Product Manager & Design Lead - Digital Product, Strategy & Customer Experience
SIMONA ORLANDI
With 15+ years of work across product management, customer value, design, and digital strategy, I step in when products, projects, systems or teams grow faster than clarity. I help organizations uncover "the why" behind what they dream and need, bringing structure to complexity and enabling change that truly aligns with business and operational goals.
My work succeeds when a simple seed of an idea can grow, take root, and turn into a product with real impact.
KEY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
Product Manager & Head of Design — ACSoftware S.r.l. (2024 - Present)
I lead UX/UI, CX and product strategy for innovative, multi-channel digital initiatives across insurance, defense, education and construction.
I oversee go-to-market, MVP and UVP execution around product vision and roadmap priorities for innovative products in blockchain, VR, applied games, AI, data mesh & IoT.
I define product vision, roadmap priorities and design direction for cross-company initiatives, aligning user research, technical development, business goals and delivery timelines.
I built and scaled the Design Department (5+), defining governance, hiring, capacity and workflows, improving operational efficiency by 40%
Lead UX/UI Designer (Product driven) — Aruba S.p.A. (2023 - 2024)
By leading UX/UI redesign initiatives aligned with product roadmaps across corporate platforms, I enabled a unified customer experience model and reduced UX fragmentation through governance and design system evolution, in close collaboration with Product Managers.
I managed a cross-functional design team of 4+ designers, ensuring alignment between product, technology, and marketing.
Lead Designer & Product / Project Manager — Unipol Gruppo S.p.a. (2016 - 2022)
I owned and coordinated product vision and roadmap alignment, ensuring brand consistency across the group’s multi-brand digital ecosystem.
I was responsible for functional analysis, project management, gantt and project presentations for design initiatives.
I guided cross-functional teams in designing digital products and services within the Health, Mobility and Property ecosystems.
I founded and led UniSalute’s in-house design team (3+), redesigning multichannel digital services and launching the award-winning UniSalute Up platform. The solution empowered users through digital self-service, reducing call center volume by 30%.
CONTACTS
Bologna (IT) +39 3397512944
Portfolio available upon request
SKILLS
Hard Skills
Digital Product Strategy, Roadmapping, Customer Experience, Customer centricity, Leadership & Governance, Agile/Scrum, UX Research, Workshops,
Design Systems, Cross-functional Delivery, Roadmaps, Metrics & OKR's.
Soft Skills
Collaborative leadership, Cross-functional communication,
Complex problem solving, Big picture thinking, Stakeholder alignment, Change management, Simplify complexity.
Tech Skills
Miro/Mural, Jira/Confluence, Figma, Lovable, Framer, AI tools, Adobe CC, Analytics.
WORK AWARDS
2025 Premio Spina
Observa for Mudem, Banca d’Italia Virtual Museum: special mention for inclusivity & innovation.
2019 Le Fonti Awards
UniSalute Up Best Health Insurance App of the Year: special mention for UX, CX & innovation.
WORK: OTHER EXPERIENCES
Product Designer and Researcher — QubicaAMF S.p.A. (2022 - 2023)
I led product discovery, UX research, and MVP definition for Neoverse, Qubica’s cutting edge new product that revolutionizes immersive bowling experiences, seamlessly integrated with their core softwares.
I defined discovery and MVP strategy through user research and stakeholder workshops.
As a member of R&D and cross-functional teams, I defined the strategy for products across kiosks, consoles, and devices.
Together with other product designers, I addressed a design system/design ecosystem aimed at ensuring consistency across the entire application portfolio.
I shaped the first career path and ladder for the Design function, supporting team growth, role clarity, and long term scalability.
Graphic Designer | UX/UI — Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (2015 - 2016)
I worked on brand-centric UX/UI design for digital assets and web templates, ensuring and overseeing online brand consistency.
I designed and produced digital content and visual assets for product launches and web campaigns in the racing sector, consistently driving user engagement and brand visibility.
Internal Sales, Marketing & Digital — Gammarad S.p.A. (2011 - 2014)
I worked on communication and marketing campaigns, NPS, websites for Healthcare & pharmaceutical environment and wine industries.
I empowered commercial support for Gammarad S.p.A., drafting internal contracts and ensuring strong client relationships.
Internal Sales Engineer — Arrow Electronics S.p.A. (2010 - 2011)
Supported customer order management for electronic components, contributing to smoother order processing and improved operational efficiency across internal sales workflows.
Sales, Travel Agent, Branch Manager — Viaggi di Riz S.r.l. (2006 - 2010)
I led consultative sales of complex, customized services (tailor made travels).
I managed high-traffic retail environment (5–15 clients/day).
Chosen to launch and independently manage a new store, owning sales, operations, and customer acquisition end-to-end.
Banking Operations & Client Services — Intesa Sanpaolo (2006 – 2008)
I Managed daily cash operations and retail banking transactions while supporting client relationships through tailored financial and insurance solutions.
Contributed to a ~5% year-over-year increase in insurance product cross-selling within the assigned customer portfolio.
LANGUAGES
Italian: Native
English: C1 Fluent
French: B2/C1 Fluent
German: A2 Beginner
MENTORING
ADPList Design Mentor
EDUCATION
Product Management Master Product Heroes (2024)
Associate Degree ITS EQF5 Multimedia & Communication (2015)
Technical Diploma
Accademia di Belle Arti Bologna
Scenography (2005)
High School Diploma
Scientific & Linguistic (2004)