Great products don’t just happen—they’re crafted at the intersection of insight, creativity, and execution.
Behind every intuitive interface and seamless user experience is a leadership team that deeply understands what customers need today—and what they’ll want tomorrow. That’s where the role of the VP of Product and Design comes in.
This position isn’t just about managing roadmaps or aesthetics. It’s about driving product strategy, shaping long-term vision, and building teams that can execute with purpose. It’s a role that sits at the core of business innovation—translating complex ideas into products that deliver real value.
The VP of Product and design plays a pivotal role in shaping a company’s future. Beyond overseeing features and roadmaps, they are responsible for defining a clear product vision and strategy that aligns tightly with broader business objectives. This leadership position demands a forward-looking mindset—spotting market opportunities, setting long-term direction, and ensuring that every product decision drives meaningful impact across the organization. In many ways, it’s a role where strategic thinking meets customer obsession, ultimately fueling innovation and growth.
Briana Frank doesn’t just build cloud products—she co-creates experiences. Her role is a fusion of strategic thinking and inclusive leadership, where diverse perspectives are essential ingredients.
“As VP of IBM Cloud Product & Design, my day revolves around solving complex client problems through collaboration,” she says. “The magic happens when different points of view come together to shape solutions that delight users.”
It’s a job that demands constant curiosity, cross-functional dialogue, and the ability to toggle between macro-level roadmaps and micro-level product design. For Briana, that balance is energizing. What she does isn’t just technical—it’s deeply human.
Let’s take a closer look at what a day in the life of a VP of Product and Design at IBM Cloud truly looks like—where strategic leadership meets user-centric innovation at enterprise scale.
Starting Strong: The Morning Momentum That Fuels Leadership
For a high-impact leader like Briana Frank, VP of Product and Design at IBM Cloud, the morning isn’t just a routine—it’s a strategic advantage. Her day begins with purposeful movement, whether it’s running or strength training—activities she considers essential to activating both body and mind. This commitment to physical wellness sets the tone for the day ahead, allowing her to bring sharp focus and clarity to the table.
After a nourishing breakfast and proper hydration, Briana is ready to take on a schedule filled with fast-paced product reviews, cross-functional strategy sessions, and pivotal decision-making moments. It’s this intentional start that equips her to lead with energy, resilience, and clarity in a space where innovation and speed are key.
Let’s dive deeper and learn how Briana balances vision, velocity, and user-centered leadership.
The Rhythm of the Day
Unlike roles defined by long blocks of concentration, Briana’s schedule is a masterclass in context-switching. From technical deep dives to client briefings, analyst calls, and 1:1s, her day flows in 30-minute intervals that demand agility and clarity.
“It’s rare to have an uninterrupted hour,” she admits. “But the variety keeps things dynamic—and preparation is key.”
Each meeting is more than just a calendar slot—it’s a decision point. Whether it’s aligning product vision across teams or translating user feedback into action, every transition is fueled by purpose. Her ability to pivot quickly, stay present, and maintain clarity across shifting contexts underscores the leadership agility required at the helm of product and design in a global cloud ecosystem.
This rhythm isn’t just about time management—it’s about outcome management. Briana approaches each conversation with intention, ensuring that even brief moments contribute meaningfully to forward momentum. It’s a cadence that reflects the fast-evolving nature of cloud innovation and the discipline it takes to steer large-scale product strategy with precision.
A Standing Priority
Amid the fast-paced cadence of meetings, Briana carves out intentional time for learning. She hosts weekly roundtables with teams across the IBM Cloud business, creating a space to hear diverse perspectives and uncover real-time challenges.
“These sessions keep me close to the work and help me identify how I can remove barriers,” she shares. “They’re a direct line to what matters most: our people and our clients.”
Tools of the Trade
Behind every well-orchestrated day lies a system—and for Briana, that system starts with something deceptively simple: the to-do list. “There’s something very satisfying about creating and checking off accomplishments,” she says. Whether it’s a digital Kanban board or a quick note in her Notes app, she builds task lists that travel with her across devices.
