About

Twenty years across industries, team sizes, and org structures have taught me one thing above all else: when the experience is right, the business results follow.

I'm Nikki — a design leader who connects customer insights with business goals, influences organizational change, and builds teams that create digital products people love to use.

I've led design for major brands — including Blue Cross NC and First Citizens Bank — and worked across agency, in-house, and startup environments. That range has made me a sharper strategist, a more adaptable leader, and a better collaborator.

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How I lead

I create environments where collaboration, trust, and constructive feedback drive innovation and results. I lead by serving my team, removing obstacles, and empowering them to do their best work while growing their careers.

I grew my current team from two to eight, including product designers, content strategists, a researcher, and a producer.

Rooted in the craft

Strategy

Great design alone doesn't create great experiences. I work alongside product, business, IT, research, analytics, and marketing partners to ensure what we build is achievable and delivers real business value.

UX design

I've been passionate about holistic customer experiences since early in my career, when I spotted an opportunity to improve order confirmations at a startup and took the initiative to fix it. That instinct hasn't left me.

Visual design

Good visual design draws people in; good UX keeps them coming back. I started in print graphic design for Kmart, Ford, and General Motors, and visual craft has stayed at the forefront of my work ever since.

Marketing and content

With a background in retail advertising and time spent as a copyeditor for corporate B2B projects, I understand brand messaging, content hierarchy, and end-to-end experiences that earn repeat customers.

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A little more about me

My husband Chad and I have been married for over 20 years and have two children and a boxer. Outside of work you'll find me hiking, camping, catching live concerts, or at a stand-up comedy show. My drink of choice: coffee with cream by day, coffee-infused porter by night.