Empowering Strategy,
Driving Transformation

Hey, it’s Ayana – a versatile leader with 12+ years of experience across design, operations, and strategy. I’ve driven impactful initiatives, streamlined complex workflows, and led cross-functional programs that align with business growth and transformation goals.

Hey, it’s Ayana – a versatile leader with 12+ years of experience across design, operations, and strategy. I’ve driven impactful initiatives, streamlined complex workflows, and led cross-functional programs that align with business growth and transformation goals.

I’m passionate about creating innovative, user-centered solutions and scaling operations that drive measurable results. Throughout my career, I’ve spearheaded transformative projects, introduced unified systems, and championed collaboration across diverse teams to deliver sustainable improvements and meaningful change.

With a blend of strategic foresight, operational expertise, and a hands-on approach, I thrive in dynamic environments, empowering teams, optimizing processes, and aligning strategies with organizational objectives. Whether leading design operations, driving transformation, or executing complex programs, I’m focused on achieving excellence and efficiency at scale.

I’m passionate about crafting innovative, user-centered products and scaling design practices that drive measurable outcomes. Over the years, I’ve spearheaded design transformations, introduced unified design systems, and fostered collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, always committed to delivering solutions that make a difference.


With a blend of strategic leadership, operational expertise, and hands-on design management, I thrive in fast-paced environments by empowering teams, optimizing processes, and aligning product strategy with business objectives. Whether leading design operations or driving program execution, I’m focused on creating seamless experiences and operational efficiency at scale.

Work

2023-2024

Establishing DesignOps for Operational Excellence

Doubling Productivity and Streamlining Syfe’s Design Operations

As Syfe expanded its operations, design processes became increasingly complex and inefficient. I took the lead as the Design Operations Lead, establishing a comprehensive DesignOps framework that addressed critical challenges like inconsistent outputs, lack of structure, and poor resource management.

By implementing streamlined workflows, clear roles, and a unified design system, I optimized the team’s efficiency, reducing delivery timelines by 55%. This initiative resulted in a 40% reduction in operating costs and saved the company approximately S$3M. Moreover, we enhanced collaboration across teams, creating a more aligned and high-performing design team that consistently delivered high-quality outputs at scale

Role

Design Operations Lead & Manager

Company

Syfe

2023-2024

Transforming Syfe’s Mobile Experience

Leading a Cross-Market Redesign That Drove 70% User Engagement Growth and Boosted AUM by Elevating User Satisfaction

I led a full-scale redesign of Syfe’s mobile app, addressing key issues such as accumulated design debt, fragmented user journeys, and brand inconsistency across markets (SG, HK, AU). The initiative tackled disjointed experiences and scalability challenges, delivering a cohesive, high-performing interface that aligned with the company’s brand vision.

Through this transformation, we achieved a 70% increase in user engagement, significantly boosted assets under management (AUM), and enhanced user satisfaction by 27%. This redesign not only solved technical challenges but also delivered measurable business growth, positioning the app as a core driver of Syfe’s success.

Role

Design Manager, Product Design Lead

Company

Syfe

2022-2024

Supporting Syfe’s Strategic Expansion and Saving S$5M with a Unified Design System

Accelerating Design Delivery by 55% and Driving Consistency Across Products

Working with a cross-functional team, I oversaw the development and implementation of Syfe’s first unified design system, which addressed inconsistent workflows and fragmented design outputs.

This initiative reduced design delivery times by 55% and resulted in S$5M in cost savings through optimized resource management across design, development, and tooling. The system elevated product quality, enhanced team collaboration, and aligned design efforts with Syfe’s strategic goals, driving business growth.

