DIA Design Guild

I formalized the program structure, introduced scalable processes, and implemented a CSAT measurement system to improve program effectiveness and participant satisfaction.

Key achievements include:
• Scaling the Apprenticeship Program: Formalized a structured 9-month mentorship model, improving project outcomes and skill development for junior designer apprentices.
• Mentorship & Talent Development: Recruited and managed senior designers to provide high-quality guidance for junior designers.
• Improved Project Management & Client Satisfaction: Developed formalized project management processes, leading to clearer expectations and increased satisfaction from client stakeholders.

Design Program Manager

Design Evangelist

Design Mentor & Instructor
Combining both teaching and mentoring, I have over 10,000 hours of experience.

• Served as an instructor at leading institutions, such as General Assembly, GrowthX Academy, Flatiron School, Seattle School of Visual Concepts, Product School, UC Berkeley, and Academy of Art University
• Developed curriculum for top programs, including Springboard, GrowthX Academy, Interaction Design Foundation, IxDF Bootcamps, Flatiron School, Product School, UC Berkeley, and Chegg
• Mentored through various community, bootcamp, and organizational programs

Design Educator

Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design

I overhauled school management operations, replacing outdated systems with a modern, scalable solution that improved class scheduling and operational efficiency. I also optimized design tooling and software resources, reducing costs and improving data accessibility.

Key achievements include:
• Scaling Course Offerings: Implemented a new school management system, enabling the organization to increase concurrent class capacity by 300%.
• Cost Reduction: Standardized design tools and software, eliminating inefficiencies and saving $100K annually.
• Data & Process Improvement: Applied information architecture principles to improve data accessibility and reduce data duplication by 90%.

Design Operations Manager

The Hired Guns

Worked in a fast-paced agency environment, specializing in design recruiting while also improving knowledge management for the team.

Key achievements include:
• Candidate Evaluation: Reviewed and evaluated 100+ UX designer candidate profiles and portfolios, assessing qualifications and fit for various design roles.
• Process & Knowledge Management: Built a Notion-based knowledge management system to document onboarding, create consistency in projects, and streamline the recruiting process. This significantly reduced the time required to train and onboard new employees.

Design Talent Partner

LinkedIn

I redesigned and standardized LinkedIn’s UX Design onboarding program, ensuring new UX designers could seamlessly transition into any product team and become productive faster.

Key achievements include:
• Onboarding Standardization: Designed and implemented a new UX designer onboarding program to improve ramp-up time and team integration.

IxDF - Interaction Design Foundation

• Led daily operations and strategic initiatives, implementing best practices to optimize the UX Design Bootcamp program 
• Increased member insights by 5% by instigating a regular research program
• Improved project planning and scheduling for UX Design boot camps, strategized new educational initiatives and created original UX course content

Flatiron School

I led Flatiron School’s San Francisco UX program, managing faculty and ensuring the successful graduation and job placement of cohorts of 20 design students. I introduced a cross-disciplinary collaboration program between UX and software engineering students, giving them hands-on experience working together.

Key achievements include:
• Student Success & Placement: Led Flatiron’s San Francisco UX program, ensuring strong job placement outcomes.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Built a structured program for UX designers and software engineers to collaborate on projects.
• Curriculum Improvements: Implemented course changes that led to a 20% increase in exercise scores.

Design Program Director

GrowthX Academy

I built and scaled GrowthX Academy’s UX design program from the ground up, designing an industry-aligned curriculum that prepared students for real-world careers. The program achieved a 90% job placement rate, and I oversaw the development of 40+ functional prototypes for web, mobile, and IoT clients through hands-on, project-based learning.

Key achievements include:
• Program Creation & Growth: Designed and launched an industry-aligned UX design program, achieving a 90% student placement rate.
• Client Project Experience: Guided student teams in developing 40+ functional prototypes for real clients, reinforcing practical UX skills through hands-on client collaboration.

Epsilon

I led a cross-functional team of 8, including UX designers, UI designers, and content strategists, delivering solutions for 10+ B2B and B2C clients annually, including Wells Fargo, American Express, Apple, Google, Cisco, and Genentech.

Key achievements include:
• Enterprise UX Leadership: Managed UX strategy and execution for Fortune 500 clients across finance, tech, and healthcare.
• Design Systems & Efficiency: Created scalable design systems, style guides, and component libraries to improve consistency across projects.
• UX Training & Advocacy: Led client workshops to strengthen teams' understanding of customer experience best practices.

Design Manager, Digital Design

TripIt

Drove mobile and web design for a top travel app. Implemented data-driven design practices and led design reviews to ensure high-quality releases.

Lead Product Designer

I'm a design program manager with a background in UX, interaction design, and education. I bring structure to design teams and help programs run smoothly.

