About Jules

You’re probably here because you’re wondering what it might be like to work with me, so I’ll save my personal history and hobbies for later. For now, here’s a little of how I think and what people say about me as a manager, peer, consultant, etc.

Jules and her orange cat/confidant, Ripley.

When I say I’m a “sci-fi believer,” I’m only sort of kidding. My passion for design, technology, and progress grew from my love of fiction and human dreams that came to life, sometimes centuries after the dreamer lived. Speculative fiction and art in its many forms is always sparked by the reality and friction of the human present. Whether it’s dystopian or optimistic, sci-fi inspires us (or me, at least) to imagine a better future and have faith that we can build it.
Thinking and moving quickly are powerful and sometimes essential skills in my field, but I find championing speed over quality always has a painful long-term cost that everyone pays. This awareness and focus on sustainability over instant gratification shows up in how I work and how I live. I find that focusing on sustainable practices in any process or product inspires efficiencies that make up the mileage lost to “slowing down.”
Design work in all forms should respect those who contribute, add value for the people who interact with an end product, and improve our relationship to the world we live in, even in the smallest interactions. For most of us, the 80,000+ hours we spend working will represent the most measurable and meaningful impact we make in our lifetime - for better or worse. Knowing this, I take my work and labor seriously. If I align with and join in on a mission, everything I do at work will be in service of the impact we believe we’re making.

Working with Jules

Jules has a unique ability to inspire action and add value to any conversation, and she leads with compassion, clarity, and by example, actively fostering a collaborative working environment that elevates the thinking and capabilities of everyone around her. In addition to maturing our fledging design team into a high-performing UX department, she was a driving force in shaping a product-led company as a whole. She collaborated closely with other teams to operationalize strategy, establish effective processes, and refine product sense across the company, and working with her was a defining learning experience for me. I feel like there’s nothing she can’t do! Jules is an impactful leader in every sense and approaches every aspect of her work with extraordinary care and compassion. I loved being a part of her team and welcome any chance to work with her again in the future!

— Esther Yang, Sr. Product Designer

I had the privilege of working with Jules for three years at our tech startup, where she excelled as my direct manager and director of the UX Department. Under her leadership, we transformed a nascent team into a robust, cross-functional UX Department. Despite limited resources, Jules's strategic vision and acute awareness of individual talents catalyzed our growth and success. Jules's exceptional leadership was evident not only in her departmental vision but also in her individual interactions. She was adept at aligning personal and business goals, ensuring a harmonious work environment where each team member felt valued and understood. This unique skill fostered both individual growth and collective success, particularly in a fast-paced startup setting. At an inter-departmental level, Jules's ability to build rapport and trust with other leaders was key to our collaborative success. Her regular engagement with other departments ensured clear, effective communication, aligning the UX team's efforts with the company's broader mission and objectives. Her leadership was instrumental in developing products that were not only user-friendly but also aligned with our business goals, contributing significantly to our transition from a startup to a mid-sized, financially stable company. Jules's leadership was pivotal in both nurturing our team and driving our company's success. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to work with her again!

— Jesse Lee Despard, Sr. UX Researcher, Product Strategist

I will forever be indebted to Jules for her strong influence on my product design knowledge and UX principles. I was fortunate enough to have worked as a software engineer with Jules for almost five years. Over that period, Jules grew from Product Designer to UX Director with success in executing massive projects as an individual contributor while simultaneously managing a research team with genuine empathy and expertise. Jules has the ability to analyze a problem and provide deep insights based on UI design theory, past experience and real-people research. She was instrumental in building a unified design language which was the glue between the Product, Design and Engineering teams, accelerating development exponentially. As engineers, we were impressed with how she convinced the entire company to transition to Figma from our old design stack greatly improving productivity all around. That was one of her first self-motivated initiatives and those never stopped coming. Jules is diligent, sharp and captivates her audience whether it's presenting weekly progress updates or shepherding an entire brand re-design working session. Her level of thought, skill and preparation is exemplary. I would highly recommend Jules to any of my own clients. She's an absolute joy to work with, has great taste in music and would be a huge asset in leading cross-functional product design, UX research and development.

