Hello, I'm Kirra.
I’m a Product Leader with a background in AI-integrated tools and systems design, specializing in translating complexity into intuitive, user-centered solutions. I lead with empathy, creative thinking, and a bias toward simplicity — building things that make work and life meaningfully better.
I’ve spent years leading systems improvements and operations work in healthcare-adjacent and early-stage startup environments — often bridging compliance, user needs, and technical constraints. While my past titles didn’t always say “Product Manager,” I’ve consistently organized complexity, aligned teams, and improved tools and processes. I love solving messy problems with structure and care — especially when it helps people work better or feel more connected.
Now, I’m focused on formal product roles with mission-driven companies, where I can help shape thoughtful, inclusive technology that reflects the needs of the people it serves.
Path with Purpose
I didn’t start in product, but I’ve been thinking like a product manager for years.
From healthcare research to startup ops, I’ve always gravitated toward the intersection of complexity, systems, and people. I’d be hired for one thing, then naturally end up connecting the dots between cross-functional teams, building new processes, or figuring out how to make workflows feel more human.
In healthcare, I led project and operations work across dozens of clinical studies — managing timelines, streamlining compliance, and scaling internal systems that helped teams focus on what mattered. I also restructured project workflows, introduced agile planning strategies, and helped reduce timelines through clearer roles, better contracts, and stronger cross-functional coordination. I implemented a SaaS-based system that doubled our workload capacity and restructured data flows to significantly reduce manual entry time. I also coached teams through change management in high-stakes environments — helping them feel confident in their roles, not just compliant with processes.
I later joined a Chicago-based social startup, where I launched the operations department from the ground up. I built internal systems, created documentation standards, and helped define early go-to-market strategies alongside the product and marketing teams. In just a few months, we grew our user base and social presence by over 20%, expanded B2B partnerships, and positioned the company for early-stage funding. It gave me a front-row seat to the fast, iterative nature of startup product work — and I loved it.
Most recently, I led product and project work on a cloud-based mailbox application that integrated with Microsoft Outlook and embedded AI-powered automation workflows. While my title didn’t reflect it, I often acted as the Product Owner — gathering user feedback directly, identifying pain points and feature opportunities, and proposing solutions for stakeholder review and prioritization. I translated that feedback into product requirements, created workflows and wireframes, and collaborated with developers to oversee implementation. I also conducted user research and A/B testing, validated features through UAT, and led onboarding and training with clients after launch. Alongside that, I built real-time Power BI dashboards to support KPI tracking and decision-making for executive teams. It was a fast-paced, iterative environment — and I thrived in the middle of it all, connecting user needs with technical execution to deliver something genuinely useful.
What ties all of this together is a deep belief in thoughtful, human-centered design. I care about usability, clarity, and building tools that are intuitive, accessible, and genuinely impactful. I approach product work with structure, curiosity, and care — and I’m excited to keep building systems that support people in doing their best work.
How I Show Up
There’s a quote I heard once that stuck with me:
“Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
That’s how I lead.
I care deeply about the people I work with — how they’re feeling, where they’re getting stuck, and whether they feel seen in the process. I believe empathy isn’t something extra you layer on after the plan is built — it’s the foundation for how great work gets done. When people feel supported and safe, they collaborate more openly, solve problems more creatively, and stay invested in both the outcome and each other.
I’m not a command-and-control leader. I don’t believe in performative urgency or performative positivity. What I do believe in is clarity, accountability, and mutual respect. I check in. I set expectations early. I care about timelines, but I care just as much about how people feel while we’re working toward them.
Teams I've led often tell me the work feels calmer — more possible — even when it’s complex. That’s intentional. I ask thoughtful questions, create structure where it’s needed, and give people room to show up fully. My job isn’t to be the loudest or the fastest, it’s to make sure the people I’m working with feel capable, connected, and clear on what we’re building together.