Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Awards
Websites
Timeline
Generic

William Thompson

Detroit,MI

Summary

Customer Experience + Product Design Leader and Educator with 20 years of expertise crafting products that drive business objectives and add meaningful customer value. Track record for success in organizational transformation, business line establishment, strategic partnership cultivation, and talent development. Focused on delivering innovative global products across web, mobile, mixed reality, and in-vehicle platforms.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Director of Industry

Aquent
02.2024 - Current
  • Drove a human-centered, mobility-first repositioning of Aquent’s automotive portfolio, extending reach into tech, entertainment, healthcare, and financial services, while increasing executive-level connections by 400% and pipeline opportunities by 200%.
  • Conceived and launched the HOTT (Hire, Onboard, Train, Transfer) initiative, forging strategic partnerships with the University of Michigan to deliver next-generation talent equipped with relevant, innovation-based skill sets.
  • Established Centers of Excellence around AI, Mixed Reality, and Digital Design, developing and leading AI training for over 100 team members, boosting productivity, reducing repetitive-task churn, and fostering creativity across multiple dimensions.
  • Reinforced a culture of innovation by retraining business and design teams in design thinking methodologies, elevating digital product quality and enhancing the overall client experience.
  • Developed an industry-facing training program enabling professionals to reskill, upskill, and cross-train in response to evolving client demands, ensuring that talent remains agile and future-ready.

Lecturer

University of Michigan
01.2022 - Current
  • Led end-to-end development and approval process for two courses: Customer Experience Design and Product Management (Fall 2024)
  • Oversaw all aspects of course creation, from initial concept to final content approval, ensuring alignment with educational objectives and industry standards. Resulted in successful launch of comprehensive, industry-relevant curriculum offerings, driving student engagement and enhancing learning outcomes
  • Deliver lectures, instruct and develop student's essential skills for success in next generation software defined automotive experiences including research, opportunity and business analysis, design proposal creation and presentation across ranges of digital mobility products and services
  • Designed and implemented a scalable microcredential program aligning course content with emerging industry trends in AI, UX design, and product management; conducted market analysis, developed learner profiles, and established deployment strategies to meet workforce demands across all industrial sectors.
  • Contributed to increased student enrollment for UMSI and promoted industry focused growth for talent pipelines in Automotive and Mobility industries

Head of Mobility

Rightpoint
04.2022 - 02.2024
  • Recruited to launch new digital business vertical tailored to Automotive, Marine, RV, and Retail (mobility) sectors
  • Oversight on all facets of operations, including business development, team recruitment, market research, client engagement, and project delivery
  • Drove development and execution of comprehensive product strategies, across ranges of digital platforms and clients
  • Cultivated inspirational and motivational environment driving interdisciplinary teams to deliver above client expectations
  • Resulting initiatives increased lead generation by 60%, tripled net new major OEM clients, yielded 25% boost in revenue, and created multiple strategic partnerships

Sr User Experience Manager

General Motors
12.2004 - 11.2021
  • Responsible for growth and restructuring of UX department from 35 FTEs to 130+ over 18 months
  • Introduced new professional disciplines, tools, systems and processes to modernize design and business practices resulting in faster iteration and defect-free delivery
  • Managed $30 million department operating budget to support production and concept vehicle programs, ensuring efficient resource allocation and project success
  • Drove UI/UX design efforts from concept to production, including theme and feature development, interaction modeling, user research, planning, prototyping, testing, iteration, marketing communication, and software validation
  • Guided and mentored interdisciplinary teams of UX researchers, designers, strategists, planners and agencies to bring generations of award winning products to market
  • Successfully launched 80+ vehicles and multiple award winning products (from ICE to EV) including web and mobile applications across seven brands globally

Education

BBA -

Rochester College
Rochester Hills, MI

Associate of Applied Science -

Macomb Community College
Warren

Skills

  • Creativity
  • Story Telling / Presentation
  • Business Development
  • Design Thinking
  • Team Building
  • Strategy and Tactics
  • Research
  • Workflow Process Design
  • Creative Direction
  • Visual Design (UI)
  • Interaction Design (UX)
  • Product Management

Certification

  • Leading SAFe - Scaled Agile (SAFe 5) (2020)
  • Harvard Emerging Leader (Harvard Business Review 2017)
  • Robert Cooper Breakthrough Intelligence
  • The Extraordinary Leader
  • Team GM Transformers
  • Workplace of Choice Committee Chair

Awards

  • Wards Auto Best UX - 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, 2021 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, 2017 Buick enclave
  • Eyes On Design - 2015 Buick Avenir Concept, 2014 Cadillac ELR
  • Popular Mechanics Top Gadget - Cadillac CUE

Timeline

Director of Industry

Aquent
02.2024 - Current

Head of Mobility

Rightpoint
04.2022 - 02.2024

Lecturer

University of Michigan
01.2022 - Current

Sr User Experience Manager

General Motors
12.2004 - 11.2021

BBA -

Rochester College

Associate of Applied Science -

Macomb Community College

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William Thompson