Hello, I'm Kelly Smith
Chief Digital Officer, Chief Product Officer, Digital Transformation Engineering Leader
I recruit, develop and lead top-tier product and engineering teams that drive digital transformation and, ultimately, business results.
I have experience in several industries: technology start-ups, e-commerce, retail, food & beverage, hospitality, automotive & insurance. Specifically, I help to identify and advance commercial opportunities for firms at the intersection of a changing global marketplace, dealing with shifts in the geopolitical landscape and rapidly evolving technology.
From entrepreneurship to Fortune 100
Leveraging 25 years of experience, I've founded companies and worked at Fortune 100 companies. As a hands-on technology leader, I am proud that each and every day, millions of people use products I've helped to build.
Q&A with Kelly Smith, startup founder and ex-Starbucks VP leading digital transformation at car company Hagerty
Leading Product, Engineering, Design, IT at Hagerty
You may know us as the global leader in classic car insurance but we’ve long since moved beyond insurance to offer so much more. I lead a team of 250 that is developing some of the most innovative experiences for automotive enthusiasts - both online and physical.
Digital transformation for the classic car industry
Hagerty is the leading insurer and membership program for classic car enthusiasts. I developed the digital team and led the launch of a wide range of new software products to fan the flames of the car hobby.
I led the efforts to bring in new design language, frameworks, technologies and team product culture, which helped to provide the basis for massive growth.
We launched everything from new websites, mobile apps, marketplaces, e-commerce, media sites, digital labs and so much more.
Chief Digital Officer, MGM Resorts
Based in Las Vegas NV, MGM Resorts International is a $19 billion global entertainment company featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM has 80,000 employees and is recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies®.
We conceived and launched MGM Digital Ventures
MGM Digital Ventures is the hub of technology innovation for the company. It exists to create breakthrough, out-of-the-box guest experiences.
This was an important first step towards a sweeping transformation - a single, unified vision for the future.
MGM Digital Ventures
We developed some of the most compelling application experiences in the hospitality industry
Upon starting MGM Digital Ventures, I set out to begin the transformation of the customer experience. This included setting the vision & hiring a world-class team. We developed all-new apps that let you check-in and unlock your door with your phone. We grew e-commerce to $820 million annually in bookings - 14% annual growth.
Prior to MGM, I was the Vice President, Global Products at Starbucks
I led the design, product management and engineering teams that developed the company's consumer-facing experiences.
I started as the VP Digital, Starbucks in Shanghai China
I created the digital organization and outlined a plan to execute the finest retail experiences in the country. An entirely new technology organization and strategy was developed. The result of that work is a digital payment and loyalty program that is the most pervasive of any other B2C company outside of the primary social networks in the country.
Starbucks China: an omni-channel experience consisting of in-store, membership, loyalty and digital commerce
Our new team led the new, unified architecture that sits at the core of Starbucks China digital products. Includes delivery & payments.
I also helped develop and execute a wide range of strategic partnerships with the leading technology companies.
I helped to establish key partnerships with the leading Chinese technology companies.
Alibaba & more
While in China, I had the opportunity to work with some of the largest technology companies (and founders like Jack Ma) in China, rolling out digital payment & delivery capabilities.
Starbucks Mobile Payments Go To China
Tencent partners with Starbucks to launch WeChat ‘social gifting’ feature
Starbucks Uses China as a Testing Ground for Its New Website: What's Improved, What's Expected
Shanghai Roastery
We conceived and developed ground-breaking mobile experiences to support the first Starbucks Roastery store outside of North America.
VP, Starbucks International Products
The opportunities that existed for the company in 70 markets around the world led me and a small team to consider design, technology and workflows for creating mobile & web products at scale. This hadn't been considered at the company before. We set up to develop UX/UI kits that could be leveraged by any market. That design language has become the foundation for the current generation of Starbucks apps in the United States and elsewhere.
Angel investing since 2007
I launched an early seed-stage company in the Pacific Northwest, called Curious Office. We have incubated and invested in dozens of companies, and we participated in some notable exits to companies like these:
