Delivering Digital Experiences and Products That Inspire, Engage, and Drive Impact

I lead high-performing teams to deliver innovative digital products that blend design, data, and digital strategy—enhancing end-to-end experiences, strengthening brands, and driving measurable business results. My leadership spans tech, finance, marketing, creative, and consulting industries, grounded in collaboration, accountability, and an award-winning team culture.

  • Great design isn’t just about aesthetics. By aligning design with business strategy, product roadmaps, and customer experience, I lead the creation of solutions that drive engagement, innovation, and impact—contributing to a 27% increase in conversions and a 73% boost in design delivery speed.

  • Experience innovation happens at the intersection of design, strategy, and technology. By blending the three, you get smarter, more intuitive experiences that evolve with users' needs—resulting in a 30% lift in engagement and significantly faster time-to-market.

  • Design leadership is about clarity, not control. I build inclusive, high-performing teams that thrive in complexity—achieving 80–96% employee engagement, a 4.75/5.0 quality score, and 65+ NPS through culture, collaboration, and shared success.

What people are saying

  • “As an experience design professional, Nikole is committed to customer-first thinking and action, and fosters a culture of continual learning and skills development for herself and her team. I highly recommend Nikole as a top-notch Experience Design practitioner and executive leader. "

    Chris Nelson, CMO

  • “Nikole is a very skilled UX/product designer and Experience Design leader, I believe her strongest skills are reflected in the team she oversees. She is a remarkable leader; dedicated to both the advancement of her team and her team's work for the benefit of the customer. She is both a strategic thinker and a strategic leader.

    Elena West, CEO

  • “I have personally known and worked closely with Nikole for many years and have been impressed with her leadership skills and her abilities to consistently deliver high levels of performance while meeting tight budgets and achieving exceptional team engagement. Nikole is an extremely effective and highly accomplished technology and design leader.”

    Ken Gitlin, CEO & SVP Global Operations

  • “There are few leaders I know with more positivity and can-do attitude than Nikole. Her design sensibility and passion for excellence shine through in her work and in the A-team she has working with her and for her. I have met few corporate leaders who are better at collaborating, managing and getting things done.”

    Andrea Hoban, Chief Learning Officer

  • “Nikole’s passion for UX and great design always shines through, you’ll be hard pushed to find a more engaged and enthusiastic business partner. She’s a strong leader who believes in empowering and supporting her team.”

    Jenny Lynch, Fractional CMO

  • “In addition to building a strong, inclusive culture, Nikole leveraged metrics to measure team success and impact. She is a strong advocate for ‘living roadmaps’—each team under her leadership maintained an active roadmap outlining 'what we're doing now, what's next, and what's on the horizon.”

    Steve Alt, Director Media Studio

  • “I had the opportunity to work directly with Nikole during website and product experience projects. She bridged communication between Marketing and Product. Her leadership was remarkable—she united four teams (Web Strategy, Product, Marketing, and User Experience).”

    Richa Garg, Product and Web Strategy Leader

  • “Nikole established a design framework, set the vision, and guided the strategy that continues to drive our progress. What sets Nikole apart is her ability to empower those around her. She creates an environment where people feel valued and supported. This not only drives results—it shapes future leaders. Anyone would be lucky to work with or for Nikole.”

    Priscila Leite, Senior Digital Strategy Leader

  • “I worked for Nikole as a Web Applications Leader. Once people join Nikole’s teams, they don’t want to leave. I am one of those people. She is transformational leader who inspire teams and drives real change.”

    Charlie Tran, Web Apps Leader

Recent Client-Facing Published Work

Global Website & Client Account Renovation (end-to-end)

Led the global website experience design team and full redesign across 19 countries, driving a 14% increase in sessions and boosting lead generation and conversions.

Managed agency and internal partnerships across UX, product design, design ops, DLS, visual brand, and research. Implemented a new Design Language System accelerating design delivery by 73%.

Agentic Candidate Search & Client Marketplace Product

Led UX, research, product roadmap, and delivery strategy for the AI-Matched & Recruiter-Assessed Candidate Search experience.

Shaped the full end-to-end customer journey from pre-account guest views to the logged-in Client Marketplace. Improved search relevance and lead quality, driving a 27% increase in account creation, stronger recruiter engagement, and measurable gains in conversion.

Culture & Accolades

Led UX, product design, design operations and research teams, earning multiple honors including Webby, W3, Digital Workplace, and over a dozen GDUSA Graphic Design Awards.

Maintained a high-performing, inclusive team culture with 80–96% employee engagement, a 4.75/5.0 quality assurance score, and an NPS of 65+, reflecting sustained team satisfaction and leadership impact.

Private Portfolio and Project Showcase

If you’re interested in discussing my expertise in experience design leadership, product strategy, or web strategy, or would like access to my confidential portfolio, feel free to reach out via phone at 209.456.0612 or email at nik.castro@gmail.com. I’d be happy to connect and share more. The portfolio is password-protected, and I’ll provide access upon request.

Please contact me for the private portfolio & work examples password.