About Tamara Adlin
I’m a UX leader, author, speaker, and startup strategist passionate about helping teams design digital products people actually love to use. With a Master’s in Human-Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington, my career began at Amazon as a User Experience Lead before launching a dynamic consulting practice. Since then, I’ve worked with startups, global enterprises,...
…financial institutions, and organizations like the United Nations, bringing clarity and cohesion to product design strategy.
I’m best known for calling out “Corporate Underpants”—the internal politics that show through in customer experiences—and helping teams align from the inside out. My proprietary method, Align Before Design, is a practical, actionable workshop that helps executives and stakeholders align in five strategic conversations, resulting in a clear, guiding “magical sentence” that keeps product teams focused from ideation through launch.
I’m also a passionate mentor and coach for women in tech, helping them grow confidently into leadership, negotiate titles and salaries, and navigate the complex terrain of technical careers. I serve as a founding volunteer of Never Search Alone, a peer-based support process and community for job seekers based on the book by Phyl Terry, empowering individuals to co-mentor through the highs and lows of job transitions.
My consulting spans from Apple to Zillow, and my expertise lies in early-stage startups, disruptive innovation, UX strategy, stakeholder management, and product development coaching.
🎙️ Host of the Corporate Underpants Podcast
🎥 Host of Never Search Alone LinkedIn Live
📚 Co-author of The Persona Lifecycle series | Author of Align Before Design (in progress)
