Zalyia Grillet

About Zalyia Grillet

I’m Zalyia Grillet — a trailblazing Experience Strategist, Creative Director, and the Founder of Fifth & Found, an AI-powered experiential strategy studio designing human-first experiences at the intersection of storytelling, innovation, and cultural depth.With 11+ years of experience leading UX and brand strategy for top-tier companies like Deloitte Digital, General Electric, BaubleBar, and Salesforce, I blend behavioral science, ethnomusicology, and tech to create intuitive, emotionally intelligent experiences that don’t just work — they resonate.I’ve spoken on stages like TEDx, Google, Affirm, and LEGO, been featured by Beyoncé, People of Color in Tech, and appeared on podcasts such as UX Narrative and A Day in the Tech Life with Symone Beez. I lead bold conversations on UX, design thinking, AI prompt engineering, and imposter syndrome in tech.Through Fifth & Found, I partner with visionary brands and creatives navigating pivotal transitions — using AI-integrated strategy and intentional design to move through the “in-between” with clarity, confidence, and cultural relevance.I also consult for organizations like RVATech, Black Girls in Cyber, Blacks in Technology, and Fashion Row Collective, and mentor rising talent through my Imposter Syndrome Toolkit. I’m the founder of TechUnleashed, a growing community for Black creatives in tech, and previously taught UX and design as an adjunct professor at MICA.Whether I’m shaping a brand system, curating content, or speaking to a room full of innovators — I lead with strategy, soul, and a commitment to building what’s next.Let’s connect if you’re building with purpose and ready to create something meaningful.

Experience

1. Fractional COO

   Brooklyn Level Up Bklvlup

   Jul 2025 — Present · Brooklyn, NY, US

   Serve as Fractional COO for a community-powered environmental tech nonprofit advancing environmental justice, digital equity, and youth-led innovation—driving organizational strategy, systems design, and leadership infrastructure for long-term growth.Hire and structure the internal team, establishing a clear organizational hierarchy, role alignment, and cross-department collaboration to improve operational efficiency.Lead a full organizational rebrand—including brand strategy, messaging, visual identity, and website redesign—to reflect a bold, tech-forward, and community-rooted mission.Direct board selection and development, aligning governance with operational needs and grassroots leadership values.Design and implement AI-integrated operational systems for workflow automation, project management, and grant tracking, enabling more agile and data-driven decision-making.Develop and lead the EcoPower Summer Internship Program, a youth-led, design thinking initiative equipping high school students with skills in environmental tech, urban planning, and civic storytelling—driving community impact through hands-on, locally focused projects.

Education

• Edward R. Murrow High School

  High School, Communication and Media Studies, Music

  2004 — 2008

• Purchase College, SUNY

  Liberal Arts with Concentration in the Arts, Ethnomusicology

  2008 — 2013

• General Assembly

  User Experience Design

  2015 — 2015

• Howard University School of Business

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Entrepreneurship

  2021 — 2026

Skills

• User Experience
• User Research
• Leadership
• Customer Service
• Usability Testing
• Contextual Inquiry
• Heuristic Evaluation
• Interaction Design
• Social Networking
• Public Speaking
• Powerpoint
• Ios
• Design Research
• Creativity Skills
• Information Architecture
• Sketch
• Card Sorting
• Iwork
• User Flows
• Customer Experience
• Creative Solutions
• Survey Design
• Ethnographic Interviewing
• Photoshop
• Basic Html
• Site Maps
• Wireframes
• Personas and Scenario Development
• Paper Prototyping
• Responsive Web Design
• Keynote
• Imovie
• Iphoto
• Branding & Identity
• Itunes
• Microsoft Office
• Windows
• Research
• Outlook
• Teaching