John Karl

Head of Mobile Product / Experience

John Karl

Head of Mobile Product / Experience

Driving Enterprise Growth Through Strategic Product, Experience, and Technology Leadership

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Tampa, FL

Tampa, FL

John Karl

Head of Mobile Product / Experience

Transformational Product Executive with 15+ years of experience leading product strategy, digital transformation, and customer experience innovation. I build and scale high-performing product organizations, align technology investments with business goals, and deliver market-leading products that accelerate growth, strengthen customer loyalty, and create lasting competitive advantage.

Transformational Product Executive with 15+ years of experience leading product strategy, digital transformation, and customer experience innovation. I build and scale high-performing product organizations, align technology investments with business goals, and deliver market-leading products that accelerate growth, strengthen customer loyalty, and create lasting competitive advantage.

From Creative Leadership to Executive Product Innovation

Creative Leadership to Executive Product Innovation

From Creative Leadership to Executive Product Innovation

Over 15 years Experience

Based in Tampa Bay, Florida

What my colleges say

A Visionary Leader Who Inspires Excellence

Having worked closely with JK (John Karl), I can say he is one of the most forward-thinking and dedicated leaders I’ve had the privilege to collaborate with. JK has a rare ability to relentlessly challenge the status quo and push for bold, original solutions, all while keeping the team grounded on executing what matters most. However, what sets JK apart as a leader is his genuine commitment to the people around him. No matter how demanding the workload, he consistently makes the time to coach, mentor, and elevate those across all levels. It doesn't matter if you are an executive or the intern, whether they are on his direct team, peers, or cross-functional partners, he will find a way to bring constructive criticism to you. He wants to always be better and expects the people around him to do their best. His determination, work ethic, and willingness to invest in others' growth make him a true force multiplier for any organization. If you ever have the opportunity to work with or alongside JK, take it. He brings visionary energy, sharp execution, and authentic mentorship to everything he touches, and any team would be fortunate to have him.

Brian Sowul

Head of Product Platform

A Visionary Leader Who Inspires Excellence

Having worked closely with JK (John Karl), I can say he is one of the most forward-thinking and dedicated leaders I’ve had the privilege to collaborate with. JK has a rare ability to relentlessly challenge the status quo and push for bold, original solutions, all while keeping the team grounded on executing what matters most. However, what sets JK apart as a leader is his genuine commitment to the people around him. No matter how demanding the workload, he consistently makes the time to coach, mentor, and elevate those across all levels. It doesn't matter if you are an executive or the intern, whether they are on his direct team, peers, or cross-functional partners, he will find a way to bring constructive criticism to you. He wants to always be better and expects the people around him to do their best. His determination, work ethic, and willingness to invest in others' growth make him a true force multiplier for any organization. If you ever have the opportunity to work with or alongside JK, take it. He brings visionary energy, sharp execution, and authentic mentorship to everything he touches, and any team would be fortunate to have him.

Brian Sowul

Head of Product Platform

The Kind of Product Leader Every Company Needs

"JK" runs world-class product teams that people want to be on. I have had the pleasure of working with him for the past two years have have experienced first hand his tremendous impact on the company, products, and people around him. JK and his team have continuously gone above and beyond to deliver tremendous outcomes, which is directly attributable to the team, structure, processes, and culture that he has created. He is customer obsessed, collaborative, and not afraid to "pick up a shovel" and get to work. Having worked alongside JK during this period of rapid AI adoption and change, he was the first to advocate for and integrate these tools into his and his team's workflows, enabling even higher quality outcomes more rapidly. JK is an invaluable asset to any team that he is a part of.

Charile Rust

Director of Product Management

The Kind of Product Leader Every Company Needs

"JK" runs world-class product teams that people want to be on. I have had the pleasure of working with him for the past two years have have experienced first hand his tremendous impact on the company, products, and people around him. JK and his team have continuously gone above and beyond to deliver tremendous outcomes, which is directly attributable to the team, structure, processes, and culture that he has created. He is customer obsessed, collaborative, and not afraid to "pick up a shovel" and get to work. Having worked alongside JK during this period of rapid AI adoption and change, he was the first to advocate for and integrate these tools into his and his team's workflows, enabling even higher quality outcomes more rapidly. JK is an invaluable asset to any team that he is a part of.

Charile Rust

Director of Product Management

Strategic Product Leadership Through Exceptional User Experience

John Karl is a rare product leader who understands that great user experience is a business strategy, not just a design discipline. He bridges product management, technology, marketing, and business strategy to create experiences that drive customer trust, adoption, and measurable business results. Beyond building world-class teams, John champions the entire customer journey, from product design and onboarding to education and engagement, consistently delivering products that delight users, strengthen retention, and accelerate business growth.

