Ivana Nikolau

About Ivana Nikolau

I’m a Head of Product with 5+ years of experience leading high-performing, cross-functional teams at the intersection of design, engineering, and mission-driven product development. I’m passionate about turning complex ideas into fully built tools that not only work well, but also make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.I thrive in the full lifecycle of product development: shaping vision, managing execution, and guiding teams through every step from early research to successful launch. I lead with a design-forward, systems-oriented mindset—balancing big-picture strategy with day-to-day product rigor.My work is grounded in collaboration. I love managing diverse teams of designers and engineers, aligning stakeholder needs, and creating clear, structured paths to delivery. Whether launching an MVP or evolving a complex platform, I focus on building products that are accessible, intuitive, and scalable.Curious by nature, I bring deep care, sharp focus, and tenacity to every product I lead. I don’t shy away from hard work—I lean into it, especially when the company goals are clear (added bonus if we create real, measurable impact).

Experience

1. Head of Product

   Refundly

   Oct 2025 — Present

Education

• Williams College

  Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology, Russian Language Certificate

  2010 — 2014

Skills

• Research
• Peer Support
• Photoshop
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Nonprofits
• Leadership
• Russian
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
• Clinical Research
• Editing
• Microsoft Word
• Team Leadership