About Elysia

ME
I’m an avid lover of nature, intensely curious about behavior change in humans and a fierce supporter of brilliant products for humans. As a design leader with more than 20 years of experience (8 of those leading people and teams), I also deeply care about building teams with trust and impact.

RECENT WORK
Most recently I was heading up design at Natural Capital Exchange (NCX), a Series B startup that used AI and Satellite imagery to look at land and find income streams for Nature based investment where I worked side-by-side with CPO to build out vision of next product features. I led concept and testing for Product Market Fit and segmentation strategy.

WHAT MAKES ME DIFFERENT
I believe in solving problems in different industries expands the horizons of product innovation. The novel idea of one industry may be the catalyst needed in the next industry. Brilliant. I have experience in spans femtech, fintech, healthcare, education, climatetech, technology, e-commerce, entertainment, wearables, telecom, etc.

Find me on LinkedIn

Find me on LinkedIn

EXPERIENCE

NCX

Principal Product Designer / 2025

Led design at a climate-tech startup leveraging AI and satellite data to improve forest health and landowner engagement. Delivered three major product launches, boosting member growth and retention by 3%, while driving AI-powered experimentation, personalization, and accessibility at scale. Defined design processes, growth strategies, and customer segmentation to increase subscription engagement and conversion.

NCX

Principal Product Designer / 2025

Led design at a climate-tech startup leveraging AI and satellite data to improve forest health and landowner engagement. Delivered three major product launches, boosting member growth and retention by 3%, while driving AI-powered experimentation, personalization, and accessibility at scale. Defined design processes, growth strategies, and customer segmentation to increase subscription engagement and conversion.

NCX

Principal Product Designer / 2025

Led design at a climate-tech startup leveraging AI and satellite data to improve forest health and landowner engagement. Delivered three major product launches, boosting member growth and retention by 3%, while driving AI-powered experimentation, personalization, and accessibility at scale. Defined design processes, growth strategies, and customer segmentation to increase subscription engagement and conversion.

Charles Schwab & Co.

Experience Design Director / 2018-2024

Scaled a UX team from 3 to 17 within Schwab’s 200+ person design org, leading high-visibility initiatives such as Personalized Indexing, Investing Themes, and Charitable Giving. Shaped product strategy and delivery across wealth, retirement, and donor platforms—launching multiple products that drove billions in new assets, lifted re-engagement by 30%, and cut operational costs. Championed design thinking, dual-track agile, and design systems while coaching 70+ UX practitioners and aligning partners across SVP-level business units.

Charles Schwab & Co.

Experience Design Director / 2018-2024

Scaled a UX team from 3 to 17 within Schwab’s 200+ person design org, leading high-visibility initiatives such as Personalized Indexing, Investing Themes, and Charitable Giving. Shaped product strategy and delivery across wealth, retirement, and donor platforms—launching multiple products that drove billions in new assets, lifted re-engagement by 30%, and cut operational costs. Championed design thinking, dual-track agile, and design systems while coaching 70+ UX practitioners and aligning partners across SVP-level business units.

Charles Schwab & Co.

Experience Design Director / 2018-2024

Scaled a UX team from 3 to 17 within Schwab’s 200+ person design org, leading high-visibility initiatives such as Personalized Indexing, Investing Themes, and Charitable Giving. Shaped product strategy and delivery across wealth, retirement, and donor platforms—launching multiple products that drove billions in new assets, lifted re-engagement by 30%, and cut operational costs. Championed design thinking, dual-track agile, and design systems while coaching 70+ UX practitioners and aligning partners across SVP-level business units.

Transamerica

UX Design Manager / 2017-2018

Directed a 17-person UX team across six enterprise products in wealth management, implementing processes that improved transparency, efficiency, and delivery. Launched a redesigned Wealth + Health web platform, reducing redundant content by 75%, and created a scalable design system that improved brand consistency by 90%.

Transamerica

UX Design Manager / 2017-2018

Directed a 17-person UX team across six enterprise products in wealth management, implementing processes that improved transparency, efficiency, and delivery. Launched a redesigned Wealth + Health web platform, reducing redundant content by 75%, and created a scalable design system that improved brand consistency by 90%.

Transamerica

UX Design Manager / 2017-2018

Directed a 17-person UX team across six enterprise products in wealth management, implementing processes that improved transparency, efficiency, and delivery. Launched a redesigned Wealth + Health web platform, reducing redundant content by 75%, and created a scalable design system that improved brand consistency by 90%.

N26

Lead UX Designer / 2016-2017

Led strategy and design for migration of 170,000 customers to N26’s new licensed bank, retaining 96% of clients and boosting engagement to 86%. Built and grew the design and research team, launched new product verticals (credit, savings, insurance), and established UX best practices across the company.

N26

Lead UX Designer / 2016-2017

Led strategy and design for migration of 170,000 customers to N26’s new licensed bank, retaining 96% of clients and boosting engagement to 86%. Built and grew the design and research team, launched new product verticals (credit, savings, insurance), and established UX best practices across the company.

