Hi

Ariel McNichol

I design, sell, and ship products that people actually use solve hard problems rescue companies bring visions to life

Linkedin-in X-twitter Vimeo-v Github

Career Summary:
Product and design leader who delivers groundbreaking experiences for companies like CVS Health, Apple, Disney, Scilearn, IMG/TWI, Now.com.

I create solutions I wish existed, then scale them. Co-founded mEgo Avatars (reached millions) and MotiSpark (patented, 94% engagement, 3x provider revenue).

Recent experiments

VintageWizard

Made to stay sane while processing my late mama’s things. Now friends use it for reselling, insurance, appraisals.  Please feel free to play.

Privacy for fire & floods

Friends lost homes a year ago. Now a perfect storm: cut down your privacy hedges or no insurance. Here’s a concept made fast w/LLMs + smarter friends 
Open PDF

Case Studies

MotiSpark, video nudges

  • • patented personalized nudge platform
  • • 94% engagement for 3 month programs
  • • 3x provider revenue
  • • deployed across 7 states.

CVS Health Innovation 

Pilot to scale:

  • • +3 NPS,
  • • +5% digital registration
  • • -20% call-ins.
  • • Expanded to book of business

CVS Health: Accounts 

Login, payments, accounts across 47M members.

  • • +9% login success
  • • -20% call-ins
  • • Led 6 PMs, 8 scrum teams, 180 people.

Gymboree Play & Music 

Post-acquisition modernization: new design system, SFMC migration, booking flow redesign. On time, under budget

About

Feeling useful is my soul’s food. I love making complex things feel friendly and asking questions that put things in motion. I’m accidentally funny.

Raised by a lady of the canyon, a multi-ethnic mutt descended from academics and entertainers. Two teenage sons and dogs I drag on hikes in beautiful hills.

techstars mentor

I love being an advisor, judge, resource+ for startups at Techstars, BioScienceLA, ScaleHealth, UCLA and UCI.

During the pandemic, my son and I created an interactive video series to help seniors navigate lockdown. Shared by governments and nonprofits, watched by millions.  See in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. 

Experience & Skills

Started off designing for Apple and SciLearn. Evolved into global creative director, then product leader, startup founder, patent holder. Led 180+ across product and design at CVS Health.

LinkedIn Profile

Tools: Figma, Jira, Python, Adobe CC (Premiere, AE), SketchUp, Salesforce, Amplitude/Mixpanel/GA
Craft: UX / UI / User Research, prototyping, video production, agent refinment
Fluent in: AI/ML products, behavioral science, digital health, value-based care, HIPAA
Range: 0→1 builds, enterprise innovation, turnarounds, 4-continent launches
Leadership: Cross-functional teams · fundraising · storytelling · Speaker, advsisor, Techstars, UCLA

In the press

Let's talk innovations in digital health, identity, behavior change and building consumer trust

Esther Dyson on Digital Health

"What Is the One Thing Missing From Most Health Tech Business Models? Human Beings" 

Esther Dyson on why she likes MotiSpark

DocSpace Interview Podcast

Host Dr. Mario Amaro and Ariel discuss ways to better use technology to engage with patients outside of traditional clinical spaces.

Fast Company, Robert Scoble Interview

Robert Scoble and I discuss mEgo's rollout and ambition to empower people to control their online identities

A Healthier View Podcast

A dialogue about how Personalized Health can help build intrinsic motivation

Leader Spotlight by LogRocket

Advising teams through rapid turnaround, with Ariel McNichol by Jessica Srinivas

Techweek: AI driven patient engagement

How MotiSpark leverages AI-driven timing and personalization for ongoing patient engagement

Testimonials

Fotios Konstantinidis
Fotios KonstantinidisManaging Director, Head of Digital & Data Analytics at Stout, worked with Ariel at 2 companies
Read More
“Ariel is one of the few people that possesses all qualities that lead to success in the business world: Creativity, tenacity, persistence, professionalism, business acumen and above all integrity. She is amazing in her creative work and vision, product management and presentations to investors and clients. She always goes above and beyond on what is required to make her company successful and profitable.”
Gail Benitez Hair
Gail Benitez HairSenior Product Manager, CVS Health reported to Ariel
Read More
“Ariel is nothing short of exceptional. Ariel possesses a unique blend of visionary thinking and creativity that consistently left me in awe…She had an uncanny knack for seeing opportunities where others might not, and her forward-thinking approach was instrumental in driving our team's success. She is a leader, mentor… fostering an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best ideas and work collaboratively.”
Tracy Shea
Tracy SheaChief Digital Officer, directly managed Ariel at DirectTV Innovation
Read More
“Ariel is among the best hires I ever made in my 30+ year career in the media and convergence space. Easily.”
Krishna Sunkammurali
Krishna SunkammuraliExecutive Director of Product, CVS Health, managed Ariel directly
Read More
"She's one of the best talents I worked with in my career. I would love to work with her again! I strongly recommend her for a product or design leadership role."
Laura Klein
Laura KleinTechnology Consulting | Digital Transformation | Strategy through Execution
Read More
“At CVS Health, I had the opportunity to witness Ariel's brilliance and leadership in creating successful omni channel user experiences...a major workstream was stalled in disagreement, but Ariel rallied teams with mock-ups, data flows, and competitor analysis until alignment was won to implement her vision for an incredibly improved user experience which is now live, positively affecting OKRs!”
Eva Eilenberg
Eva EilenbergLegal IT expert, worked with Ariel at 2 companies
Read More
“Ariel is a brilliant dynamo. Her piercing intelligence and visionary creativity, combined with her “Energizer Bunny” drive and unstoppable passion for technology, make her an asset to any enterprise and an absolute delight to work with...I trust her instincts, her sensibility, her skills and talents, as well as her ability to work harder—and smarter—than just about anyone I know.”
Kathryn Campbell
Kathryn CampbellGlobal UX Research & Marketing Research Leader, collaborated on multiple projects
Read More
“Ariel is a technology visionary, three steps ahead of everyone else in the room. And she's genuinely one of the most fun, humble, open-minded, and inspiring people you will ever meet.”
Srinivas Loke, PMP
Srinivas Loke, PMPLead Director of Engineering at CVS Health, worked 2 years together
Read More
"Ariel is an amazing person to work with. She has excellent design & creative skills. Her ability to think outside the box and connect dots across multiple projects to create product vision is what makes her standout. She can quickly come up to speed and always shows curiously to learn. She has a calm personality and a great team player. She will be an asset to any company”
Deena Varshavskaya
Deena VarshavskayaFounder and CEO of Wanelo, worked at agency, Lotus, with Ariel
Read More
“Ariel is phenomenal at getting things done. She is incredibly creative, yet extremely focused on execution. She is able to bridge the gap between highly conceptual and abstract ideas and practical outputs...”
Nika Vaks
Nika VaksSr. UX Design Lead & Researcher, reported to Ariel
Read More
“Ariel unequivocally stood out as one of the most inspiring, knowledgeable, and innovative individuals I had the pleasure of working alongside and learning from. She consistently delivered optimal outcomes for the business while prioritizing the finest user experiences. Any team would be fortunate to have her as their leader”

Contact

Linkedin-in Github X-twitter Vimeo-v
NotebookLM chat w/CV notebook

…imperfectly made by Ariel McNichol, © 2026