Accessibility Is a Driver of Better User Experience

Mali Fernando shares how accessibility becomes most effective when embedded into product development from the start. Drawing on a background in design and technology, Mali discusses working across teams to integrate inclusive design practices, shift accessibility from compliance to user experience, and help organizations build accessibility into everyday workflows. The conversation highlights the importance of education, collaboration, and making accessibility practical and scalable.

Aileen Hackett, Director of Product Management for Accessibility at ServiceNow, shares how her team scales accessibility across a global enterprise. From mandating training for 20,000 employees to embedding accessibility into design systems and product workflows, she explains how organizations move from compliance to usability. Aileen also discusses the importance of listening to people with disabilities, aligning accessibility with business priorities, and preparing for the opportunities—and risks—of AI.

Kate Gonzalez, Accessibility Director at Elevance Health, shares her “wavy” career path from occupational therapy to enterprise accessibility leadership. Drawing on experiences across architecture consulting, city government, video games, and healthcare, she discusses how accessibility strategy becomes meaningful when organizations move from planning to action. Kate also highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement, accessibility councils, and embedding inclusive practices across teams to create sustainable accessibility programs.

Marissa Woodbeck, Head of Digital Accessibility at a major financial institution, shares her powerful journey from being labeled a “lazy learner” to leading enterprise accessibility strategy. Drawing from her background in special education, domestic violence advocacy, and banking governance, she explains how accessibility must be embedded into business processes—not treated as an afterthought. Marissa also discusses the role AI can play in strengthening accountability while keeping humans at the center of inclusive design.

Darren Rowan, who leads digital accessibility at Eli Lilly & Company, shares how lived experience shaped his path into accessibility leadership. He explains his “engage, equip, embed” framework for scaling accessibility across a global organization and reflects on the importance of speaking up about barriers. Darren also explores how AI and emerging technologies can make accessibility easier to implement and more impactful across teams, helping organizations move toward sustainable, embedded accessibility practices.

Sam Smith, who leads accessibility at Coinbase, shares his journey from front-end engineer to accessibility leader. He discusses scaling accessibility through design systems, transforming accessibility from an afterthought into a strategic advantage, and how rapid product development changes the way accessibility teams operate. Sam also explores the role of AI in development workflows and why personalization—features like high-contrast mode and adaptable interfaces—may represent the next frontier of inclusive design.

Souvik Sen Sarma shares his journey from front-end developer to Accessibility Advisor at Wells Fargo International. He discusses building accessibility processes from proposal through testing and sign-off, mentoring teams, and managing defect tracking at scale. Souvik reflects on how inclusivity first drew him into accessibility and why human expertise remains essential—even as AI begins to influence development workflows.

Stephen Framil, Corporate Global Head of Accessibility at Merck, shares how he embedded accessibility into enterprise digital governance across more than 125 countries. From authoring a global accessibility policy to integrating controls into procurement, SDLC, and clinical trial protocols, Stephen explains how accessibility must be “baked in” rather than bolted on. Drawing from his background as a conductor, musician, and cancer survivor, he describes accessibility leadership as orchestration—guiding experts toward inclusive outcomes while normalizing accessibility across systems and culture.

Carey Estes, Accessibility Lead at OneMain Financial, shares how he built a scalable accessibility program grounded in action, automation, and advocacy. From a life-changing experience of temporary blindness to leading DevOps integration and enterprise-wide enablement, Carey explains how accessibility becomes sustainable when embedded into systems and culture. His ultimate aim: accessibility so well integrated it creates “radio silence.”

Donna Bungard describes how her lived experience and technical background led her into accessibility leadership. She emphasizes skills-first hiring, the importance of normalizing disability, and centering real human experiences rather than compliance alone. Bungard discusses neurodiversity as a spectrum, the value of customization in both work and digital products, and why accessibility benefits everyone. She highlights the need for authentic voices, continuous learning, and careful but optimistic use of AI as a mainstream assistive technology that can reshape inclusion if guided responsibly.