N26

Lead UX Designer / 2016-2017

Led strategy and design for migration of 170,000 customers to N26’s new licensed bank, retaining 96% of clients and boosting engagement to 86%. Built and grew the design and research team, launched new product verticals (credit, savings, insurance), and established UX best practices across the company.

Quest Alliance

Design Manager / 2015

Introduced human-centered design practices to an NGO transforming education for 1M+ learners across India. Built product roadmaps, launched new feature concepts, and delivered contextual education solutions that boosted youth employment retention by 90%.

Quest Alliance

Design Manager / 2015

Introduced human-centered design practices to an NGO transforming education for 1M+ learners across India. Built product roadmaps, launched new feature concepts, and delivered contextual education solutions that boosted youth employment retention by 90%.

Quest Alliance

Design Manager / 2015

Introduced human-centered design practices to an NGO transforming education for 1M+ learners across India. Built product roadmaps, launched new feature concepts, and delivered contextual education solutions that boosted youth employment retention by 90%.

Frog Design

Sr. UX Designer / 2009-2015

Delivered product and service design for Fortune 500 clients and startups across healthcare, energy, fintech, and consumer tech. Led UX for GE Renewable dashboards, OPower’s energy efficiency platform, Chevron cost-saving services, Disney’s streaming video architecture, and early wearable concepts for Intel—translating business strategy into innovative, customer-centric products.

Frog Design

Sr. UX Designer / 2009-2015

Delivered product and service design for Fortune 500 clients and startups across healthcare, energy, fintech, and consumer tech. Led UX for GE Renewable dashboards, OPower’s energy efficiency platform, Chevron cost-saving services, Disney’s streaming video architecture, and early wearable concepts for Intel—translating business strategy into innovative, customer-centric products.

Frog Design

Sr. UX Designer / 2009-2015

Delivered product and service design for Fortune 500 clients and startups across healthcare, energy, fintech, and consumer tech. Led UX for GE Renewable dashboards, OPower’s energy efficiency platform, Chevron cost-saving services, Disney’s streaming video architecture, and early wearable concepts for Intel—translating business strategy into innovative, customer-centric products.

17FEET

Sr. UX Designer / 2007-2009

Design of multiple hardware and tech products in addition to first Sprint touchphone.

17FEET

Sr. UX Designer / 2007-2009

Design of multiple hardware and tech products in addition to first Sprint touchphone.

17FEET

Sr. UX Designer / 2007-2009

Design of multiple hardware and tech products in addition to first Sprint touchphone.

EVB

UX Designer / 2005-2007

Clients included Adidas, Kashi, Wrigley/Orbitz, Axe, Gallo of Sonoma, Best Buy and Leapfrog. Worked congruently in design and motion, developing a practice of collaboration with my engineers/programmers.

EVB

UX Designer / 2005-2007

Clients included Adidas, Kashi, Wrigley/Orbitz, Axe, Gallo of Sonoma, Best Buy and Leapfrog. Worked congruently in design and motion, developing a practice of collaboration with my engineers/programmers.

EVB

UX Designer / 2005-2007

Clients included Adidas, Kashi, Wrigley/Orbitz, Axe, Gallo of Sonoma, Best Buy and Leapfrog. Worked congruently in design and motion, developing a practice of collaboration with my engineers/programmers.

Modem Media/Publicis

Jr. UX Designer / 2005

Developed and produced email campaigns, banner ad motion graphics and visuals as well as national print campaigns.

Modem Media/Publicis

Jr. UX Designer / 2005

Developed and produced email campaigns, banner ad motion graphics and visuals as well as national print campaigns.

Modem Media/Publicis

Jr. UX Designer / 2005

Developed and produced email campaigns, banner ad motion graphics and visuals as well as national print campaigns.

What is important to me as a leader 💪

Connect on a personal level, understand deeply, lift each other up, support in problem solving

Strong Relationships

Connect on a personal level, understand deeply, lift each other up, support in problem solving

Strong Relationships

Roadmap a realistic approach of how to get to our end result through phases of accomplishments and agreed upon impact

Pragmatic Strategies

Align on objectives, problems to solve and what success means to get job done right, the first time

Accountability Focused

Macro and Micro – be the connecting fiber for system-wide trust & change

Team Relationships

Macro and Micro – be the connecting fiber for system-wide trust & change

Team Relationships

Team positivity & speed can be increased by a caring leader who takes the time to talk and solve with each member

Authentic Care

Take action to solve common team roadblocks, this solves 80% of problems

Scalable Solutions

☕️
Don't be a stranger –
I'd love to grab coffee and chat

One of my favorite things is meeting new people and seeing what their superstrengths are.
Send me an email to connect.

® Elysia Garbade Design 2025
® Elysia Garbade Design 2025
® Elysia Garbade Design 2025