Need experienced product and design leadership that combines current customer insights with strategic thinking about what's coming next?

Kia ora. I’m Ciaran.

Product principal, researcher & strategic foresight practitioner.

I help leaders avoid expensive strategic mistakes by understanding what customers need today and anticipating what they'll need tomorrow. Combining 20 years of product leadership with strategic foresight methodology, I guide teams through uncertainty toward thoughtful, evidence-based decisions. I work with product executives, C-level leaders, and startup founders who need strategic clarity during periods of rapid change or growth.

Currently seeking startup advisory roles with Series A-C companies in need of strategic product leadership.

“Working with Ciaran was fantastic. He excelled at aligning our team and navigating the complexities of an enthusiastic and occasionally challenging client programme. His strategic approach kept everyone focused and moving in the same direction, which was instrumental. He played a key leadership role within the team too, providing coaching and mentoring on top of his role.”

— RUSH Digital, www.rush.co.nz , Aotearoa New Zealand, 2024 / Client

I help you develop clearer understanding of what your customers actually need, today and tomorrow.

I lead strategic research and foresight initiatives that transform insights into market-ready products and services whilst preparing organisations for emerging opportunities. By understanding current customer behaviours and anticipating future needs, I ensure solutions are both human-centred and business-aligned.

With expertise spanning product design leadership, design research, and strategic foresight, I've built award-winning user experience teams across international markets. My approach combines ethnographic research methods with anticipatory thinking, grounded by my Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction from University College London.

Working between rural Aotearoa New Zealand, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, London and the EU, I provide senior advisory and hands-on strategic design services to global clients. Recent work includes VP Design role contributing to 26% revenue growth across four countries, strategic partnerships with major New Zealand banks and government agencies, and service design for Australia's largest relationship services provider.

I’m happiest in collaborative environments where diverse expertise is valued. My philosophy is simple: great products are built by great teams, not individuals. I help build and ship, but only with other people.

If you're ready to stop optimising the wrong things and start building what people actually need, let's chat. And if I'm not quite the right person for your project, I'm sure I know someone lovely who is!

Who I work with

Currently seeking startup advisory roles with growth-stage companies needing product leadership during scaling phases.

Product leaders and executives

You’re expanding into new markets, navigating regulatory changes, or building products for diverse international contexts. If you need strategic guidance without the commitment of a full-time hire, fractional leadership can accelerate your growth while reducing risk.

Startup founders & leadership (Series A-C)

You need strategic support for finding product-market fit and scaling decisions. I provide the plug-in VP-level strategic thinking without the full-time cost.

Senior executives

You’re in established organisations facing industry disruption or change. If you need to prepare for emerging opportunities while managing current operational demands. Strategic foresight and anticipatory research can help you stay ahead of market shifts.

“If you’d research a $50k car purchase, why not a million dollar product decision?”

Research doesn't slow you down—building the wrong thing does. Every day you spend building something people don't want is a day you could have spent building something they love.

Quote — the great Erika Hall.

How I can help you and your team

  • For leaders needing strategic foresight

    If your industry is changing rapidly or you need to plan for uncertain futures: I provide strategic foresight and scenario planning to map what's coming next, anticipatory research to identify emerging opportunities, and frameworks for making confident strategic decisions during uncertainty,

  • For product strategy and international growth

    If you're expanding into new markets or developing products for diverse contexts: I offer international expansion strategy, cross-cultural user research and validation, product vision and roadmap development, plus fractional VP-level product leadership when you need senior expertise without a permanent hire.

  • For teams, start-ups and scale-ups needing strategic product and research leadership

    If you need strategic guidance for your product, design or research teams: I provide fractional leadership during growth phases, strategic research programmes that drive business decisions, team performance optimisation, and capability building across product development functions.

  • For organisations managing complex stakeholders and services

    If you're redesigning services or coordinating across multiple stakeholder groups: I offer service design and blueprinting for complex organisations, stakeholder alignment strategies, service transformation frameworks, and approaches for managing multi-party coordination challenges.

Ready to make better strategic decisions with international perspective?

Book a consultation to explore how 20 years of cross-sector experience can benefit your organisation.