I build design orgs and the products they ship.
20 YEARS
SYSTEMS • AI • FINTECH • DEV TOOLS
IRONMAN WORLDS QUALIFIER
A strong foundation supports everything. In architecture, in teams, in products. I design the structure beneath the surface, aligning people, systems, and decisions, so teams move faster, trust each other, and ship work that lasts.
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EXPERIENCE
Work
I use research to find the right problem, iteration to solve it well, and strategy to make sure it matters to the business.
See all work
Building a card business for scale, not just today
I led the redesign of SoFi's credit card experience, fixing the trust deficit, restructuring the product, and building the strategy for a family of five cards.
12 min
Senior Manager & IC, SoFi
2021-2025
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I led the design and production of a new family of six cards, each mapped to a specific member persona and FICO range.
Launching an all new card suite for SoFi
Senior Manager & IC, SoFi
2021-2025
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10 min
Designing trust for AI powered cyber security
I built the design function from scratch — brand identity, product design, marketing, and agency partnerships — and we closed a $60M Series B in May 2022.
8 min
Design Director, Traceable AI
2021
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LEADERSHIP
The right cards make big wins
Leadership is building human resilience. It’s not about grinding, it’s about getting the very best out of people through some key pillars.
4x
Design org operations established
32x
Hires and promotions at SoFi
200+
Products and features shipped at SoFi
Clarity
With clarity comes focus, prioritization, and great execution.
Creativity
Build a safe space for expansive thinking and new ideas.
Consistency
A determined desire to improve. Bring the right attitude, passion, patience, and vision each day.
Collaboration
If you want to go far, go together. Collaboration is essential to delivering the best outcomes.
LIFE
Sport & life fuel success
Sport. Life. Work. They compliment each other. They teach each other. They fuel each other. They force ruthless prioritization and systems thinking.
13K
Miles trained
8
Industry
expertise
4
Design teams built
7
House renovations
1
Startup
launched
LIFE
WORK
SPORT
1
World Championship
Qualification
3
Ironman
Finishes
15
Podium Top 5 finishes
Balance
Priority
System
FLOW
The principles behind it
Deliver
excess value
Give more than you take, the rest will take care of itself.
Systems
trump goals
Systems allow for consistent results and growth, not goals, not screens.
Seek to understand
Always listen with the intent to truly understand -- the design, person, situation.
Feedback
is a gift
Embrace feedback, it’s essential for improvement.
LEARN MORE
More about me
Current state. Ideas in progress, work worth noting, notes from colleagues, and what's feeding the thinking.
About me
CASE STUDIES
Smart Card: From product launch to category contender
SoFi · 2026
BLOGS
You're Leaving 20% on the Table — Every Single Time
Michael Spiegel
Jan 18, 2024 · Substack
READING & LISTENING
QUOTES
“He has an exemplary ability to rally people around work.”
J.T. Trollman
Director of Design, SoFi
Let’s get to work
I'm always interested in connecting with fellow leaders, exploring new opportunities, and discussing, well, just about anything.
