Cayce W. Owens Thrush

EXECUTIVE PRODUCT DESIGN LEADER

Digital platform design leader with nearly two decades of experience, I lead UX/UI and product design teams to drive innovation and deliver world-class experiences that increase engagement and revenue. I align design strategies with business and user goals, leading organizations to the top of their industry with a user-centric and focused experience strategy. By encouraging bravery and experience among design leaders, I oversee efficient end-to-end design processes that exceed market demands and decrease time to market, positively impacting the bottom line.

CORE COMPETENCIES

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Implemented Design System: Launched a design system at Envoy Global and Coyote Logistics, boosting productivity by 25-40%, streamlining UX/UI processes, and accelerating release cycles for consistent, cross-platform experiences.

Enhanced Data Accuracy: Improved UX/UI at Envoy Global, raising data tracking accuracy by 12% and reducing audits by 28% across 1,900+ visa cases, resulting in operational consistency.

Drove Global Tool Adoption: Introduced a self-service assessment tool at Envoy Global with 72% adoption and 17% increase in organic use, reducing manual intervention and empowering global teams.

Improved Coyote Mobile UX: Led Coyote Logistics mobile app redesign, achieving a 19% download increase and raising mobile bookings from 2% to 5% of monthly totals, enhancing user satisfaction.

Optimized Load Board with AI: Integrated AI into Coyote’s load board enhancement strategy and execution, boosting daily bookings by 12% and generating over $3M monthly revenue, enhancing booking efficiency and customer experience.

Advanced Product Prototyping: Created wireframe templates at Inspire11 to accelerate prototyping, delivering strategic, user-centric solutions to address complex design challenges.

EXPERIENCE

• Led discovery through interviews, personas, and journey mapping to uncover insights shaping product strategy and design direction.
• Delivered rapid prototypes and wireframes, validating concepts via user testing and presenting findings to executives and clients.
• Collaborated with product, engineering, marketing, and leadership to mentor designers and drive a human-centered AI vision that boosted performance and user satisfaction.
• Defined the vision and structure for a unified design team, merging UX and marketing into a high-impact, cross-functional org.

• Led a high-performing, diverse design team to deliver impactful experiences across three products, aligning user needs with business goals in B2B and B2C markets. 
• Prioritized projects and resources to maintain design excellence and skill balance. 
• Integrated generative AI to streamline UX copy and user testing, accelerating workflows and engagement. 
• Launched Envoy Global’s first design system, increasing speed by 30%. 
• Led global expansion, adapting platforms for six countries and integrating three acquisitions seamlessly. 
• Crafted a unified design strategy, positioning Envoy as a leader in immigration tech with cohesive user experiences.
• Founded the first LGBTQIA+ employee group, fostering inclusivity, mentorship, and a positive team culture.
• Reporting to VP of Product

• Built and led a diverse, high-performing design team to deliver top-tier, user-centered experiences across 80+ digital products.
• Expanded team capacity by hiring three designers, promoting a researcher, and advancing two to senior roles—enhancing design coverage, reducing burnout, and fostering growth.
• Managed the 0-1 design process, from discovery and prioritization to UX improvements, for carrier-focused SaaS platforms. 
• Provided strategic coaching to empower designers in their specialized areas, driving a culture of design excellence and innovation.
• Developed aligned vision and roadmaps with product and strategy teams, ensuring seamless execution across departments. 
• Partnered closely with stakeholders to align desktop and mobile designs with strategic goals, establishing the company as a leader in the freight industry.
• Mentored the team to improve stakeholder relationships and to elevate user experiences, resulting in a 12% increase in carrier bookings. 
• Reporting to CTO

• Mentored a team of product designers and researchers to deliver exceptional user experiences, setting a high standard for quality and consistency.
• Collaborated closely with developers and product teams to craft experiences that exceeded expectations, resulting in a 12% increase in carrier bookings.
• Established strong partnerships with business stakeholders to align desktop and mobile app experiences with company objectives, positioning the brand as a leader in the freight industry and driving significant success.
• Reporting to Director of UX

• Led workshops with 25+ clients to identify challenges, develop user personas, and create roadmaps, goals, and testing strategies. 
• Built and managed a dynamic, inclusive multimedia team, driving brand growth through compelling content and strategic storytelling. 
• Designed user experiences across multiple client products, including global credit solutions, construction management apps, and medical dashboards, ensuring seamless design across diverse platforms. 
• Crafted innovative solutions to reinforce brand identity across native apps, web, and desktop platforms. 
• Produced detailed deliverables for offshore and local engineering teams, ensuring successful MVP releases. 
• Gathered user feedback and iterated designs to enhance future product versions.
• Reporting to President & CEO

• Led creative efforts for top brands, including Plenti Local Dining, Rapid Rewards Dining, Orbitz, and major airlines and hotel chains. 
• Managed end-to-end project processes, ensuring timely deliverables, client approvals, quality assurance, and final deployment of emails, webpages, and digital assets. 
• Designed adaptive microsites, responsive email campaigns, and webpage assets for brands such as American Airlines, United Airlines, Shell Fuel Rewards, Overstock’s ClubO, Orbitz, and Fogo de Chao.

EDUCATION