Heidi Vaarala is the Design Director and Partner at Alpha Design Partners, where she leverages over two decades of design expertise and strategic leadership. With a history of driving innovation in design and software agencies, Heidi has built and led successful design teams, developed business operations, and mentored clients in product development and CX. Her educational background includes an Executive MBA focused on business renewal and a Master’s in Digital Media. Heidi is known for her analytical approach and strategic thinking, having mentored numerous C-level experts across various industries in design operations, customer experience, and business development. An active speaker and advisor in the design community, she excels in integrating DesignOps and AI to enhance business outcomes and design operations.