# Lesley Zhao

> Design at Upstart

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

## Work Experience
### Senior Product Designer @ Upstart
Jan 2024 – Present | San Mateo, California, United States

### Head of Creative and Brand @ 愉园社 Society of Heart's Delight
Jan 2023 – Present

### Board Member, Advisor @ Circle Cat 循环猫
Jan 2021 – Present

### Senior Product Designer @ Roblox
Jan 2021 – Jan 2023 | San Mateo, California, United States
Roblox Trust and Safety

### Product Design Lead @ IXL Learning
Jan 2019 – Jan 2020
- Managing the end-to-end product building experience from project kick off, to product design and development
- Defining the design vision and strategy of core areas of IXL product
- Leading the design of accessible, responsive content for desktop and mobile apps
- Collaborating with cross-functional partners to define product direction and achieve end-to-end quality
- Contributing to the design, documentation and publishing of the design system

### UX Designer @ IXL Learning
Jan 2018 – Jan 2019 | San Mateo, California
- Conceptualizing and leading new initiatives across mobile and web platforms
- Creating user-centered solutions for complex workflows including all design deliverables
- Partnering closely with cross functional teams like product, engineering, research, data, and marketing
- Articulating and communicating designs via presentations, storyboards, wireframes, prototypes and animations

### UI/UX Designer @ Optym
Jan 2016 – Jan 2018 | Gainesville, Florida Area
- Identifying business problems and user goals for decision automation tools
- Participating in strategic planning and resource allocation across teams
- Facilitating design thinking workshops and event branding globally
- Leading the creation of design system and usage guidelines
- Creating wireframes, workflows and interactive prototypes for web/desktop applications
- Executing user research efforts like persona, storyboard, design thinking, usability testing, etc.
- Coordinating with cross-functional teams to optimize deliverables and outcomes
- Projects include locomotive and route planning tools, pickup and delivery operational planning platforms, and airline network scheduling applications

### UI/UX Designer @ The Center for Geographic Information Systems
Jan 2015 – Jan 2016 | Greater Atlanta Area
- Contributing to the design of a geographic information system that capture, store, analyze and manage geographic data 
- Participating in all aspects of UI design process: executing visual design stages from concept to final hand-off to develop team, visualizing data and research results, establishing design guidelines
- Assisting in social media marketing and visual branding

### UX Researcher @ Center of Assistive Technology and Environmental Access
Jan 2014 – Jan 2014 | Greater Atlanta Area
Worked on a mobile navigation system for seniors and people with disabilities
- Creating data visualization, information graphics and visual analytics
- Conducting market analysis and user research
- Collaborating with front-end engineers on the final prototype
- Assisting in usability testing


## Education
### Master’s Degree in Industrial Design
Georgia Institute of Technology

### Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design
Wuhan University

### Bachelor’s Degree in Public Affair Management
Huazhong University of Science and Technology


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lesleyxzhao
- Portfolio: http://lesleyzhao.com

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