Stephen Swisher

About Stephen Swisher

Hi! I’m Stephen, but my friends call me “Swish”! I\'m a strategic UX and DesignOps leader with 10+ years of cross-functional program management experience across tech and product organizations. Expertise in scaling UX operations, managing high-impact design programs, and aligning multidisciplinary teams through human-centered methodologies. Proven ability to drive clarity, velocity, and business outcomes in ambiguous, high-growth environments. Outside of work, I enjoy playing guitar and exploring the outdoors with my family. Always open to new opportunities and networking.

Experience

1. Senior Design Program Manager

   Zillow

   Jun 2022 — Present · Seattle, WA, US

   Drive strategic initiatives across the Professionals Experience and Design Tech & AI organizations, enabling cross-functional teams to plan, prioritize, and deliver user-centered outcomes in fast-paced, complex environments- Lead quarterly planning efforts across disciplines by analyzing project asks, calculating turn-down rates, and mapping team capacity to available resources. Outputs are used by VP- and Director-level leadership to inform headcount justification and prioritization- Designed and implemented standardized estimation practices across ZxD, resulting in a 10% increase in confidence from design teams in sizing work, improving resource utilization and forecasting accuracy- Co-authored and launched the Career Growth Initiative for Design Program Managers, a progression and leveling framework that supports recruiting, development, and performance alignment for ICs at all levels- Developing a foundational project management resource hub and playbook for ICs across ZxD, reducing reliance on DPMs for executional support and enabling them to focus on higher-leverage, strategic initiatives- Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Data Science to design and implement scalable, durable processes for intake, prioritization, and execution. Recognized as a trusted collaborator and connector across functions- Built and refined automated workflows using tools like Slack, Jira, Confluence, Zoom, and Loom, alongside AI platforms including ChatGPT, Glean, and Gemini, to reduce friction in daily work and improve visibility across teams- Mentor ICs across ZxD and beyond, championing DesignOps best practices and operational excellence. Regularly sought after for guidance on career growth, stakeholder management, and systems thinking.

Education

• University of Washington

  Master of Science (M.S.), Human-Centered Design & Engineering

  2018 — 2021

• Seattle University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Digital Technology and Cultures

  2016 — 2018

• John Wood Community College

  Associate of Science (A.S.), Computer Science

  2013 — 2014

Skills

• Appointment Scheduling
• Time Management
• Merchant Services
• Legal Assistance
• Ios
• Bias Recording and Mixing
• Imovie
• Android
• Microsoft Word
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Team Leadership
• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Pro Tools
• Merchandising Strategies
• Windows
• Merchandise Planning
• Computer Literacy
• Osx
• Customer Service
• Merchandising
• Final Cut Pro
• Cricket Wireless Systems
• Retail
• Adobe Photoshop
• Merchant Accounts
• Inventory Management
• Administrative Assistance
• Vendor Management
• Microsoft Outlook
• Visual Merchandising
• Microsoft Excel
• Garageband
• Microsoft Products
• Management
• Logic Pro