# Brian Maximilian Salay > AI-Native Product Design Leader | Building Teams + Shaping Strategy + Shipping Products | Yahoo Finance, Yelp, Google Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/brianmaximiliansalay I'm an AI-native design leader who builds intuitive, trustworthy experiences for data-rich consumer and B2B products. Human-centered and product-minded, I naturally blur boundaries between design, product, and engineering to accelerate alignment, operating fluidly across levels from executive strategy to individual contribution. AI amplifies my strengths, enabling faster ideation, quicker validation, and higher-quality decision-making. I move seamlessly between framing and execution, using prototypes, models, and narratives to explore behaviors, surface tradeoffs, and align teams early so execution feels inevitable rather than forced. With a builder's mindset, I roll up my sleeves and do whatever is needed to learn, unblock progress, and move the work forward, whether as an executive, a manager, or a hands-on contributor. My approach to design is purposeful and outcome-driven. Data grounds us in fact. Design turns insight into direction. And feeling is where human impact lives. Software should empower people to make confident decisions that lead to positive behavioral and economic outcomes. I've built and scaled design organizations of 5-30 people at Yahoo Finance, Google, Yelp, and other leading technology companies, consistently elevating design as a strategic function and earning sustained executive investment. Most recently at Yahoo Finance, I led the organization's AI transformation as Head of Design managing a design organization of 13 while partnering directly with Product, Engineering, and Data Science leadership. As an Executive Sponsor I led and executed the design vision for Yahoo Finance's AI-native mobile app, translating emerging AI capabilities into trusted cross-platform experiences. In parallel, I drove multiple 0→1 product ideations and launches, including Workspace Terminal, AI Analyst, Investor Community, and Personal Finance. These experiences greatly increased engagement and user confidence. To amplify the way we work I founded Yahoo's first AI Evangelism Team, establishing shared principles, patterns, and guardrails for AI UX that aligned stakeholders and accelerated data-driven product development. I measure success across three dimensions: clarity and confidence for users, meaningful engagement for the business, and teams that are aligned, growing, and accountable for real outcomes. ## Work Experience ### VP Head of Design @ Yahoo Finance Jan 2023 – Present ### Product Advisor @ COVU Jan 2020 – Jan 2024 Helped find product market fit leading to securing $10M Seed round to scale ### Director - Head of Product Design for Yelp Businesses, and Head of Research @ Yelp Jan 2020 – Jan 2022 ### Sr. Director - Head of Product Design @ LendingClub Jan 2018 – Jan 2020 ### VP - Head of Product Design & User Research @ Realtor.com Jan 2015 – Jan 2018 ### Head of Product Design @ Khoros Jan 2013 – Jan 2015 ### Head of Design - Global expansion and Design Systems @ eBay Jan 2012 – Jan 2013 ### Staff Design Manager - Commerce @ Google Jan 2011 – Jan 2013 ### VP - Head of Product Design @ Fox Corporation Jan 2007 – Jan 2011 • Defined and established a UX discipline for On Demand Video across multiple Fox Network platforms. • Played a key role in product strategy from concept to launch, including executive funding. • Led the successful redesign of American Idol and the launch of FOX on Demand, enhancing user engagement. • Conceived, led and launched original products such as The Simpsons Unleashed and Fox Sports 180 ̊ ### Senior Design Manager @ Yahoo Jan 2004 – Jan 2007 • Built and led the Front Page UX team, successfully launching the first major redesign of Yahoo.com. • Spearheaded UX initiatives for Yahoo! Originals, including innovative products like The MTV Movie Awards “UGC Movie Spoof.” • Hired, mentored, and supported designers, fostering their career growth within the organization. ### Senior Designer @ frog Jan 2001 – Jan 2004 Led multi-disciplinary User Experience Design and User Research initiatives such as MAGELLAN Handheld GPS and Disney Consumer Electronics Operating System ### Designer @ frog Jan 2000 – Jan 2003 ## Education ### Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design College for Creative Studies ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/brian-salay - Website: https://soithink.com --- Source: https://flows.cv/brianmaximiliansalay JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/brianmaximiliansalay/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-05