Laine Prokay
Laine Prokay is a seasoned DesignOps and Design Enablement leader with a democratic style of leadership, known for encouraging team input, experimenting with new ideas, and fostering open communication. She currently serves in a design operations role at ServiceNow, where she has been shaping the organization for the past year, and has been working in design operations for six years overall. Laine started her career over 15 years ago after earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2011. Originally trained in business and marketing, she began in agency work and project management, believing she might follow a path in advertising. A formative internship in project management after college shaped her career trajectory, and she spent approximately nine years across agencies, startups, and large technology companies, managing projects and honing her expertise before transitioning into design operations in 2025.
Laine’s professional focus is centered on enabling designers to work more efficiently and creatively. She builds tooling, trainings, and processes that remove friction, allowing teams to focus on high-impact work. She embraces a growth mindset, values joy in the workplace, and encourages continuous learning, accepting mistakes as opportunities for improvement, and keeping levity in her teams’ daily work. Throughout her career, she has supported UX and product design teams, transitioning from ensuring deliverables to optimizing how work gets done, while building inclusive, collaborative communities that amplify design’s impact across organizations. Laine is most proud of being selected multiple times to speak to other DesignOps professionals at the Rosenthal Conference, sharing her expertise and thought leadership in operational excellence, team enablement, and design leadership.
Beyond her professional achievements, Laine is passionate about supporting public libraries and dedicates her free time to creating meaningful memories with her three-year-old son. She enjoys exploring new places, spending time outdoors, and building Legos — blending creativity, curiosity, and joy both at work and at home. Known for her strategic vision, hands-on problem-solving, and approachable leadership, Laine continues to mentor the next generation of design professionals while shaping the future of DesignOps with innovation, collaboration, and impact.
• Certified Change Practitioner
• Salesforce Certified User Experience Designer
• Drucker School MBA Essentials for Salesforce
• Project Management Professional
• California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo - BSBA
• Keynote Speaker of 2018 Marketing Career Conference
• 2014 San Francisco Office MVP
• You Rock Award
• American Marketing Association
• Salesforce.org
• Crisis Text Line
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of curiosity, a willingness to try new things, sheer grit, and the privilege of working alongside great people. These qualities have driven me to learn continuously, take on challenges with confidence, and collaborate effectively to achieve meaningful results.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to identify the things you want to do and then have the courage to raise your hand and ask, “Can I do this?” This mindset has taught me to be proactive, embrace opportunities, and advocate for my growth, even in situations that feel uncertain or outside my comfort zone.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Find champions who will both support and candidly advise you; growth often happens through relationships and advocates who can vouch for your work.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is AI. While AI offers incredible capabilities, it requires careful consideration about when and how it should be used, and whose needs it is truly serving. I believe there is a critical need to balance automation with thoughtfulness and a human touch, ensuring that design and user experiences remain empathetic, intentional, and aligned with real human needs.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are a growth mindset and joy. I strive to approach every challenge as an opportunity to learn, continuously improving myself and the teams I work with, while maintaining a sense of positivity and enjoyment in the process. I believe that embracing curiosity, accepting mistakes as learning moments, and finding delight in both work and life not only drives better outcomes but also fosters stronger connections with those around me.