Cindy’s Biography

Cindy Shontan is a Senior Product Designer and creative strategist committed to shaping Africa’s digital future through equitable, inclusive, and human-centered design. With over five years of experience spanning education, finance, e-commerce, and healthcare, she’s led mission-driven design efforts on high-impact products — most notably Pedagogy with AI on the Edves Portal, a first-of-its-kind learning tool transforming how students across Sub-Saharan Africa and the UK engage with education.

A self-taught designer with a background in biochemistry, Cindy’s path into tech is rooted in curiosity, resilience, and a deep desire to solve real human problems. From starting as the lone designer in a startup to leading cross-functional teams and launching scalable design systems, she brings a rare blend of grit, empathy, and strategic thinking to every project.

Beyond her role, Cindy actively nurtures the next generation of designers, especially women, through mentorship on platforms like ADPList, Design Chics, Lilac Africa, and the Tube Mentorship Program. She is the author of The Solo Designer Survival Kit, a globally circulated resource for designers working in lean environments, and has been a guest speaker at Lilac Africa, where she inspires women to pursue meaningful tech careers.

Outside of work, Cindy is a digital storyteller and wellness advocate who balances tech leadership with motherhood — proving that women can lead in innovation, raise families, and live whole, fulfilled lives.

Cindy’s mission is simple: to design technology that doesn’t just serve users, but uplifts people and communities.