Drew Watkins

I bring products to life through product leadership, full-stack development, and human-centered design. Currently, I work as an Innovation Consultant at Erie Insurance, where I have the opportunity to drive innovation efforts within the company while also using human-centered design to create and shepherd products through the early stages of market adoption.

The road to get here has been meandering, but with two common threads: the importance of being able to “connect the dots” to build strategies that succeed and the ability to utilize my technical skill set to help build ideas and streamline processes.

Over the years, I've continually shifted between development and strategy roles, even within the same job. At Cast & Hue, my title switch from Strategist to Analyst was long after I started building novel first-party analysis tools and new digital product deliverables. At Interobang, I switched between development and product management roles on a regular basis.

My professional passions exist at the intersection of emerging technologies, human-centered design, and the humanization of technology. I’m inspired by projects that seek to rediscover balance - balance within the natural world, balance within the human condition, and balance with technology. I have a particular interest in productivity tools and how the right tools and culture can bring thoughtfulness and balance back to the workplace. I love learning and I’m fueled by quickly changing environments where I’m challenged to adapt quickly through innovation, ideation, and the pursuit of new knowledge.

Outside of work, I like to step away from the computer and get outside! I enjoy gardening, hiking, cross-country skiing, camping, and backpacking. I’m also a big fan of Goruck and participate in a couple of events each year. It’s great for both physical endurance testing and building leadership skills.