I've worked across both industry and education, and I’m especially drawn to roles that support design teams building thoughtful, education-focused experiences. I thrive in environments where I can contribute behind the scenes—helping teams stay aligned, focused, and connected to the needs of users and businesses.

Over my career, I've built and led design operations initiatives, UX education programs, and onboarding optimization at organizations ranging from startups to global tech companies. I’ve formalized design processes, standardized tools, and improved cross-team alignment, helping companies scale efficiently while maintaining a strong design culture.

I’m passionate about solving organizational challenges that impact design teams, whether it’s streamlining workflows, improving collaboration between teams, or developing scalable solutions for talent growth.

Always open to connecting with others (include a note) working at the intersection of design, education, and impact-driven work.

Julia DeBari

California Department of Health Care Services

• Partner with Staff Services Manager I to coordinate project management meetings and ensure multiple projects throughout department are flowing timely to serve the State of California.
• Review and analyze county financial data to process timely CARE Act Claims, in addition to performing regular analysis of claims data for trends to inform policy.
• Research and coordinate data requests for semi-annual Medi-Cal estimates process.
• Review and provide analyses of proposed state legislation, and collaborate with other analysts in department to provide recommendations.

Associate Governmental Program Analyst

Canoga Perkins

*Contract via Manpower Group*
• Coordinate with hiring managers to identify staffing needs & candidate selection criteria, screen candidates per criteria, and compile lists of most-suitable candidates per available resumés.
• Source applicants through ADP WorkforceNow, LinkedIn & Partner Agencies, and maintain entries in HRIS to track candidate progression through hiring process.
• Schedule & coordinate interviews via Microsoft Outlook/Teams, facilitate candidate review sessions, and maintain documentation for HRIS entry & tracking.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition Manager on strategies to ensure effective Talent Acquisition practices and smooth candidate hiring process.

Talent Acquisition Recruiter

Caltech

*Contact via Ultimate Staffing*
• Served as initial department point of contact to educate & empower employees with inquiries about leaves of absence and reasonable accommodation. 
• Worked with LOA HR Coordinators for processing and tracking Workers' Comp Claims & Leaves for University faculty and staff using Microsoft Access, Oracle, and Kronos.
• Assisted set-up and provided actionable insights during Leave Management System (LeaveSource) update for entire department.
• Completed COVID Tracing & Analysis for all new cases and made weekly data submissions to TPA (Helmsman). 
• Escalated inquiries to supervising team members and supported other sub-departments within the Human Resources Unit as necessary.

HR & LOA Coordinator

UX Energy Mentoring

• Co-managed a cross-continental UX team to provide support to a SaaS product author by conducting research, designing surveys, and analyzing data, leading to optimizations across several learning areas.
• Spearheaded Survey Design & writing Interview Guide for one-on-one Interviews/Usability Testing.
• Conducted Literature Review, Product Use Case Analysis, Survey & Usability Testing Analyses via Qualitative Data Tools, and provided Product Roadmap Optimization suggestions per findings to better support end-user base & focus product development.

UX Researcher & Project Manager

AbilityFirst

*Contract via Ultimate Staffing*
• Co-created foundational & training processes as "Consultant" for Nonprofit HR Coordinator role.
• Acted as initial point of contact for HR Department by routing calls as necessary, scheduling appointments via Microsoft Outlook, following-up on requests, and assisting Onboarding Candidates through hiring process in ADP/EverFi/Foundry.  
• Submitted & processed invoices for multiple departments across Nonprofit via Concur, ensuring timely completion within 24 business hours and assisting Accounting Team.
• Supported Nonprofit Annual Fundraiser via aiding logistics, coordinating volunteers, and assisting with transportation for disabled participants.
• Supported other departments within Nonprofit as necessary during slower business windows.

HR Operations Coordinator

Emily Shane Foundation

• Led a Research Team utilizing UX Research Principles & Practices to review problem areas and gather information on how the Nonprofit could innovate upon sustainability, growth, and outreach strategies via "UX Consulting."
• Completed full-cycle research participant recruitment and drafted Interview Guide for one-on-one interviews, providing room to pivot as needed per participant interaction.
• Conducted research utilizing a variety of methods to drive qualitative & quantitative data generation and analysis.
• Coordinated weekly follow-up calls with stakeholders and study debrief for Nonprofit Director on immediate short-term and long-term impact in several improvement areas, in addition to highlighting areas for future study, (per desired NGO Benchmarks).

