This announcement has been simmering for several months, so we're excited to take the lid off the good news. Please join us in welcoming UX master and food wizard Patañjali Chary to the Fluxible lineup for 2017.

Patañjali is Vice President of User Experience at Ellie Mae. His growing team has set themselves a goal of taking the mortgage application process down from 50 days to only 10 days, an achievement that should make a big impact for both customers and the business. Patañjali doesn't shy away from such challenges, with a pedigree that speaks volumes about his determination for UX to make a difference. He has served as Vice President of User Experience at both Financeit and Ultimate Software, after leading numerous UX efforts at Oracle for over 12 years — including a role as the company's Chief Evangelist and UX Architect. Previous stints include senior leadership roles at Microsoft and Kent Ridge Digital Labs in Singapore.

Perhaps it's through these world travels that Patañjali developed an appreciation for great food and its ability to create memorable experiences. Pursing this interest, he trained to become a Certified Natural Chef... as one does. He completed an externship at the world-renowned Michelin-starred restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA. We can't imagine the volume of potluck invitations he must now receive, as a result.

Not satisfied to learn on the job, Patañjali has earned an MBA from both Columbia Business School and UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence from the University of Toronto — which is yet another reason we're delighted to host Patañjali here in Canada, in September.

Stay tuned for details of Patañjali's session at Fluxible.