Thomas Sola

Product Design, Strategy & Leadership

Thomas Sola. White male with a beard and mustache set before a wooded area at sunset. The lighting is turning red. It looks quiet and peaceful.

I am an Emmy-nominated designer, leader, and product strategist with over 15 years of experience. My career has focused on Platform as a Service (PaaS) and other highly technical domains, where I bridge complex systems with intuitive, user-centered design.

My expertise lies in creating innovative, scalable solutions that balance technical complexity with exceptional user experiences. Whether guiding strategic vision, mentoring designers and developers, or driving cross-functional collaboration, I excel at transforming ambitious ideas into impactful, actionable designs.

The Evidence

Case Studies & Projects

Philosophy

Design is a Conversation

I believe design is a conversation—one that begins with active listening. It requires setting aside assumptions to truly hear and understand the needs of others, whether they are users, stakeholders, or team members.

Good design isn't just about creating solutions; it's about uncovering the right problems to solve. Active listening allows me to dig deeper, understand context, and empathize with different perspectives.

In leadership, this principle extends beyond users.

It includes collaboration with other departments. Teams like product, engineering, marketing, and sales each have unique goals and challenges. Engaging with these voices ensures their needs are heard and understood.

By understanding both what teams want and why it matters, I can create UX roadmaps that align user needs with organizational strategy. This approach bridges the gap between design and business objectives.

When design is treated as an ongoing dialogue, it becomes a powerful tool for collaboration, innovation, and impact.

It's not about design working in isolation but about working together to achieve shared goals. Solutions should resonate with users while driving measurable outcomes for the company.

Testimonials

It's Been Said...

"I had the pleasure of working closely with Thomas for three years at Tact.ai, during which his leadership in user experience design proved invaluable. In our fast-paced startup environment, Thomas demonstrated a strong commitment to making our products user-friendly, with a laser focus on accessibility and usability. His ability to foster collaboration among diverse teams ensured a shared vision. Thomas's humility and open-minded approach inspired a culture of innovation, while his exceptional leadership skills drove the development and expansion of our design system."

— Charles Klein, Product Design Strategy & Leadership

"Thomas is the kind of leader who loves collaborating and spreading the passion he has for design and care for the user. His infectious approach kept the whole engineering org I was part of rooted in this user centric mindset. A sharp focus on user experience, experimentation and listening to users were Thomas's strengths, as well as his ability to guide and mentor people beyond his design team on this way of thinking."

— Matt Toohey, Chief Software Architect at Tact.ai

"Thomas is easily one of the best managers I've worked with. When I joined Thomas' team, I was at a stage in my career where I needed the space to work independently and create something, but also needed someone who could back our ideas. Thomas gave our team space and autonomy, while also pushing our ideas through to senior management, making sure we had the tools and resources required, without question. In addition, he was a great people manager, very understanding of a good work-life balance. I'd be happy to work with Thomas again, anytime!"

— Amit Manikoth, Sr.Technical Writer