Maxim Healthcare Services

• Routinely-audited personnel files & analyzed workflows to provide coaching/feedback and ensure Credentialing Team exceeded company hiring averages by 90% or more.
• Ensured Team Members were compliant with I-9, Federal and State Regulations while adhering to Maxim Company Policy in hiring personnel.
• Collaborated with Recruitment & Business Development while managing multiple hiring projects company-wide to ensure various staffing needs were properly-staffed to continually meet Client demand.
• Led daily team meetings to effectively monitor and track of the hiring project goals.
• Recognized in 2021 Recruiting Olympics & 2022 West Area Office of the Year for ability to lead Team and jumping-in to help them with meeting deadlines & exceeding credentialing goals.
• Redefined Training Processes in collaboration with Senior Dept. Staff, developing & mentoring New Hires as a sought-after resource ready-to-deliver on Company goals within one month of hire.
• Continually-provided data-driven feedback on Change Management initiatives with cross-functional teams to ensure optimal hiring processes of Onboarding Applicants and improve working conditions for Internal Dept Employees.
• Partnered with Regional Compliance Manager to complete Quarterly Reviews & Plans of Correction for multiple Offices throughout the Year.

HR Operations Manager

• Facilitated daily Dept. Meetings with Office Peers to ensure Credentialing Goals were sustained by 90% or more each quarter.
• Assisted Dept. Manager in making sure hiring projects flowed timely to continually meet Client Staffing needs.
• Directed incoming Manager requests by completing requests as necessary and flagging tasks for further review by Dept. Manager or IT Support Team.
• Resolved HRIS issues with Corporate System Support Team, ensuring smooth system operation and problem-free hiring while analyzing metrics to optimize processes.
• Collaborated with Office Peers and Onboarding Applicants to gather pain points & suggestions of problem areas for review with Department Manager, improving Local Office hiring efficiency.
• Exceeded company metrics by 25%+ each quarter by guiding and training local office credentialing
team and complying with deadlines amidst company technology platform changes.
• Conducted & coordinated phone screenings and interviews to help staff Dept. as necessary.

Senior HR Operations Specialist

• Modernized Recruiting Practices by pioneering LinkedIn/LinkedIn Recruiter, Facebook and Reddit to drive & increase recruitment of Potential Candidates by 30%. 
• Pre-screened applicants & resumés to drive thorough selection of Job Candidates and fulfillment of roles to support Clients across Northern CA.
• Built relationships with Maxim Clients, Caregivers, and Field Staff throughout Northern CA to understand scheduling & hiring needs and effectively-fill staffing requisitions.
• Supported Credentialing Team during Hiring Projects and provided full-desk recruitment as necessary to ensure Client Satisfaction during Projects/Surges.

Client Coordinator & Social Media Recruiter

• Streamlined New Hire Orientation & I-9 Process, conducting Background & Reference checks, scheduling various Medical Screenings and other follow-up services to ensure timely assignment for Applicants.
• Provided top-notch customer service to clients, earning repeat business and fulfilling demands while managing changing priorities and surge projects.
• Troubleshot technical issues with external employees to refine Onboarding Process.
• Created first editions of Credentialing Dept. Training Guides to support self and other new hires for easier internal employee onboarding & training, increasing productivity rates by 50%.
• Regularly-met deadlines & exceeded Credentialing Dept. hiring goals by ensuring that at least 90% of assigned candidates completed onboarding process within two weeks of offer date.

HR Operations Specialist

The Shop @ VSP Global

• Used Human-Centered Design/Design Thinking, Systems Thinking, and other tools with a team of eight VSP employees to implement organizational change and anticipate best avenues for product success.
• Employed User Experience & Design Thinking techniques by conducting interviews & participating in four facilitated "checkpoints" to update stakeholders on product progress and harness feedback for best product market strategy.
• Aided in product "Proof-of-Concept"/Usability testing and post-trial interviewing across five practice sites.

Human-Centered Design & UX Research Intern

Hi Humans!

I'm an Organizational Development Graduate Student and have a background in Healthcare Staffing & Recruitment Operations. I dream of expanding my HR toolkit into the analytics domain and supporting a great customer experience for individuals without and within my organization. I have keen interests in Gaming, Tech and Healthcare (Practices/Technologies).

Looking to cut my teeth as a HR(IS) Analyst, (Jr.) UX Researcher or similar role to flex my HR/Operations experience and while at the same time experimenting with CX/UX Principles to help others :)
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Oh hey - you made it to the end! Here's a Personal Etiquette Tip for me, from me: 

If you're looking to connect with me, I'll be honest and say that I'm likely to ignore your request if you just blind-add me. 

Be a sociable person, but don't add clutter to LinkedIn: unless we're talking on a thread and have some great comments or I know you personally, let me know why you're connecting and how I might help you. Otherwise, I'm channeling my inner-Marie Kondo and only taking the requests that spark joy :)

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The Battle

Julia DeBari

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