiting, Compensation, Learning, Performance Journals, Onboarding), and ensure enterprise-grade UX under compressed timelines.

Organizational stakes: Completing the Talent suite was a strategic priority for upmarket HCM growth. The organization saw the Talent suite as critical to competing effectively in the enterprise segment.

Team & Role

• Roles held: UX Lead → Product Design Manager.
• Scope: accountable for design outcomes in production code, leading across multiple product lines.
• Built team: scaled from 2 → 6 designers (4 new hires) between Oct 2017–Mar 2019.
• Partnered directly with SVP Product & Development, VP of Design, and cross-functional Directors.
• Mentored designers; established review and sprint cadences for cross-team alignment.

Key Actions (STAR-style)

• Scaled team capacity → Led four hiring cycles, onboarding and mentoring 4 new designers; created stable delivery rhythm.
• Accelerated delivery → Instituted bi-weekly sprints, monthly exec reviews, and cross-team creative reviews.