Hi. My name is Frances Yllana, and I design and build systems that empower teams to do their best work.

I've stood up operations functions from the ground up three times: DesignOps at a global consultancy, then Design Operations and Delivery Operations at a civic tech firm serving federal agencies and nonprofits. Charters, service desks, delivery standards, career ladders, knowledge bases, skills matrices — the glamorous-to-me infrastructure that decides how every team, project, and program actually runs.

In every design leadership role, I ran or contributed to knowledge management, operations, production, and agency/practice governance. I’d lead design craft while building the plans and blueprints, the roadmaps and frameworks, the templates, internal products, and experiences that serve teams now and later, and building cross-practice relationships and collaborations that serve the full org.

My leadership philosophy has always been to be a servant first. My focus is the growth and well-being of the people and communities I belong. I want to serve a greater group of people, and help them perform to their fullest.