Leading the Way: Yuhki Yamashita's Story of Becoming Figma's CPO
Yuhki Yamashita is a highly experienced professional in the tech industry, currently serving as the Chief Product Officer of Figma, a renowned design collaboration platform.
Yuhki Yamashita is a highly experienced professional in the tech industry, currently serving as the Chief Product Officer of Figma, a renowned design collaboration platform. Throughout his career, he has held various positions at some of the world's most prominent tech companies, including Microsoft, Google, and Uber. His diverse background and experience serve as an inspiration for those early on in their careers, highlighting the potential for growth and advancement in the tech industry.
Yamashita's career began at Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and served as a Head Teaching Fellow for the popular CS50: Introduction to Computer Science course. He was responsible for designing the CS50 brand and the CS50 Fair, giving him early experience in both technical and leadership roles.
David J. Malan
After graduation, Yamashita joined Microsoft as a Program Manager, working on Outlook.com, Windows Calendar, and Windows Mail. He then moved on to Google, where he served as a Product Manager for YouTube on iOS and tablets.
In 2015, Yamashita joined Uber as a Senior Product Manager for the rider experience team. He led the complete redesign of the rider app, which launched in November 2016. He was then promoted to Group Product Manager for the driver experience team, where he led another redesign of the driver app, which launched in April 2018.
In 2018, Yamashita was promoted again to Head of Design for New Mobility at Uber, where he led design for new mobility experiences such as bikes, scooters, and public transit.
Yamashita joined Figma in 2019 as VP of Product and was promoted to Chief Product Officer in 2022. Throughout his career, he has gained a wealth of experience in product management, design, and leadership.
For early career professionals, Yamashita's journey serves as an inspiration for the possibilities of growth and advancement in the tech industry. It's clear that with hard work, determination, and a willingness to take on new challenges, one can rise through the ranks to leadership positions. Additionally, it's important to note that a career path is not always linear and often requires taking on different roles and responsibilities to reach your desired role or title.
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