Andrew Fulton

VP of Product

Strategic Product Leadership Through Exceptional User Experience

John Karl is a rare product leader who understands that great user experience is a business strategy, not just a design discipline. He bridges product management, technology, marketing, and business strategy to create experiences that drive customer trust, adoption, and measurable business results. Beyond building world-class teams, John champions the entire customer journey, from product design and onboarding to education and engagement, consistently delivering products that delight users, strengthen retention, and accelerate business growth.

Andrew Fulton

VP of Product

Transformational Leader Who Elevates Teams and Drives Product Success

John Karl (JK) is a transformational product executive who inspires collaboration, builds high-performing teams, and consistently delivers business impact. He creates a culture where innovation thrives, empowers people to grow, and aligns cross-functional teams around a shared vision. JK has a unique ability to navigate complex challenges, influence stakeholders, and turn strategy into execution. More than a product leader, he is a mentor and catalyst who develops exceptional talent while delivering customer-focused products that drive adoption, growth, and lasting business value.

Jake Cummings

Lead UX Designer

Transformational Leader Who Elevates Teams and Drives Product Success

John Karl (JK) is a transformational product executive who inspires collaboration, builds high-performing teams, and consistently delivers business impact. He creates a culture where innovation thrives, empowers people to grow, and aligns cross-functional teams around a shared vision. JK has a unique ability to navigate complex challenges, influence stakeholders, and turn strategy into execution. More than a product leader, he is a mentor and catalyst who develops exceptional talent while delivering customer-focused products that drive adoption, growth, and lasting business value.

Jake Cummings

Lead UX Designer

Executive Leader Empowering Creativity with Purpose and Vision

John Karl is a standout leader who understands the true value of creative work. He creates space for it to thrive, respects the process, empowers talent without ego, and consistently gives credit where it’s due. In a corporate world that often misunderstands creative, John is the rare leader who gets it—and leads accordingly.

Jordan Krumbin

Manager of Brand and Design

Executive Leader Empowering Creativity with Purpose and Vision

John Karl is a standout leader who understands the true value of creative work. He creates space for it to thrive, respects the process, empowers talent without ego, and consistently gives credit where it’s due. In a corporate world that often misunderstands creative, John is the rare leader who gets it—and leads accordingly.

Jordan Krumbin

Manager of Brand and Design

A Proven Leader at the Intersection of Design, Strategy, and Customer Insight

John has an outgoing and supportive personality. This enables him to be an incredible leader of the Product Experience team. He delivers clear expectations to his team, is transparent, and ready to jump in and assist anyone. His team member's excellence is a direct reflection of John as a leader.

Steven Zarkos

Sr. Product Manager - Compliance

A Proven Leader at the Intersection of Design, Strategy, and Customer Insight

John has an outgoing and supportive personality. This enables him to be an incredible leader of the Product Experience team. He delivers clear expectations to his team, is transparent, and ready to jump in and assist anyone. His team member's excellence is a direct reflection of John as a leader.

Steven Zarkos

Sr. Product Manager - Compliance

Inspiring Success Through Purposeful Leadership and Team-Centered Values

John fosters a collaborative work environment where ideas are valued, and creativity thrives. His strategic vision has been essential in driving our team's success. Beyond his leadership skills, John has shown great empathy and support during challenging times, always prioritizing the well-being of his team members.

Kassandra Knapp

Product Designer

Inspiring Success Through Purposeful Leadership and Team-Centered Values

John fosters a collaborative work environment where ideas are valued, and creativity thrives. His strategic vision has been essential in driving our team's success. Beyond his leadership skills, John has shown great empathy and support during challenging times, always prioritizing the well-being of his team members.

Kassandra Knapp

Product Designer

Executive Leader Uniting Strategy, Creative, and Culture for Scalable Impact

John is a rare leader who combines business acumen, deep subject-matter expertise, and genuine care for his team. Under his leadership, the Product Experience team became a respected hub for UI/UX, creative design, documentation, and product marketing. His servant-leader approach—balancing strategic direction with personal support—earns the trust of both senior leadership and technical teams. Any organization would be fortunate to work with him.

Eric Hsieh

Product Marketing Manager

Executive Leader Uniting Strategy, Creative, and Culture for Scalable Impact

John is a rare leader who combines business acumen, deep subject-matter expertise, and genuine care for his team. Under his leadership, the Product Experience team became a respected hub for UI/UX, creative design, documentation, and product marketing. His servant-leader approach—balancing strategic direction with personal support—earns the trust of both senior leadership and technical teams. Any organization would be fortunate to work with him.

