Ally
Hwang 黃
Design & Product Leader
I'm a design and product leader with 14 years of experience in UX, product design, and user research across enterprise software, insurance, blockchain, and education. I believe that empowering team members is the foundation of great work, focusing on creating environments where UXers can grow, take risks, and deliver meaningful impact through close collaboration with product, engineering, and business teams.
Whether on-the-job (or off the job), I believe in creating positive environments where people can bring their full selves to work, because it shows up in the work we do.
about me
Hi, I'm Ally Hwang. I'm Taiwanese-American, born and raised in the United States. My last name is pronounced like "Hu-ahn." It means yellow.
My labors of love include photography, art illustrations, and videography (opens in new tab). I like to make and experiment with different mediums and ideas.
In my free time, I love to garden, watercolor, read graphic novels, watch pro-wrestling, and care for my 50 houseplants. I once was a dirtbag climber, but I outgrew bagged pepperoni dinners.
Once I took an enneagram test and it told me I was #1: The Perfectionist, to which I critiqued the label for not being exactly accurate to who I am. Take that and do with it what you will.
experience
work
UX Director, Enterprise Product Design Practice Nationwide • 2025–present
Sr. Director, Product Design TRAILS • 2023–2025
Head of Product Design Unstoppable Domains • 2022–2023
Design Program Lead, Enterprise Innovation Nationwide • 2019–2022
Design Manager, Market Development & Insights IBM • 2015–2019
UX Researcher, Designer IBM • 2013–2015
Product Development Lead, Custom Products Casemate • 2012–2013
Product Development Specialist Benchmark Brands • 2011–2012
Creative Services Intern Atlanta Spirit • 2010
education
Masters, Industrial Design Georgia Tech • 2009–2012
Bachelors, Industrial Engineering Georgia Tech • 2005–2009
Certificate, Business Analytics UC Irvine • 2016–2017
published
Avoid Extinction: Companies' Digital Transformation Journeys IBM • 2016
Master's Thesis Project: Bicycle Awareness System Georgia Tech • 2012
patents
Display screen with animated graphical user interface US-D1053894-S · Issued Dec 10, 2024
Display screen with animated graphical user interface US-D1053895-S · Issued Dec 10, 2024
awards
Human-Centered Digital Transformation Winner (Nationwide) Issued by Design and Innovation Global · 2022
Nielsen Norman Group 2019 Intranet Design Annual Award winner (IBM) Issued by NN/G · 2019
Step Two Intranet and Digital Workplace – Silver Award (IBM) Issued by Step Two · 2018
2012 WebAward for Outstanding Achievement in Web Development (Case-Mate) Issued by WebAwards · 2012
Collegiate Climbing Series Ambassador Scholarship Issued by USA Climbing · 2012
2012 Collegiate Climbing – Division 4 Regional's Women's First Place Issued by USA Climbing · 2012
2011 Collegiate Climbing – Division 4 Regional's Women's First Place Issued by USA Climbing · 2011
my leadership style
Empowering
In a word = "empowering." I felt like I could learn and had space to make mistakes with it all being OK.
A Leader Who Serves
Ally is the definition of a servant leader; she is not only growing the product and business, but she places an emphasis on growing people, too. She puts service ahead of self-interest; as a result, the team is smarter, more confident, and capable.
Not a D!ckhead
Strategic. Encouraging. Not a d*ckhead or gaslighter. One of my favorite work experiences (being on a team with Ally).
In Short, Awesome
In short, awesome! [Ally] allowed people to shine and take the lead on their own work, while being a very strong, reliable, trustworthy leader. Advocacy is a good word too. Patience to teach and mentor, giving us enough direction to move forward without dictating designs.
A Blender
Ally blends a depth of design and management experience to inspire her team to product excellence. She adeptly tackles areas with high ambiguity, and works across teams to ensure productive communication and shared goals.
10xer
Under Ally's leadership, we shifted to working in highly communicative, cross-functional teams, and we increased our release cadence tenfold. […] Ally doesn't just guide from above, either. She is deeply selfless and always ready to jump into the weeds to assist her team.
Very Organized
[Ally is] very organized and tackles problems head-on which I appreciate. [She] collaborates with the team to get the best outcomes. Very inclusive and always seeking feedback.
An Interesting Journey
It was such a joyful and interesting journey to work with Ally. Truly professional, but what is more important emphatic and open person. In short terms she did excellent work of transforming separated individuals to real dream design team.
A Testament
Ally's structured and highly visual thinking was evident in her approach to design, resulting in user-friendly and visually compelling products. Moreover, her beloved status among her team was a testament to her outstanding leadership.
Shit I'm into
