# Anastasiya Shekhtman

> Interdisciplinary Product & Design Leader | Former 2x 0→1 founder | Translating cutting-edge tech into intuitive user experiences

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/anastasiya

Penn-educated product design leader and 2x venture-backed startup founder with over a decade of experience building and launching products from zero-to-one and managing world class teams. Proven track record of shipping 5-star beloved experiences and leading through multiple black swan events. I combine deep design craft with people leadership, operational rigor, and founder-level ownership to build teams that execute at a world-class level.

I live and breathe design, world building, systems, connection, and multiplayer collaboration. My zone of genius is building brands that feel inevitable, reimagining interaction paradigms, and making cutting edge tech feel familiar.

My work has been recognized by Squarespace, the University of Pennsylvania, and used by notable artists including The Weeknd. 


Currently:

1. Advising startups through my strategic product & design studio, Ceiling Nine, where I partner with CEOs, CTOs, Heads of Product, and engineering leadership to set product vision, define GTM strategy, drive alignment, and execute product & design at the highest level. I’m known for mentoring designers into senior roles, creating clarity out of ambiguity, and bringing calm, decisive leadership during periods of rapid growth or uncertainty. Other areas I help with: finding PMF, brand positioning and identity, product design & UI/UX, design systems, fundraising narratives, website design & development, and more.

2. Exploring ideas in AI foundation tech and creative tooling.


Strengths: Design Leadership & Team Development • Product Strategy • Org Building • Roadmap Creation • UX/UI Excellence • Design Systems • Narrative & Storytelling • Cross-Functional Alignment • 0→1 Strategy & Execution

📬 Get in touch: anastasiyabaltimore@gmail.com

## Work Experience
### Fractional Head of Design @ Ceiling Nine
Jan 2023 – Present
Product, design, and strategy for formidable startups. Engagements range from fractional design executive leadership to strategic product design and hands-on execution across 20+ venture-backed startups.

↳ Translate research concepts and emerging AI capabilities into clear product direction, partnering closely with researchers and engineers to turn cutting-edge tech into intuitive, stable user experiences.
↳ Lead multidisciplinary teams and help startups operate in high-velocity iteration cycles without compromising quality bars or user trust.
↳ Recruit, hire, and mentor designers, developing them into high-performing senior contributors and establishing the rituals and systems that scale design excellence.
↳ Ensure world-class craft across product, UX/UI, design systems, and brand to create coherence and world-class quality across all surfaces, providing hands-on direction and execution when the work demands senior-level taste and experience.
↳ Partner with CEOs and Heads of Product to shape product strategy, drive alignment across product and engineering, and establish company-wide quality bars.
↳ Introduce operational rigor around reviews, prioritization, and sprint planning to increase clarity, velocity, and cross-functional execution.
↳ Advise founders on GTM, narrative, and fundraising storytelling, contributing to successful launches and investor raises.

### Co-Founder & CEO @ Ethereal
Jan 2022 – Jan 2022
The decentralized social interaction layer for the web. Accepted into On Deck’s accelerator (top 1.5%).

↳ Assembled world-class interdisciplinary team from Apple, Goldman Sachs, Gilt, and Unity to build a new human interaction layer for the 3D web. 
↳ Drove product vision, UX direction, and GTM, overcoming the industry-wide “cold start” challenge. 
↳ Secured a business partnership with Polygon, expanding distribution to 1.5M+ target users.
↳ Partnered with COO to architect a new social monetization model that aligned incentives between users and brands.
↳ Oversaw product design, user research, and strategic prioritization across the organization.

### Cofounder & CEO, Fumble Product @ More Technologies, Inc.
Jan 2020 – Jan 2021
A lightweight SMS & web app launched during rapid iteration cycles in lockdown. 

↳ Led a small, cross-functional team to design, build, and ship 3 virtual products during the pandemic.
↳ Owned product strategy, UX direction, and go-to-market, enabling fast iteration loops and rapid user learning.
↳ Recruited renowned creators and talent to host remote experiences that seeded community engagement.
↳ Directed UI/UX, brand, marketing creative, and prototype development across multiple releases.

### Co-Founder & CEO,  More App @ More Technologies, Inc.
Jan 2018 – Jan 2021
An on-demand IRL social app with a lifetime 5-star customer rating; grew 63% WoW pre-pandemic.

↳ Formulated heart and voice of product. 
↳ Led product vision, user research, and GTM for an experiential social platform backed by the first investors in Pinterest & Notion.
↳ Managed and mentored a small product + design team to build a multi-feature product ecosystem (chat, mapping, reviews, multimedia content).
↳ Designed full UI/UX system, identity, animations, and brand creative across all surfaces.
↳ Built a modular design system that improved developer handoff by 60% and increased product velocity.
↳ Created and executed a high-performing acquisition strategy achieving $0.98 CPA.

### Founder & CEO @ HEIR
Jan 2018 – Jan 2018
A high-end cult fashion brand worn by models, influencers, and The Weeknd.

↳ Designed, sourced, and developed premium fashion products from concept to production.
↳ Managed supplier, factory, and production relationships across the full supply chain.
↳ Led brand creative, marketing direction, and distribution strategy.

### Head of Content @ SportsRecruits
Jan 2017 – Jan 2018
Led a cross-functional marketing & product storytelling team that spanned design, engineering, sales, and customer success.

↳ Spearheaded a design-led marketing initiative that drove a 130× increase in top-of-funnel prospects.
↳ Built and managed a cross-functional content team, improving collaboration between design, engineering, sales, and customer success.
↳ Directed product storytelling and video experiences that elevated brand quality and user engagement.

### Content Marketing Manager @ SportsRecruits
Jan 2016 – Jan 2017 | Greater New York City Area
↳ Built and owned a cinematic, design-forward brand narrative highlighting user success stories.
↳ Led 0→1 development of video content systems for product marketing and acquisition.

### Content Partner @ YouTube
Jan 2015 – Jan 2016
↳ Produced, edited, and grew video content to an audience of 10,000+ fans.
↳ Established partnerships with brands across fashion, e-commerce, and home categories.

### Talent Development Design Intern @ URBN (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group, & Free People)
Jan 2012 – Jan 2013
↳ Designed and managed an internal blogging system used across six URBN brands.
↳ Led culture initiatives and creative-directed events for 200+ employees.
↳ Supported recruitment and candidate development.

### Design Intern @ URBN (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group, & Free People)
Jan 2011 – Jan 2012
↳ Developed an organizational system that optimized design team's efficiency by 25%. 
↳ Worked with lead designer to develop new product collections. 
↳ Supported design communications with international vendors.

### Digital Marketing Intern @ URBN (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group, & Free People)
Jan 2010 – Jan 2011
↳ Scaled brand reach in DTC channels.

### New Concept Intern @ URBN (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group, & Free People)
Jan 2010 – Jan 2010
↳ Reported directly to the Chief Creative Officer and Brand President of Free People. 
↳ Developed concepts for brand expansion and compiled findings into concept books used by the president in meetings and presentations. 
↳ Designed marketing deck for high-end wholesale distribution. 
↳ Selected to lead Free People’s summer intern program project.

### Designer at the Kelly Writers House @ University of Pennsylvania
Jan 2010 – Jan 2012
↳ Designed typography for monthly calendars and program collateral advertising KWH’s 150 events.


## Education
### Bachelor's degree in Design, Creative Writing, Russian
University of Pennsylvania
Jan 2010 – Jan 2014


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/anastasiyashekhtman

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Source: https://flows.cv/anastasiya
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/anastasiya/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-03-25