Hey, I’m Michelle

A visionary and collaborative creative leader who builds high performing teams that deliver UX design, visual design, conversation design, service design, content strategy and research. I’m energized by rallying a team to solve complex human needs that drive key business outcomes using my empathetic and inspirational leadership style.

My Approach

Collaborative

I believe in the power of collaboration and lead with a spirit that inspires others to follow the same approach. I’m known for my ability to lead my teams through effective cross-functional collaboration to solve complex design problems. I’ve also co-led a collaboration committee and spearheaded new initiatives across large and complex design teams that enhance connection, collaboration and creative excellence.

Empathetic

I lead with immense empathy for my team and those who I serve every day. My leadership style allows me to effectively build high trust teams who feel safe to openly collaborate and learn together. Having empathy for the humans we design products for is essential to making a positive difference in the lives of those we serve and also ensures the long-term business success of the products we build.

Inspirational

Being able to rally people to work together toward a common vision is crucial when building an engaged, high performing team focused on continuously improving how we solve the right problems in the right ways. I’ve been called a ‘hype woman’ and always aim to communicate the larger vision for the work we’re proud to do every day.

Work

  • Digital Self-Service AI Solutions

    I led the first generative AI features for the UHC mobile app, #1 medical app in the Apple App Store.

    Case study under construction
    Please check back later

  • Onboarding Health Insurance Members

    I led a team that redesigned the onboarding flow for the UHC mobile app and web portal.

    Case study under construction
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  • Specialty Medication Management

    I led visual design as part of the team who redesigned BriovaRx’s mobile app and web portal experiences.

    Case study under construction
    Please check back later

  • “Michelle, thank you for the absolute cohesion you have brought to the Conversation Design team at UHC. You have not only enabled the team's expansion but have been the central guiding force bringing us all together culturally and strategically. Your vision and support in advancing visibility of the team and helping us better organize and execute our engagements in the bot roadmap landscape not only makes us stronger as value drivers, but – equally importantly – has fostered a spirit of joy amongst us. THANK YOU!”

    —Principal Designer, direct report

  • “THANK YOU for all your efforts to improve collaboration across our design team. The weekly highlight of bios have been so incredibly amazing and fun way to get to know people on the team. Also LOVE your new idea of project highlights and particularly focusing on cross team collab projects. All of this has led to both transparency, visibility and engagement across the team. What a way to improve collaboration.”

    —Senior Director, Experience Design

  • “I love your feedback on my professional goals…Looking forward for all the wonderful opportunities this team has to offer. Feeling so positive! Thank you so much for all your support and guidance. You brightened my day today and last night. I'm so inspired and motivated by how you are so thoughtful and caring about your team.”

    Senior Designer, direct report

  • “Thank you so much for giving your time and talents to the UX team for your team building activity at the Breaking Boundaries UX Conference. All participants in this session are going to learn so much about each other, the team, and even (hopefully) themselves! It is such an honor to have you as a leader on this team; it is truly a pleasure having you here.”

    — Vice President, Experience Design

  • “Excellent workshop! Thank you so much for all of the effort you put into crafting and leading such a fun and thoughtful workshop for us and our partners. Your work and facilitation helped us uncover and clarify insights and set the tone for a creative collaboration going forward. I appreciate you so much and am excited to work on this team with you!”

    — Principal Designer

  • “I was so impressed by your presentation today, taking what feels like years of feedback and synthesizing it into an actionable plan to help improve the relationship between design, product, and engineering. Thank you for your hard work!!”

    — Vice President of Product

  • “Your collaboration is perfection. Thank you for bringing me into the design process so that I can share member insights while you’re designing. It’s been so helpful having a seat at the table and watching those designs evolve and being able to influence them along the way.”

    —Principal User Experience Researcher

Awards & Recognitions

  • I was nominated and won the United Healthcare Consumer Product Mindset Award in 2024. This award is given to those who show a new approach to looking at things and doing things differently. The Mindset Award is given to those who not only have a positive attitude but also focuses on growth and development while staying inventive to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

  • I was nominated for the Make IT Happen Award in 2018. This award is given to those who make significant contributions in technology in Optum.

  • I won an ADDY award for packaging design in 2013 from the American Advertising Federation.

Volunteering

American Advertising Federation

  • Student portfolio reviewer

  • Pro-bono graphic design services

GirlOnward, 501(c)(3) nonprofit

  • Pro-bono graphic design services