— Amish Shah, Sr. Software Developer & Design Consultant

Jules was instrumental in leading and executing the Highway.ai rebrand and its subsequent multi-brand strategy. She provided strong leadership and guidance to her team through my acquisition of ListReports, which was a complex and tedious process. As an institutional growth equity investor, I feel that Jules was a pleasure to collaborate with. She is a team player and excelled in many of the intangible aspects of her role. I would highly recommend Jules for any creative, strategic and product-oriented role. She will be an invaluable asset!

— Grant Shaffer, Vice President @ Integrity Growth Partners

Jules is one of my favorite people I've ever worked with; she was truly a dream collaborator. Two things stand out: her attention to detail, and her kind and generous spirit. Jules played an instrumental role in the success of the project. I was immediately struck with her meticulous onboarding and thorough communication from the start; sharing the right info at the right time to both internal and external folks. Beyond her product knowledge, she was steeped in the needs of the business and other teams. In my experience, it’s rare thing. A rebrand is complicated enough, but she also effectively navigated two companies and two products merging (read: many cooks in the kitchen). She made decisions with a clear vision; ultimately keeping us on time and on budget with the best visual solution for the company. Throughout the whole project, she led with warmth and consideration; holding the needs of executives with the needs of creatives in a way that both felt seen. When she gave feedback at reviews, she made it a conversation: asking a question, celebrating a win. Overall, Jules had a lasting impact on the direction of the brand, making it better with her constructive and compassionate feedback every step of the way. I would hire Jules in a heartbeat if you’re looking for a deeply empathetic and thoughtful leader who gets stuff done — it’s a bonus that she’s also an extremely lovely human.

— Kaitlin Sullivan, Independent Brand Identity Designer

Jules has more passion, drive, and desire to make the world a better place than most people I’ve ever met. Her ability to balance process and deeply analytical thinking with empathy and ethics is second to none, and she is both a leader in her field and the mentor every aspiring UX designer would be lucky enough to have. Jules has a knack for improving every company, team, culture, process, or tool that she touches, and does so with utmost thought and care. 11/10 would work with Jules again — whether she’s a product teammate, people manager, or founding team member.

— Anna Woźniewicz, Product Manager

Do you remember that time when your manager loaned you their Kayak to go for a spin at their favorite spot? No? Never happened to you? I just wanted to share with you how lucky I was to have Jules as my manager. Not only is Jules an amazing leader, but also a kind-hearted mentor who always had my back. We had some great conversations about my career at the company and beyond. Jules always encouraged me to be my best self and helped me find ways to prototype my future. As a UX Researcher at Highway/ListReports, Jules inspired me with her innovative product design and UX research approach. Jules always created a collaborative environment and organized review sessions that significantly improved our design processes. Thanks to Jules' trust and flexibility, I was able to thrive as a career contractor turned individual contributor working on a team.

— Dillon Chi, UX Researcher & Analyst

Jules' approach to user experience research and design is nothing short of exemplary. Her ability to deeply understand user needs and translate them into intuitive and impactful designs consistently leads to innovative solutions that not only meet but often exceed user expectations. What truly sets Jules apart is her unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of her work. She combines a keen eye for detail with a broad strategic vision, ensuring that every project she oversees is not only aesthetically pleasing but also aligned with business goals. Beyond her professional skills, Jules is a pillar of company culture. Her thoughtfulness extends beyond her work; she is always considerate of her direct reports and colleagues, offering support and guidance whenever needed. Jules has a unique ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment, encouraging open communication and mutual respect among team members. This has enhanced our team dynamics and made a significant impact on our overall workplace atmosphere. In summary, Jules Wood is an outstanding professional and a valuable asset to any organization. Her blend of top-notch professionalism, thoughtful approach to design and user experience, and her contribution to workplace culture set her apart as a leader in her field. I am confident that she will bring the same level of dedication and excellence to any future role she undertakes.