Richard Blakeley is a web innovation leader and accomplished product manager renowned for spearheading product development initiatives and promoting user-centric design principles. With his strategic vision, he has dramatically influenced the internal cultures of numerous organizations. He is currently making significant strides in the fintech industry, applying his expertise to develop and scale SaaS solutions at companies like Kresus and LianLian Pay. His focus remains on ensuring practical cross-functional cooperation and stellar execution standards.
He has carved out a notable career as a former media executive, earning accolades for his proficiency in audience development and video production. His tenure at ArtBinder saw him in a pivotal role as Head of Product, where he reported directly to the CEO and managed the technology, product, and client success teams. He handled strategic oversight and prioritization of company roadmaps, driving substantial business growth.
As Senior Director of Products at SheKnows, part of SHE Media, he was instrumental in crafting the product vision, strategy, and overall business management. His responsibilities spanned CRM, user acquisition, influencer marketing, and innovative advertising solutions. Leading a team of product managers, UX designers, and Agile development teams across the U.S. and Europe, he supervised product performance and launched new revenue-driven products and marketing programs.
Before joining SHE Media, he was a key figure at Time Inc., where he directed the product development for People.com. His leadership significantly boosted site engagement, with an 85% increase in internal recirculation and average time on the site, thanks to his focused approach to data analytics, user testing, and continuous product iteration. He led numerous initiatives in video, CMS migration, ad solutions, and growth tactics, overseeing massive monthly newsletter distributions and dramatically improving engagement metrics.
Richard's extensive media career includes influential positions at notable companies such as The Week, where he served as the Director of Digital Products and Strategy, and Thrillist, where he was the head of Content & Strategy. At Thrillist, his leadership in launching branded editorial products and managing content partnerships contributed to doubling the website's traffic over two years. His early career highlights include managing the video department at Gawker Media for five years.
A hallmark of his creativity is founding the Internet's premier annual celebration, The Debutante Ball, in 2008. This event rapidly became a cornerstone of the tech community, celebrating innovation and raising funds for charity, with features in Forbes and other high-profile publications praising it as a key tech community event.
Beyond his professional achievements, he is deeply involved in the digital arts community. He is a member and Associate Judge for the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), where he drives the progression of the Internet through The Webby Awards and other initiatives.
Originally from San Francisco and an alumnus of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, Richard Blakeley now lives in New York City with his wife, Lindsay Kaplan, whom he married in 2014, and their two sons. Their family also includes a beloved dog, adding warmth to their home. In his leisure time, he indulges in sailing and gardening, allowing him to enjoy life's more straightforward aspects away from the digital world.
