SENIOR PRODUCT DESIGN MANAGER @YELP

I am currently leading the user experience for Yelp’s User Generated Content—reviews, photos, videos, reactions, and community features. I manage a team of four designers, from senior to lead level, and oversee design for different contributor groups, including the Yelp Elite community.

I champion a culture of continuous learning, candid feedback, design excellence, attention to details, and developing strong cross-functional partnerships—helping everyone do their best work while also having a lot of fun!

I regularly align and present to Yelp’s C-suite as well as the senior leadership. I’m a passionate Yelp Elite myself and enjoy writing reviews and contributing content to Yelp’s vibrant local communities.

MY STORY

Hi, I’m Anu — a product design leader shaped by intuition, resilience, and a deep desire to solve meaningful problems.

I grew up in the small town of Aurangabad, India, where, at age 10, I dreamt of becoming the Prime Minister — simply because I couldn’t stand the civic problems around me. That instinct to notice, care, and fix never left me. Today, I bring that same drive into product design — finding user problems fascinating and solving them deeply fulfilling.

Raised by hardworking, middle-class parents who modeled authenticity, treating people specially, and relentless grit, I moved to the U.S. in 2011 to unlock the next level of my life.

Starting humbly as a junior UX designer at a Boston agency to a Senior Design Manager at Yelp, I’ve grown by pushing past comfort zones, staying curious, hard work, continuous learning, and always connecting the dots.

Currently based in the Bay Area, I live a joyful, intentional life with my high-EQ toddler, husband, and two beautiful, half-poodle dogs. Outside work, you’ll find me designing home spaces, building Legos, organizing, or figuring out how to raise emotionally strong kids. Some of my favorite things are legos, the guitar and fashion.

What drives me? A belief in being world-class — if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing exceptionally.

📩 Drop a line: anushri.thanedar@gmail.com