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Clarity

Chris Abad

San Francisco, CA

Former startup founder and CEO. Built kick-ass product and UX teams. Survived two acquisitions. Startup advisor.

$3.33/min

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Product Design Product Management Customer Development Product Strategy Lean Startups User Experience Leadership User Interface Design Analytics Management

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How to Build Products Your Customers Will Love

I've built up and led multiple cross-functional product/product design teams, showing them how to build products their customers actually want (as well as how to prove it without burning through a ton of resources first). I've helped them follow best practices around Lean, customer development, design-thinking, and evidence-led decision making to make informed product decisions.

Elevating Product Design Within Your Organization

Product design is more than workflows, layouts, buttons, and colors. "Design" speaks to the the intentional thought of why things exist in your product, who they exist for, and how they interact together to create an incredibly valuable experience for your customer. To accomplish this, you must have a product team where your product managers and product designers work as partners through the product discovery process. I've shown teams how to accomplish this through values, techniques, process, talent acquisition, and overall structure.

Data-Driven Decision Making

I've helped many teams form a solid strategy for product instrumentation and data-driven decision making. This can go from tools and instrumentation, to actually knowing what to do with that data once you have it. Data can inform what product decisions from customer acquisition, through engagement, to long term retention.

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Reviews 14

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Reviews

In the 3 months that I had the privilege of working with Chris, I found him to be a fantastic design leader with a laser sharp focus on the end user. He had a talent for taking complex problems and parsing them with crystal clarity for the team. He was a great collaborator who valued and affirmed the input of his team, and I felt that I produced some of my best work while Chris was my project lead. I'd absolutely work with him again, and would recommend him wholeheartedly.

Christopher Auyeung Source: LinkedIn

I'd work for Chris again in a heartbeat. I had the pleasure of working with him on a recent project and was grateful for his effective leadership.

Chris's diverse experience and approach of linking strategy, research and implementation propelled the team forward with confidence and clarity. Even his personality imbues projects with a sense of excitement and possibility that builds strong, engaged teams. He also has a subtle way of encouraging his colleagues to stretch their skills and grow, while ensuring a supportive environment for learning.

If your project is in a bad spot, you want Chris in the room for his tact and clarity. If your project is in a great spot, you want him in the room for focus and direction. Basically, you want the chance to work with Chris.

Plus, he's pretty good with a Nurf gun and nunchucks.

Rebecca Buck Source: LinkedIn

Chris is the best. Extremely hard working, ethical, passionate, thoughtful and really, really smart. He's got a mind for design, a keen sense for what makes a product great, a terrific grasp on tech and can also manage people well. He's one of the best people I've ever worked with and I'd always be keen to work with him again.

D. Keith Robinson Source: LinkedIn

"Instinctual precision, grounded by a studious approach and a gifted ability to lead by simplicity."

Chris has no need to assert his role as a leader. His confidence, candor and trust simply invites a fellowship and a desire to follow. During my time under Chris' management, I learned more about team development in one year than the previous 15 years of my career combined. To find someone with such a deep understanding of all facets of Product Development (and a knack for business-grounded decisions) is extremely rare. Although someone possessing this breadth of knowledge could easily over-manage, Chris provides just enough insight and guidance to allow self-discovery and growth within his team — delivering that “Aha!” moment with precise timing. The opportunity to apprentice under his watch continues to prove invaluable. I’d certainly work with him again.

As a Product Owner, I give Chris five stars. As a leader, I give him six. And I can’t wait to see what’s in store — Chris is prepared to be the next big thing.

Matthew Walker Source: LinkedIn

Chris is an extremely talented PM and an awesome boss. He is one of those rare managers who is a leadership figure and also serves as an inspirational mentor to the team. He has a unique capacity for empathy and the ability to help you work through any struggles you may come across. These qualities shine in his ability to motivate a team and influence a product’s success. Though he’s never one to draw attention to himself, Chris's positive attitude and the respect others feel toward him are always apparent. During the time I worked with Chris, I was most impressed with his ability to inject innovative design thinking and methodologies throughout the organization.

Derrick Schippert Source: LinkedIn

Working with Chris was an absolute pleasure as he's one of the very few people who just "gets it".

His consistently impressive output, communication, and leadership style paired with his wide range of design and technical knowledge made him an unparalleled asset to the company.

He's an extremely bright, talented, and high caliber product leader that I would gladly work with again in the future.

Joey Lomanto Source: LinkedIn

Chris is one of those rare managers who also naturally serves as an inspiring mentor for the whole staff. With a background in both design and development, Chris knows exactly how to motivate the Desk.com product team to care about its project and be invested in the project’s success.

Chris is the go-to person for conflict resolution and problem solving; when unreasonable demands coming down for the execs, he steps in to diffuse tension and induce compromising. Though he’s never one to draw attention to himself, Chris' positive attitude and the respect others feel toward him are palpable.

Yijing Aaron Zhang Source: LinkedIn

Chris is awesome. He's one of those rare finds that is years ahead of the industry and dead on target. Listen to what Chris is focused on because that's what the industry will be buzzing about shortly thereafter. He also has the perfect focus on outcome-based strategy & planning. In addition, he's excellent at working with people. He's one of the calmest and most grounded people I've worked with. I can't stress enough how much I appreciate how constructive and positive our conversations were, particularly when we didn't totally agree on something - I think says great things about his character. His product development skills are incredible as well. He not only gets the customer and the problem to be solved, he's excellent at building customer relationships, listening to them carefully, and validating assumptions with them to make products as marketable as possible. Pair that with his commitment to gathering and using empirical data to guide the decision-making process and Chris is pretty hard to beat. I very much recommend Chris for any product development effort, whether he's the star on the team, or the star leading it.

Scott Kozinchik Source: LinkedIn

I've worked with Chris on several occasions (Desk.com & Meta+Level games) and would do so again in a heartbeat. He's one of the hardest- and smartest-working people I've ever met and he's got the perfect blend of workman-like attitude, whip-smart problem-solving and easy-going mediator.

His knowledge of product and tech is equally great. He really is someone who, in so many ways "gets it."

I'd love to work with Chris in the future. Highly recommended.

D. Keith Robinson Source: LinkedIn

Chris is one of the most dynamic individuals I've had an opportunity to work with in business. Never have I met a designer and programmer with such diverse skills. In addition to his creative work, he is an astute business manager and leader. Chris is truly a priceless asset to any project or team he is apart of.

Matt Browne Source: LinkedIn

Chris has been a savior ever since he picked up a previously abandoned web development project and pulled it across the finish line. Chris's proactive considerations and recommendations for projects and have saved us money and headaches. He's a young gun that is current, connected, and surrounds himself with smart people. I look forward to the next opportunity to work with Chris and recommend other to do so.

Daniel T Wood Source: LinkedIn

Member since May 2014