Sarah Alpern
VP, Design | San Francisco, California, United States
Professional Overview
Sarah Alpern is a seasoned design leader with over 20 years of experience driving user-centric innovation and business impact. As the Vice President of Design at LinkedIn, she leads a talented team responsible for crafting intuitive, high-performing experiences that empower the platform's global user base. With a proven track record of aligning design with strategic business objectives, Sarah is a respected voice in the technology industry, known for her ability to bridge the gap between design, engineering, and product management.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As VP of Design at LinkedIn, Sarah is responsible for defining the company's holistic design vision and overseeing the end-to-end user experience across the platform's core products and services. She collaborates closely with cross-functional leadership to ensure design decisions are tightly coupled with broader business goals, driving measurable improvements in user engagement, conversion, and satisfaction. Under Sarah's guidance, her team has launched a series of innovative features that have enhanced LinkedIn's market positioning and solidified its status as the premier professional networking platform.
Career Progression
Prior to her current role, Sarah held several design leadership positions at LinkedIn, including Senior Director of User Experience Design and Director of User Experience Design. She was instrumental in scaling the company's design capabilities and instilling a user-centric mindset throughout the organization. Before joining LinkedIn, Sarah served as the Director of User Experience at Wealthfront Inc., where she led the design of the company's award-winning wealth management platform. She has also held design and product management roles at eBay, Shareholder.com, and the Walt Disney Internet Group, honing her skills in crafting intuitive digital experiences and driving impactful business outcomes.
Academic Background
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interaction Design from the University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated with honors. Her specialized training in user-centered design, information architecture, and emerging interactive technologies has been a key driver of her professional success.
Areas of Expertise
- User experience design and information architecture
- Design strategy and cross-functional collaboration
- Design system development and scalable design practices
- Design leadership and team management
- Digital product development and agile methodologies
- Data-driven design and A/B testing
Professional Impact
Under Sarah's leadership, the LinkedIn design team has been recognized for its innovative and user-centric approach, receiving numerous industry awards and accolades. She has been invited to speak at prominent design conferences, sharing her insights on building world-class design organizations and driving design-led transformation. Sarah is also an active mentor, supporting the professional development of emerging designers and design leaders.
Conclusion
With her exceptional design expertise, strategic acumen, and proven ability to drive measurable business impact, Sarah Alpern is a respected leader in the technology industry. As VP of Design at LinkedIn, she continues to push the boundaries of user experience and design, shaping the future of professional networking and identity management.
