# Mike Combs > Director of Product & UX Strategy | Driving innovation through emerging technologies (AI, AR, analytics) | Proven doer and inspiring leader Location: San Francisco, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/mikecombs I’m a UX strategy and design leader with 20+ years of experience building user-centered, business-driven digital experiences across industries like finance, healthcare, transportation, and retail. I’ve led teams at Charles Schwab and IBM iX, built enterprise mobile apps as part of the Apple + IBM partnership, and helped Fortune 500 clients align their business goals with human-centered design. Whether facilitating workshops, building AI-powered prototypes, or mentoring designers, I’m passionate about turning complex challenges into elegant, scalable solutions. Some highlights: * Delivered Schwab UX initiatives that exceeded 80% usability scores and drove 15%+ in assets under management for my products * Trained 1,000+ practitioners globally in UX design and IBM Design Thinking * Led the design of 8 industry-specific enterprise apps that transformed workflows using mobile, data, and AI ## Work Experience ### Principal Product & UX Strategy Leader @ C2 Consulting Jan 2000 – Present | San Francisco, California, United States • Drive cross-functional teams to deliver innovative digital products and services, blending strategic vision with hands-on execution to create user-centric, technology-driven solutions. • Spearhead the integration of service design principles and emerging technologies to improve customer experiences across diverse industries, from financial services to healthcare. • Lead workshops to align executive stakeholders on product vision, market opportunities, and technology roadmaps, ensuring strategic clarity and shared goals. • Define and execute product roadmaps, integrating advanced research insights, business needs, and technological opportunities to deliver market-leading solutions. • Produce actionable UX and product deliverables—including journey maps, prototypes, wireframes, and detailed specifications—to accelerate development cycles and improve market fit. ### Product Design Strategist & Leader @ Charles Schwab Jan 2022 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco, California, United States • Led product design initiatives for high-impact financial products, driving System Usability Scale scores above 80% and surpassing new asset targets by 15%. • Collaborated with executive stakeholders to align product vision with the needs of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, translating complex requirements into differentiated experiences. • Pioneered service design and design thinking workshops to shape long-term product strategies and drive innovation across multiple channels and platforms. • Fostered a culture of experimentation and rapid iteration, empowering teams to integrate emerging technologies and continually improve product offerings. ### UX Design Lead & Strategist @ Charles Schwab Jan 2021 – Jan 2022 | San Francisco, California, United States ### Director UX Strategy & Design @ IBM iX Jan 2008 – Jan 2020 | Chicago, Illinois, United States • Directed global design and product strategy teams, delivering transformative digital solutions across enterprise, mobile, and wearable platforms. • As part of the Apple + IBM partnership, lead product design teams through creating groundbreaking industry-specific iOS applications that integrated AI, analytics, and enterprise data, redefining workflows and operational efficiency. • Drove rapid prototyping and MVP development using emerging technologies from IBM Research, enabling swift validation and market readiness. • Managed product strategy workshops with senior executives worldwide, resulting in actionable roadmaps and prioritized capability development. • Built and scaled high-performing design and product teams, mentoring talent to deliver business outcomes and strengthen organizational design maturity. ### Director, Interaction Design & Marketing @ The Patent Board an ipIQ company Jan 2005 – Jan 2008 | Chicago, Illinois, United States ### Senior Information Architect @ Razorfish Jan 2003 – Jan 2005 | Chicago, Illinois, United States ### Interaction Designer @ ServiceMaster Jan 2001 – Jan 2003 | Chicago, Illinois, United States ### Front-end Engineer & Information Architect @ SCIENT CORP (SCNT on Nasdaq) Jan 2000 – Jan 2001 | Chicago, Illinois, United States ## Education ### Bachelor of Science - BS in Political Science and Government Southern Oregon University ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/mikeccombs - Portfolio: https://www.mikecombs.com --- Source: https://flows.cv/mikecombs JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/mikecombs/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13