Jay Thomas

A UX strategist with a decade of experience in building and leading UX research and design teams. He specializes in implementing Jobs to be Done (JTBD) methodologies and designing both complex B2B admin panels and high-traffic consumer-facing features used by millions.

Previously, he led UX development at DomClick, where he scaled the UX research team and built a company-wide design system. He is a guest lecturer at HSE and Bang Bang Education and has studied JTBD at Harvard Business School.

Jay has worked with ONY, QIWI, Sber, CIAN, Megafon, Shell, MTS, Adidas, and other industry leaders, helping them create data-driven, user-centered experiences that drive engagement and business growth.

March 2022—June 2024 • 2 years 3 months

DomClick (by Sber)—Russia’s leading digital real estate platform with over 20 million monthly users and 700,000+ mortgage deals annually. As part of the Sber ecosystem, it offers an end-to-end digital journey: from property search to remote transaction closing. DomClick processes over 60% of all mortgage applications in Russia, combining marketplace functionality, advanced fintech services, and deep integration with Sberbank’s infrastructure. It’s one of the largest proptech platforms in Europe by transaction volume.

April 2021—March 2022 • 1 year

Tripster—the leading platform for booking unique local experiences and guided tours across Russia and beyond. With over 1 million customers and 20,000+ curated excursions in 900+ cities, Tripster connects travelers with passionate local guides, offering authentic, off-the-beaten-path adventures. The company operates at the intersection of travel tech and marketplace innovation, often compared to an “Airbnb for tours” in Russian-speaking markets. Known for its strong product culture, scalable architecture, and focus on user trust and content quality.

December 2019—April 2021 • 1 year 5 months

Sber (Sberbank)—the largest and most advanced financial and technology company in Eastern Europe. With over 160 million clients and 300,000+ employees, Sber has transformed from a traditional bank into a full-scale digital ecosystem offering products across fintech, e-commerce, health tech, AI, and cloud services. Known for its massive scale, bold innovation, and in-house tech stack, Sber is often referred to as the “Russian Amazon + Google + JPMorgan” in one.

August 2019—June 2020 • 11 months

Humbleteam—an award-winning product design studio working with startups and Fortune 500 companies across the US and Europe. Backed by Y Combinator and Techstars, their clients have raised over $1B+ in funding. Humbleteam designs high-conversion products for industries like fintech, health tech, and AI, often joining teams at the 0→1 stage. Known for speed, clarity, and startup-savvy thinking, the studio has helped shape products used by millions worldwide and frequently collaborates with top VC-backed founders.

August 2019—June 2020 • 11 months

QIWI—one of the largest fintech companies in Russia and the CIS, serving over 20 million users across 30+ countries. Known for pioneering electronic wallets and self-service payment terminals, QIWI has built a robust ecosystem of payment, banking, and B2B services. Listed on the NASDAQ and the Moscow Exchange, the company processes hundreds of millions of transactions annually. QIWI combines deep infrastructure, regulatory expertise, and product agility—making it a fintech backbone for both consumers and businesses in the region.

December 2015—January 2020 • 4 years 2 months

June 2018—June 2019 • 1 year 1 month

CIAN—Russia’s largest real estate platform, with 15+ million monthly users and millions of property listings across the country. Publicly traded on the NYSE, CIAN combines marketplace scale with powerful tech—including smart search, dynamic pricing, verified listings, and end-to-end transaction tools. It’s the category leader in proptech, serving both B2C and B2B segments, and shaping how real estate is bought, sold, and rented in Russia. Think of it as the “Zillow + Rightmove” of the Russian market—but with deeper product integration and stronger data capabilities.

May 2017—June 2018 • 1 year 2 months

ONY—one of the top 3 design and branding studios in Russia, operating at the intersection of strategy, identity, and digital product design for 24+ years. With 190+ international awards including Cannes Lions, Red Dot, Awwwards, FWA, ADCE, EDA, and more, ONY is globally recognized for creating bold, intelligent, and deeply conceptual work.

The studio has completed 500+ projects for clients across 30+ industries, including global leaders like Samsung, KIA, PepsiCo, IKEA, Coca-Cola, Volkswagen, IKEA, Skoda, Playrix, and Miro, as well as Russia’s biggest tech and finance brands—Sber, Yandex, Tinkoff, VK, MTS, Ozon, Avito, and Raiffeisen Bank.

June 2013—July 2015 • 2 years 2 months

Moscow Business School—one of the leading private business education institutions in Russia and the CIS, operating since 2007. With 30,000+ graduates and a wide network of corporate clients, MBS delivers executive education, MBA, and professional development programs across 20+ industries. The school combines global business frameworks with local market expertise, offering programs developed in collaboration with international experts and practitioners. Known for its flexible formats, strong faculty, and practical focus, MBS serves as a career accelerator for mid- and senior-level professionals across Russia and Eastern Europe.