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.

About

Renae Vespremi

Systems designer. Integrative thinker. Translator of complexity.

With more than two decades of creative and operational leadership, I design the conditions for work to scale sustainably. I help leaders define what matters most, then align strategy, people, and technology around it, so organizations operate with greater clarity and agility. I bring together human-centered design and AI-optimized systems to create organizations that are both more effective, and more human.

Director, Business Operations
Zendesk
2024 – Present
I lead business operations for a global, matrixed organization responsible for cross-functional, end-to-end workflows and systems oriented to the customer journey rather than the org chart. Designed governance and planning rhythms needed to make a complex operating model effective, and architected an AI-enabled operating system that unifies planning, execution, and measurement into a single source of truth. This role brings together systems thinking, human-centered design, and operational leadership to identify root causes, reduce friction, and help large organizations move with greater clarity and agility.
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 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
Download Resume

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