SYDNEY CRESCENZO
Product Design Manager
Hello and welcome 👋 I'm Sydney, an experienced design manager, systems thinker, and data enthusiast. With +10 years of expertise, I bring an energetic and action-oriented approach to teams delivering exceptional experiences that solve people's problems.
I currently am the Product Design Manager for the student experience at the education non-profit Khan Academy, where I support a team of product and brand designers across both the core student platform and AI-guided tutor Khanmigo.
I live in New England with my partner and our dog. Outside of work, you can find me reading, moving, or exploring a myriad of new creative hobbies.
Work
Product Design Manager, Learner Experience
I lead the a team of product and brand designers evolving Khan Academy's student experience, both the core experience and AI tutor Khanmigo (khanmigo.ai). My focus is on coaching designers through navigating artificial intelligence, developing an insights-driven design practice, and collaborating on strategic initiatives to expand reach and engagement.
2023 - Present
Product Design Lead, Core & Innovation
Hybrid design lead and manager, I scaled the Product Design team at this insure-tech startup, evolving the core feature set and leading research and development into new functionality required to support additional lines of business for expansion.
2020 - 2023
UX/UI Designer, Small Business Credit Cards
Designer for small business credit card applications (SMB) on both the core brand and partner websites, when financial institutions had to respond rapidly to changes during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020
Additionally at multiple orgs as a UX/UI Designer from 2013-2020.
I welcome you to visit my Linked In to see additional experience optimizing conversion, revenue, and category growth in experiences across e-Commerce and agency settings.
LINKED IN: ALL ROLESLeadership
I demonstrate democratic and participatory leadership. I'm confident in owning goals, discussions, and final decisions, but actively consult teammates for their valuable insight. This allows me to gather creative input and fresh ideas that may have been missed by working alone. I aim to model leadership behavior, prioritize mutual respect, and value learning from speed over prioritizing perfection.
My values and leadership ethos is what I strive to practice daily, in order to create environments where people can bring their best selves to work. Please reach out to learn more about how they're applied in practice.
Transparent Communication
All Ideas Welcome
Know the "Why"
Flexibility through Change
Honest, Timely Feedback
Celebrate Learnings
Speaking
About
I speak at virtual and in-person design and tech events. I enjoy getting to connect with students, designers, and industry professionals alike to share in excitement and mutual learning. Previous talks have centered on the intersection of Design and AI.
Previous
- Microsoft Learn Live Classroom: Khanmigo (ISTE Conference, '24)
- Panel: Designing AI for an Industry (Collide Conference, '24)
EMAIL
LINKED IN