Enterprise Business Operations & Systems Design

I design how organizations run.

Integrating strategy, people, and technology for global organizations.

Most organizational challenges aren't about effort; they are design problems.

I apply systems and design thinking to translate complexity into clear operating models to ensure

that work actually works.

Writing

Observations about how work actually works, where systems break, and what the future of work could become when strategy, people, and technology align by design.

Read on Substack

About

Renae Vespremi

Systems designer. Integrative thinker. Translator of complexity.

With more than two decades of creative and operational leadership, I help organizations rethink how work gets done. Working closely with leaders, I define what matters most, then align strategy, people, and technology around it so AI accelerates a strong foundation rather than a fragmented one. The result is organizations that are both more effective, and more human.

Director, Business Operations
Zendesk
2024 – Present
I lead business operations for a global, matrixed organization of several hundred people, and built the high-performing team from the ground up that runs it. Designing governance, planning, and AI-enabled operating systems to get the company IPO-ready has deepened my understanding of how work flows across complex companies and how systems shape behavior. More recently, I have begun connecting marketing and sales operating systems, extending my work beyond functions toward GTM Operations. The role brings together systems thinking, human-centered design, and operational leadership to surface root causes, reduce friction, and create the conditions to perform at scale.
Head of Creative Operations
Zendesk
2022 – 2024
My experience as a creative leader is why I was able to transform the organization so quickly. Drawing on that foundation, I coached creative leaders on team management and designed an offsite that unlocked their teams. This role brought together design and systems thinking to develop governance, planning, and decision-making frameworks that aligned creative internally and connected it with marketing and executive stakeholders.
Access Advisor
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
2019 – Present
I advise the de Young and Legion of Honor on accessibility and inclusive design, helping ensure people of all abilities can meaningfully engage with spaces, programs, and world-class art. The work reflects a principle that continues to guide my approach to leadership and systems design: understanding what people need is the foundation for creating environments where they can fully participate.
Principal, Operations
RVC
2018 – 2022
I established operational systems and processes while supporting transformation and operational initiatives for high-growth technology companies. Working across dozens of Bay Area startups provided an early view into how organizations grow, scale, and navigate complexity, exposing me to a wide range of operating models, leadership styles, and organizational cultures.
Creative Director
LightHouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired
2016 – 2018
I built the 125-year-old organization's first in-house creative function, integrating accessibility and human-centered design into visual storytelling. I aligned diverse stakeholders and created experiences that balanced organizational goals with perspectives of the blind and visually impaired. This work clarified a core principle: understand how people experience the world first, and let that guide what you build.
Photographer & Designer
Renae Davidson Creative
2008 – 2016
I led 500+ creative productions across industries, helping clients and agencies communicate complex ideas through visual storytelling. The work required listening deeply, navigating ambiguity, and identifying the underlying need beneath requests. Because every engagement brought new teams and stakeholders, success depended on building trust quickly, creating clarity, and aligning people around a shared vision — work that I now scale across organizations.
Organizational Leadership — Harvard Business School Online Leading for Creativity — IDEO Systems Thinking — Cornell University PMP — PMI San Francisco Bay Area B.A. Sociology & English — University of Louisiana at Lafayette
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