About Harrison

My journey into technology began when I was 12 and discovered computers. That early spark led to a lifelong curiosity about how things work—and how to make them better. I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in a community that valued hard work but hadn’t yet embraced the digital world. That environment fueled my drive to learn and create. I studied Art and Art History with a focus on Graphic Design at the University of Iowa while playing Division I football. Balancing creativity and competition taught me discipline, teamwork, and how to lead under pressure—skills that have guided my career ever since. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve helped build products, scale teams, and lead design across startups and large companies. I co-founded a music streaming startup before Spotify launched in the U.S., worked with artists at DefJam, and later joined Base CRM, which was acquired by Zendesk. At each stage, I’ve focused on blending craft with impact—making user experiences better while moving the business forward. Most recently, I spent seven years at LinkedIn, where I led design for the Marketing Solutions business. I scaled the team from 6 to 26, launched an AI-powered campaign creation tool in under six months, and developed a team operating model that improved collaboration and delivery. Our work supported a transformation from a sales-led model to a self-serve platform, helping the business grow from $500 million to over $5 billion in revenue. In 2020, I launched Technically Speaking, a podcast dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices in design, business, and tech. It’s been streamed in over 100 countries and continues to inspire the next generation of builders. I also speak at global conferences like Figma Config, SmashingConf, and ConveyUX, and lead mentorship programs for emerging design leaders. Right now, I’m on a professional sabbatical, traveling, recharging, and connecting with the global design community. I’m using this time to support others in their journey—whether that means navigating leadership transitions, building confidence, or redefining what success looks like. I specialize in: - Transitioning from individual contributor to design manager - Growing influence across product, people, and strategy - Breaking into product design from non-traditional backgrounds - Crafting portfolios and stories for senior and leadership roles - Coaching through organizational change, layoffs, or burnout recovery