Hi 👋

I'm Briana Lauren [Dominguez] Czubkowski (chūb · cow · skii), but you can call me Bree.

For over a decade, I’ve been the Swiss Army knife of design teams, helping startups navigate the thrilling journey from idea to acquisition. My experience ranges from product manager to marketer, researcher to business development—basically, if it involved design, I’ve probably done it.

Currently, I’m at Meta, where I lead two teams with a knack for making magic happen: one improves the campus experience for all Metamates (yes, that includes global safety), and the other manages a suite of finance tools handling over $50B annually. Before Meta, I was the Director of User Experience Design at Macy’s Inc., redesigning everything from Bag and Checkout to Omni Delivery for both Macy's and Bloomingdale's. At Walmart Labs, I guided a portfolio of tools to help the retail giant transition into an Omni organization.

When I’m not revolutionizing design, you’ll find me hosting tea parties with my daughter, jamming out with my husband (who’s also my ex-bandmate), and attempting to read more books than my shelves can handle.

If you want to learn more about my process, values, and management philosophy, keep reading. 

Personal Values

Four core values that influence my philosophies and motivations 

Clarity is Kindness

Ambiguity can kill creativity. Clarity can be a kindness not just in work but in life. Finding ways to be kind in your day to day life is a core value for mine. 

Accessibility is Core

Access isn't available for everyone. Design can change that, design needs to change that. Accessibility is one of the steps design can take in addressing equality.

Diversity is Strength

I played sports in high school, and one of the lessons I learned was the value of complementary skills and how that can elevate a team's performance. Diversity of skill, ethnicity, nationality, race, gender, socio-economic background and creed makes the term stronger. 

Ethics is Essential 

It's important to understand we have a skill that can be used to manipulate people in malis ways. It's our job as Designers to have ethics as an essential part of our code. 

Management Philosophy 

Four fundamental principles that are core to my management philosophy. 

Lead by Example

I don't expect my team to do something I wouldn't do. I believe in a healthy balanced life and hard work, and I show how to keep that balance in how I work, what I say yes to, and what I say no to. 

Trust my Team

I've inherited teams and built teams from the ground up. Either way, trust is critical. I focus on empowering each team member to be autonomous, innovative, and passionate in solving complicated problems with elegant seamless designs. 

Expect Excellence

I have high standards. I expect excellence from every team member and give consistent positive and constructive feedback. I believe in radical candor, and that starts with caring deeply for every member of your team. Only with that can you form trust and allow for constant feedback and an open relationship that allows feedback to go both ways.

Listen First

Active listening is a rare and valuable skill, not just for management but for a good designer. If you really listen to your direct reports, it makes all the difference in building a relationship, unlocking potential, and allowing a safe space to grow and learn together. 

Follow me on Dribbble @briana_lauren | Twitter @bree_lauren | Instagram @bri.ana_lauren | Medium @bree_lauren

Want to learn more about my experience? Download Resume