Case Study: Widget Builder

Overview

The Widget Builder was a no-code interface that empowered internal teams and clients to create, customize, and deploy personalized merchandising widgets — no engineering support required.
My goal was to remove friction between ideas and execution, enabling teams to prototype and launch experiences in hours instead of weeks.

Timeline: 3 months (Discovery → Launch)
Impact:

• Cut widget launch time from 2–3 weeks to under 1 day
• Reduced engineering workload by 30%
• Accelerated onboarding and experimentation across Sales and CX

The Problem

Every new merchandising widget required custom dev work for each client. That meant every launch created a bottleneck — engineers were context-switching, CX teams were waiting, and experimentation had to take a backseat. We needed a scalable, self-serve solution that let non-technical teams move fast without sacrificing brand quality or data integrity.

My Approach

Discovery

UX team started by mapping recurring widget requests across clients to identify patterns and common configurations. Through deep dives with Sales, CX, and Engineering, we uncovered that 80% of requests reused the same 4–5 widget types, just with slight variations in layout, data source, or branding. This insight guided the decision to invest in a modular, no-code tool.

Design

I defined requirements for a flexible yet intuitive interface that allowed users to:

• Choose layouts (carousel, grid, mixed content)
• Select data sources (collection, looks, trending)
• Apply branding and style guides
• Preview updates live before publishing

Partnering with Design, we balanced usability with power — ensuring non-technical users could create beautiful, on-brand widgets without risk.

Delivery

To ensure adoption, I worked cross-functionally to:

• Align engineering on scalable architecture and reusable component libraries
• Create rollout plans and training for CX teams
• Lead iterative demos for stakeholders to gather real-time feedback

This approach not only streamlined development but built excitement and ownership across teams.

Outcome

The Widget Builder transformed how FindMine delivered client experiences. What once took weeks could now be done in a single day — with CX and Sales empowered to build and test without dev intervention. It became the foundation of FindMine’s Product-Led Growth motion, opening the door for faster experimentation, quicker client onboarding, and a more agile way of working.

Reflection

This project solidified my belief that the best product managers don’t just ship features — they build systems that scale creativity. The Widget Builder wasn’t just a tool; it was a mindset shift. We turned a high-friction process into a self-serve engine for innovation, giving every team the ability to move faster with confidence.