Thomas Sola

Product Design, Strategy & Leadership

I work with founders and executive teams to convert strategic intent into system structure, shaping interaction models, workflows, and platform foundations that scale.

My focus is enterprise systems, platform architecture, and AI-enabled products in regulated industries. I build and lead design capability while staying hands-on, because the vision has to be expressed with clarity in the product itself.

Most recently at Veeva Systems, defining AI integration architecture across enterprise CRM in regulated life sciences. Previously Head of Design at Tact.ai and Aktana, leading a strategic pivot into pharma and unifying a fragmented AI orchestration platform.

I've been designing AI-driven products since 2019, several years before generative AI became a mainstream design problem. My point of view hasn't changed since: structured, predictable outputs beat open-ended chat, especially in regulated, high-stakes environments where people need to trust what's in front of them before they act on it.

Philosophy

Design is a Conversation

Not any conversation, the kind a skilled interviewer runs, someone who follows what they hear, asks the next question because the last answer opened something, and knows when to go deeper and when to move on. That's different from working off a prepared list of questions, where the paradigm is already set and the person being asked either fits into it or has to fight their way out of it.

Good design is a product that meets customer needs in a way that's easy to understand and use. A good conversation, run the first way, is the only way to get there

The alternative is forcing users into a perspective they don't share, options they don't accept, solutions to problems they don't have. It happens when conviction about a market gap gets ahead of attention to how users actually work, or when a flow gets built around the story a team assumes rather than the one users are actually living.

It starts with honest, selfless listening. Responding with understanding. Reframing, confirming. Repeat.

In leadership, the principle scales. Listening extends to my team, my peers, the roadmap, market positioning, all treated as real input rather than noise to manage around. Product, engineering, and sales become co-authors, not an audience. Good listening is what bridges what users need and what the business is trying to do, and the work isn't finished until both are true.

Independent Projects

First Light

Look up. What you're seeing isn't the night sky. It's the afterglow of the Big Bang, captured by three of the most important space missions ever launched.

First Light turns real cosmic microwave background data from COBE, WMAP, and Planck into an immersive sky you can explore by simply moving your phone. Pan across the oldest light in the universe. Switch between satellites. Dial through frequency bands and watch the universe shift.

This is real data. Real science. And it fits in your pocket.

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