Hi, I'm Candace.

I'm a product and design leader who enjoys solving complex problems at the intersection of customer needs, business strategy, and technology.
 

Today, I work as a Senior Product Designer at Nelnet, where I help shape payment platform experiences used by higher education institutions, students, and families across the country. While my foundation is in user experience design, my work increasingly focuses on product strategy, platform modernization, systems thinking, and emerging AI opportunities.
 

Over the past 20+ years, I've worked across healthcare, fintech, education, and SaaS products. Along the way, I've learned that successful products aren't built by focusing on users, business goals, or technology in isolation. The best outcomes happen when all three are considered together.
 

To strengthen that perspective, I completed my Executive MBA in 2025 and am currently pursuing a Master of Science in AI Engineering. These experiences have expanded the way I think about product development, helping me integrate customer insights, business value, technical feasibility, and innovation into a cohesive strategy.

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How I Approach Product Development

I believe great products are built when teams understand:

• The problems customers are actually trying to solve

• The business outcomes that matter most

• The technical realities required to scale solutions effectively

My role often involves helping to bridge those perspectives, creating alignment among stakeholders, uncovering opportunities through research, and translating complexity into solutions that are practical, scalable, and valuable.

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Beyond Work

Outside of product and technology, I'm a lifelong learner and creative at heart. You'll usually find me gardening, working on home improvement projects, painting, practicing yoga, or exploring new ideas through writing and mentorship.

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I'm also passionate about helping others grow in their careers. In 2024, I was recognized as one of ADPList's Most Influential Mentors, and mentoring remains one of the most rewarding parts of my professional journey.

At the end of the day, I'm driven by curiosity, continuous learning, and the creation of products that make life a little easier for the people who use them.