Role

Design Operations Lead, Manager, DS Lead

Company

Syfe

Work Experience

Associate Director - Design, Transformation & Strategy

Associate Director - Design, Transformation & Strategy
Associate Director - Design, Transformation & Strategy

Syfe

2024

Lead Design Manager, Design Operations Lead

Lead Design Manager, Design Operations Lead
Lead Design Manager, Design Operations Lead

Syfe

2022

-

April 2024

Lead Product Design & UX Consultant

Lead Product Design & UX Consultant
Lead Product Design & UX Consultant

Various

2021

-

2022

Lead Consultant, Product & UX

Lead Consultant, Product & UX
Lead Consultant, Product & UX

NCS Pte Ltd

2019

-

2021

Lead Consultant, Product Design & Management

Lead Consultant, Product Design & Management
Lead Consultant, Product Design & Management

Hearst, Mirum, PowerToFly, VSource, etc

2011

-

2018

About

I’m Ayana - always fascinated by the intersection of customer centricity, design and business.

I’m Ayana - always fascinated by the intersection of customer centricity, design and business.

I’m Ayana - always fascinated by the intersection of customer centricity, design and business.

  • UX Design

    Building intuitive digital experiences, leveraging a decade of expertise across US and Asian markets.

  • Design Management

    Guiding design teams to consistently deliver fresh, innovative work through clear vision and strong collaboration.

  • Design Operations

    Championing people-centered design strategy and practices that enhance efficiency and impact.

  • Research

    Digging deep to find user insights that fuel thoughtful design decisions and real-world results.

A design leader with over a decade of experience in shaping user-centered strategies, streamlining design operations, and guiding cross-functional teams to deliver impactful results. My approach is rooted in creating clarity from complexity and ensuring that design drives both customer and business value.

Based in Singapore, I’ve worked across diverse teams and cultures, always prioritizing collaboration and efficiency. I believe in fostering an environment where creativity thrives, processes are seamless, and outcomes are measurable.

If you’re looking for someone who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on leadership to elevate design and operations, I’d be happy to connect.

  • UX Design

    Building intuitive digital experiences, leveraging a decade of expertise across US and Asian markets.

  • Design Management

    Guiding design teams to consistently deliver fresh, innovative work through clear vision and strong collaboration.

  • Design Operations

    Championing people-centered design strategy and practices that enhance efficiency and impact.

  • Research

    Digging deep to find user insights that fuel thoughtful design decisions and real-world results.

  • Consulting

    Offering sharp, actionable design strategy and coaching to spark growth and elevate teams to their full potential.

What others have to say

  • "Ayana is a master of turning complex design problems into seamless, user-centered solutions. Her strategic leadership and precision-driven approach consistently propelled our projects to new levels of success."

    Abraham L.

    Product Manager, Syfe

  • "Ayana’s leadership transformed our design team. Her ability to guide us through complex challenges, while maintaining an eye for detail and design excellence, made her an irreplaceable mentor and powerhouse."

    Natasha W.

    UX Writer, Syfe

  • "Ayana has a natural ability to create synergy within teams. Her leadership not only drives design & operational excellence but also fosters a culture of collaboration and empowerment that transforms team dynamics."

    Naveen K.

    ex-Director of Product, Syfe

  • “Ayana’s design & organizational mastery and ability to keep complex projects on track while inspiring the team made her a vital force in delivering high-impact results under pressure."

    Adriano W.

    ex-Principal PD, Syfe

  • "Ayana’s leadership drove transformative change in our design workflows, fostering collaboration that elevated the entire team’s output and made a significant impact on our growth."

    Snehal S.

    ex-CGO, Syfe

  • "Ayana is a master of turning complex design problems into seamless, user-centered solutions. Her strategic leadership and precision-driven approach consistently propelled our projects to new levels of success."

    Abraham L.

    Product Manager, Syfe

  • "Ayana has a rare talent for driving flawless project execution while fostering creativity and innovation. Her ability to unite design vision with delivery excellence ensured our team’s consistent success."

    Shreyas S.

    Product Designer, Syfe

  • "Ayana is a powerhouse in design & operational leadership. She streamlined processes, empowered teams, and consistently delivered top-notch results across multiple departments with ease."

    Aparna N.

    Senior Product Manager, Syfe

  • "Ayana’s blend of visionary leadership and operational expertise was crucial in driving efficiency and innovation across our teams. She consistently delivered high-quality results that pushed the boundaries of what we thought possible."

    Anshuman S.

    Ex-Innov Design Lead, Syfe