Executive-Level · Selective · High-Trust Engagements

Design Leadership Without Full-Time Hire

Some teams need strategy, others full ownership, I partner where design leadership drives outcomes.
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Fractional Leadership
Fractional Chief Design Officer

You need executive design thinking without the full-time hire. I set strategy, build the team, ship product.

3-month minimum
IDEAL FOR
Seed to Series C building or rebuilding design. Founders who know design matters but haven't hired for it.
What You Get
Operate as CDO or Head of Design with full executive accountability
Set design strategy, principles, and team operating model
Hire, onboard, and mentor your design team—IC through senior lead
Own the relationship with product, engineering, and C-suite
Weekly leadership sync, async Slack access, and board reporting if needed
What You Get
Built 0→1 design org for fintech startup: hired 5 designers, shipped 3 products in 7 months
Stepped in as interim CDO at Series B SaaS during 4-month gap—zero team attrition
Scaled design team operating model from 2 to 11 designers
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Executive Advisory
Design Advisory & Board Consulting

You have a design team but no one to say what's broken. I provide perspective your internal team can't.

6-month minimum retainer
IDEAL FOR
Series B–D with board-level design concerns. Design leaders wanting an agenda-free peer.
What You Get
8 advisory hours per month: weekly strategy calls and async review
Independent audit of your design org, team structure, and output quality
Strategic input on roadmap, product direction, and design investment
Executive coaching for your existing design leader
Hiring guidance and network access for senior designer referrals
What You Get
Restructured Series C design team from 8 to 12—zero regrettable attrition
Board design reporting framework adopted across 3 VC portfolio companies
Coached design director to VP promotion within 18 months
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Executive Advisory
Embedded Leadership

Some problems need someone in the room. I embed fully without the full-time hire.

2–6 month engagements
IDEAL FOR
Critical moments—launch, redesign, post-acquisition. Teams evaluating before committing.
What You Get
Full embedded presence across standups, sprints, reviews, and stakeholder meetings
Real-time design decisions with full context, not async recommendations
Hands-on design and prototyping when the team needs capacity
Team mentorship and daily coaching throughout the engagement
Clean exit: documentation, knowledge transfer, and hiring support
What You Get
Embedded 5 months at enterprise SaaS during platform redesign: shipped on time
Post-acquisition integration: unified two design systems and cultures in 90 days
Defined the CDO role, ran the search, and handed off cleanly to full-time hire
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Leadership Impact

What the founders, CTOs, and executives say after bringing me in to lead, shape, and scale their design function.

Olha has amazing talent and knows how to bring your vision to life. She has a vast knowledge of design and stays up-to-date with the ins and outs of interactive design. She will always be my go-to when I want to put a team together for a new project.

Kit Desai
Co-Founder & CBO

It was a pleasure working with Olha, she was quick to integrate to the team and understand the product despite minimal onboarding. Olha is a very clever and experienced designer. She was able to take ownership and lead the design to the next level.

Arnaud Rachez
CTO

Olha worked on a website and mobile app design for me. I couldn't have been happier with her creative eye and professionalism.

Corey Dion Lewis
Founder

How I Select Engagements

✓ Design has executive sponsorship
I only work with companies where design has a real sponsor at the C-suite or board level. Without that, I can't create the change you're paying for.
✓ The problem is clearly defined
You receive a written proposal within 48 hours: exact deliverables, timeline, pricing, and any dependencies on your side. No ambiguity.
✓ You want a partner, not a vendor
I give direct feedback, push back on bad decisions, and tell you when I disagree. If you want someone who nods along, I'm not the right fit.
✓ Build capability, not dependency
Every engagement ends with your team more capable than when I arrived. I document, transfer knowledge, and help you hire or promote into the gap I leave.
Open to new opportunities

Ready To Start?

Book a free 30-minute discovery call.

Tell me what you're building.
I'll tell you how I can help and exactly what it will cost.

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Currently taking new clients · Typical start: 1–2 weeks from contract