About
I've spent fifteen years in product design — IC through Director, mostly in enterprise, where I owned design systems and built teams. I'm currently co-founder and CPO at an AI health startup, which means I'm back in the messy early part again after years of the structured part. Both have been useful. Most of what I've learned came from the stretches that didn't go smoothly: the role that wasn't what it looked like, the burnout, the rebuilds. I coach alongside my design work, and I've found the hardest career questions are usually not skills questions. In a session I'll ask more than I answer at first — I want to understand what you're actually solving for, which is often one layer under the question you brought. Then I'll be direct. I'd rather give you something honest and specific than something encouraging and vague, and I'll tell you when I don't know. You don't need a polished question to book. "Something's off and I can't name it" is a fine place to start.
How I can help
I help mentees throughout their product design or UX journey. Having been a hiring manager and AI early adopter, I can support and guide designers at all levels in career planning, advancement, and AI integration into design roles. Specifically, I can support the following: rebuilding after a layoff, moving from IC to leadership, integrating AI into your design workflows effectively, upleveling your design portfolio, career pivots, how to stand out to a hiring manager, and much more.
Ask me about
IC to manager
Returning from a break
Pivot into design
Layoffs
A failed launch
A reorg
Getting passed over
Influence without authority
Presenting to execs
Negotiating comp
Imposter syndrome
Building a design system
First design hires
Growing into leadership
First or only designer
Stakeholder standoffs
Craft to strategy
Expertise
Selected work
Resources I share
Group sessions Stepheni has hosted
What mentees say
5 testimonials on Hop
Fantastic! Although I knew and use AI as part of my tech stack it was great to hear how to better use and understand these tools for future use and improve what's foundational for my business and how to approach AI. Stepheni addressed the worry that comes with the territory as well as able to show what's possible for those wanting to better their capabilities as well as stand out in the job hunt.
Samuel · Oct 2026 · Hop session
Fantastic! Stepheni M. was extremely informative and helpful. Their session helped to know how better to frame my narrative and a couple AI tools that would be beneficial for all attendees' paths! They were well prepared, spoken, and capable of answering questions on the fly.
Samuel · Oct 2026 · Hop session
Amazing session! Loved Stepheni's passion and down-to-earth advice on navigating the hiring landscape. Helped me to remember that in the end, we're all still human beings =).
Jon · Oct 2026 · Hop session
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