Clarity & Accountability
I create alignment before I create deliverables. By translating ambiguous briefs into clear OKRs and communicating design rationale in business language, I earn stakeholder trust and protect design's seat at the table.
Three pillars of my
leadership practice
Strategy into Measurable Outcomes
I use research, systems thinking, and rapid experimentation to navigate ambiguity — translating complex technical requirements into executable experience roadmaps that drive adoption, retention, and growth.
Building Teams at Scale
I hire intentionally, coach continuously, and set standards that travel. I've scaled design functions from 2 to 20+, established craft principles, and created psychologically safe environments where ownership is the norm.
Case studies that
show leadership in action
Retention Strategy · SaaS
Rewards Rule Engine
A developer-gated loyalty workflow was costing marketing teams 4 days per campaign and causing 90% manual error rates. I led end-to-end discovery, design, and delivery — reframing a technical tool as a business growth engine and handing full campaign ownership back to non-technical teams.
- Campaign Deployment Time
- 75%
- Manual Error Rate Eliminated
- - 90%
Global UX Transformation · Enterprise
JackpotFill — Legacy to Modern
Guided a cross-functional, globally distributed team to redesign a critical jackpot processing system. Led the UX strategy that modernised legacy workflows and reduced processing time by 20% — directly impacting operational cost.
- Processing time saved
- 40
- Cross-functional team
- Global
Mobile Platform · Patented Innovation
PlayerMax — Mobile-First Casino Platform
Pioneered the UX vision for a mobile experience that unlocked an entirely new revenue channel for Aristocrat's casino partners. This work resulted in a patent — reflecting both the novelty of the interaction model and the strategic depth of the design thinking that drove it.
- Awarded for innovation
- 2 Patents
- For Aristocrat
- Revenue
Mobile Platform
Tata 1MG - Global search optimization/h3>
Redesigning Search for India's Largest Health Platform. 1MG serves millions seeking medicines, lab tests and doctor consultations. A broken search experience was costing conversions — and user trust. I led a research-driven redesign to fix both.
- For Tata 1MG
- Utilization
Results that speak
to executives
40%
Reduction in design-to-dev cycle time through modular design system governance
20+
Years delivering across global SaaS platforms and consumer products
2
Patents awarded for interaction model innovation in mobile platform design
∞
Teams mentored, designers levelled-up, and design cultures built from scratch
Two decades of growing
design leadership
-
Mar 2021 — Present
Aristocrat Technologies / Global
Sr. Manager UX — Enterprise Platforms
Led end-to-end UX for global enterprise SaaS and B2C platforms, driving growth through design, data, and personalization. Directed UX for JackpotFill, PlayerMax, and loyalty ecosystems. Built and scaled a distributed design org, established design system governance, and partnered with the C‑suite to embed design into core product strategy.
- Design Leadership
- Team Scaling
- Design Systems
- Patents
-
Nov 2019 – Mar 2021
Tata 1MG / D2C Mobile
UX Design Lead
Drove measurable growth for a large-scale consumer SaaS platform serving millions of users.
- Experience Strategy
- Research Ops
- Mentorship
-
Dec 2015 – Oct 2019
Bechtel India / SaaS
UX Manager
Scaled and mentored a high-performing enterprise UX team while embedding user-centered design and establishing global design governance, driving alignment, consistency, and measurable improvements across complex internal platforms
- SaaS apps UX
- Mobile UX
- Enterprise Products
-
More info
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How I think about
design leadership
Great design leadership isn't about being the best designer in the room — it's about building the environment where the best design can happen.
Research before solutions
I never let assumptions substitute for evidence. Every major design decision I make is grounded in user research, data triangulation, and stakeholder interviews — keeping us honest when opinions diverge.
Systems thinking over individual screens
I design for scale. Rather than solving one screen at a time, I architect modular systems — design languages, component libraries, governance models — that compound in value over time.
Business fluency as a design superpower
I speak the language of the boardroom and the user in the same breath. Understanding revenue models, conversion funnels, and OKRs makes my design rationale impossible to dismiss.
Psychological safety drives craft quality
The best design work I've seen comes from teams that feel safe to challenge briefs, take creative risks, and bring their whole perspective. I actively build that culture — through how I give feedback, run critiques, and handle ambiguity.
Leadership through
others' eyes
I had the pleasure of working with Pooja Kudesia at Keane, and several other projects. I am consistently impressed by her remarkable skills and unwavering professionalism. Pooja’s expertise in digital strategy & project management is truly outstanding, and her contributions have made a significant impact on teams and projects.
Pooja demonstrated a deep understanding of complex problems to be solved effectively applying her knowledge to drive successful outcomes. Pooja’s proactive approach, combined with her excellent communication skills, makes her an invaluable asset to any team. She consistently brings a positive attitude and a collaborative spirit, which greatly enhances team dynamics and fosters a productive work environment.
I highly recommend Pooja Kudesia for any role that values a talented and driven professional. Her expertise, dedication, and ability to deliver results will undoubtedly contribute to the success of any organization.
"I worked with Pooja on the same team in a different role and found her to be a solid UX professional. She consistently focused on aligning user needs with project goals and was thoughtful in her approach. Pooja asked good questions during discussions and contributed to clearer decision-making, especially in complex situations. She worked well with others and helped maintain a collaborative environment."
"Pooja is a seasoned UX leader with a sharp eye for detail and a strategic mindset. Her ability to balance user needs with business goal is great!"
Open to design
leadership roles.
I'm exploring opportunities at the Design Director, UX Director, and Head of UX level — where I can shape product strategy, grow design culture, and deliver measurable impact at scale.
What I'm looking for
Currently open to opportunities
- Design Director
- UX Director
- Head of UX / Head of Design
- VP of Experience Design
- Global SaaS or Consumer Product
- Teams of 5–30 designers