Eric Hsieh

Product Marketing Manager

Recent experience

Jan 2026 - Now

Head of Mobile Product/Experience

Transflo

4 months

Lead product strategy for mobile and web, integrating AI/ML to enhance customer outcomes and drive revenue. Oversee product positioning and launch processes, aligning teams towards market goals.• Built and led a high-impact Product & Design team, implementing AI-first strategies for scalable solutions. • Executed a unified product vision, streamlining workflows to boost productivity and reduce friction. • Launched a self-service software configurator, enhancing customer onboarding and retention. • Drove mobile innovation with AI-powered workflows, cutting task time by 30%.

Jan 2025 - Jan 2026

Head of Product Experience

Transflo

1 Year

Dynamic product leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and market growth. Spearheaded the enhancement of key mobile and web application features, successfully integrated AI and machine learning technologies, and established a Go-to-Market (GTM) function alongside a Product Marketing Management (PMM) role. ● Instructed and mentored team members to align design processes with innovative AI-driven solutions, ensuring user-centered design principles and effective machine learning models. ● Spearheaded design and research efforts to create an intuitive user interface and seamless workflows for back-office operations. ● Envisioned and led the concept of a customer software configurator to streamline self-service workflows, empowering customers to efficiently customize and manage their services. ● Reimagined and led the PX team in developing a mobile feature that empowers end users to create and manage their own workflows using AI, resulting in a 30% reduction in time to task completion and increased adoption of the existing feature. ● Implemented Pendo to gain deeper insights into key metrics related to end-user adoption of products and features, enhancing product understanding by 40% ● Organized and aligned team goals with product needs, market insights, and company objectives to drive cohesive strategy and performance.

Aug 2021 - Jan 2025

Director of Product Experience

Transflo

3 Years and 6 months

Lead product experience function with focus on merging creative, product marketing, documentation, and product design teams. Oversee a diverse team, including creative professionals, UX designers, UX leads, and knowledge base professionals. ● Directed Teams for the design of 7 products, including Transflo Mobile, Workflow AI, Wallet, Scorecard, One Portal, Velocity, and Loads Workflow 2.0, consistently meeting and surpassing monthly and quarterly targets. ● Led transformative team that questioned norms and inspired organizational change, significantly impacting industry's approach and mindset. ● Created GTM process for best-in-class product campaigns.

Jan 2020 - Aug 2021

Manager of UX

Transflo

1 Years and 8 months

Expanded team to better organize and complete new sections of departmental growing. Created new roles and 3 teams needed for success. Designed and created the companies first self service knowledge base. Implemented a new "Product Creative" team to empower proper "Go to Market" processes and product messaging congruency. Continued as Sr UX Designer working with multiple stake holders, BA's, Dev teams to create new products and enhance our users experience and company growth. ● Created Product Marketing role for GTM and Video Creation for brand growth. ● Expanded UX team's reach and processes including implementing first UI/UX material library to speed up development for both product and development teams.

Apr 2018 - Jan 2020

UX Designer

Transflo

1 Years and 10 months

Joined company as contractor, then transitioned from previous role as manager of UX in different industry. Revamped user interface and overall design of mobile app for supply chain, overseeing document scanning features for expedited payments. Executed UX designer responsibilities while also introducing and implementing Agile methodologies as newly certified Scrum master. ● Produced 5 prototypes within one week, earning recognition in major trade magazine and solidifying position within company. ● Enhanced mobile app's user interface and functionality, drastically improving Android and iOS ratings to 3.7 and 4.8, respectively.

Oct 2016 - April 2018

Director of Marketing and Design

Entangle Media

1 Years and 7 months

Pioneered design and UX department at graphics application firm, transforming company's approach to design from non-existent to industry-leading. Masterminded multifaceted client solutions, delivering social media, website enhancement, and impactful marketing materials for high-profile clients in diverse sectors including healthcare and education. ● Conceptualized and built advanced audiovisual studio from ground up, elevating company's capability to produce cutting-edge video content and sophisticated marketing materials. ● Fostered strong stakeholder relationships, translating complex concepts into compelling brand stories and bringing identity of company and diverse clientele to life.

Recent articles

I write about the future of design and the life of a Product Experience Executive

Drop me a follow

Tampa, FL

Available for work

Let’s create something great together.

I'm not just here to design products; I'm here to connect with people.

Available for work

Let’s create something great together.

I'm not just here to design products; I'm here to connect with people.

Drop me a follow

Tampa, FL

Available for work

Let’s create something great together.

I'm not just here to design products; I'm here to connect with people.