But here’s the catch: you can’t cross a task off until it’s truly done. That means the work is completed, and the update is communicated to all relevant stakeholders. It’s such a staple of her workflow that colleagues have coined a term for it—“Briana Done”—signaling a standard where execution and communication go hand in hand.
At IBM, her team leverages tools like Monday.com to collaborate and track project progress transparently. It’s not just about checking boxes—it’s about maintaining visibility, alignment, and momentum across fast-moving initiatives.
Decision-Making That Drives Impact
For Briana Frank, Vice President of IBM Cloud Product & Design, decision-making is about aligning innovation with user needs and long-term value.
A recent standout: launch Red Hat AI InstructLab as a service on IBM Cloud. Designed to simplify AI model alignment into three easy steps, the solution reflects a deep focus on usability and security—earning a Design Award in the process.
“We always prioritize the end-user, especially when it comes to AI,” Briana says.
That same mindset applies when navigating urgent client needs versus scalable infrastructure strategies. Rather than solving one-off issues, Briana’s team looks for patterns to build solutions that benefit many.
What does the Role of a VP Product and Design look like at IBM Cloud?
The role of Vice President of IBM Cloud Product & Design is not just about overseeing products—it’s about orchestrating innovation at scale. Sitting at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and human-centered design, the position plays a critical part in shaping IBM Cloud’s direction and impact.
“My focus is bringing diverse ideas together to solve client problems,” Briana explains. “Every day, I get to co-create with team members that have different points of view—and that’s where the magic happens.”
For Briana, product leadership is more than roadmap ownership or execution excellence. It’s a collaborative, dynamic process that balances creativity with technical depth, and business outcomes with user experience. She describes it as the ultimate combination of what she loves: “business, technology, creativity, and leadership.”
This multidimensional approach has a direct impact on the organization’s growth. By driving cross-functional alignment and cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives thrive, she ensures that product innovation isn’t just efficient—it’s inclusive, client-driven, and future-ready.
Mentorship as a Mindset
Briana’s journey to leadership was shaped not just by her roles but by the people who offered guidance along the way—even when they didn’t wear the formal title of “mentor.”
“Early in my career, I hesitated to schedule time with my designated mentors,” she recalls. “I never felt my questions were important enough to interrupt someone’s day.” That changed as she began to recognize that valuable insights can come from anyone at any time.
Today, that belief has evolved into an “always-on” approach to mentorship. Briana actively seeks out feedback and conversation with colleagues across all levels and disciplines—an ethos that has become central to her leadership style.
This philosophy also inspired her to launch monthly mentorship hours for women in tech, an open online space where women can talk candidly about career goals and challenges and share advice. “Since the meeting is open and scheduled monthly, it removes the element of hesitation in scheduling a formal meeting with a mentor,” she says.
Product Strategy by Design
When it comes to defining IBM Cloud’s product roadmap, Briana’s approach is refreshingly grounded: listen to the people who use the product.
“Client feedback is our compass,” she says. “Whether it’s through in-person events, webinars, or direct lab engagements, we invest heavily in understanding how users interact with our cloud offerings.”
IBM leverages tools like Qualtrics and Aha! to turn qualitative feedback into actionable insights. But what makes the strategy work is not just the data—it’s the discipline to act on it. The result? Cloud products are technically robust yet elegantly designed for real-world utility.
The Future of Cloud Leadership
So what does tomorrow look like for cloud product leaders?
For Briana, it’s a future where inclusion drives innovation, AI is accountable, and design thinking shapes every business decision. Her vision extends beyond IBM Cloud—it’s about building ecosystems where users are partners, not just customers.
At the end of the day, our success is measured by how well we solve real problems for real people.
Conclusion
Briana Frank’s day might be filled with meetings, metrics, and roadmaps, but her mission is crystal clear: build cloud experiences that matter. Through mentorship, collaboration, and user empathy, she exemplifies what modern cloud leadership looks like—agile, inclusive, and deeply intentional.
Stay tuned for the next feature in our “A Day in the Life” executive series. Up next: An EVP of Global Cyber Operations redefining data governance and IT operations.
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