Meet Josephine

A creative journey shaped by purpose

Josephine’s design career began in the world of editorial, creating for TimeOut magazine before moving through design agencies, freelancing, and teaching at universities. From there, she joined Southbank Centre, before stepping into UX and product at the BBC, eventually becoming Creative Director.  She later joined Barclays, where she led design for the customer banking division, before arriving at Checkout.com 3.5 years ago.

“It’s not just the titles that define a career. It’s the people, the culture, and the opportunities to shape what happens behind the scenes.”

Now at Checkout.com, she’s helping scale product design with intention, putting accessibility, inclusivity, and business impact at the heart of every user experience.

Growing up with creativity, curiosity and courage

Josephine grew up in a small town in southeast Devon, surrounded by countryside, salt air, and the joyful chaos of four sisters.

“When I wasn’t outdoors on a skateboard or go-cart, I was building things with Lego or making up performances with friends. Looking back, those early moments were the foundation of my creative thinking.”

Designing for inclusion, building for impact

One standout moment in Josephine’s career was leading a project to design a more inclusive sign-in experience for a major platform. At a time when gender inclusivity was rarely discussed, she pushed for a change in how gender options were presented.

“Through user research and advocacy, we created a field that reflected real people’s identities. That moment, seeing it go live, knowing it mattered - was everything.”

It’s that same user-first mindset that shapes her leadership today: building products and teams that put inclusion, precision, and accessibility at the center.

Embracing identity and helping others do the same

Josephine has always been driven by a desire to understand people deeply—what motivates them, how they navigate the world, and how design can make their experiences better. That same empathy and introspection has shaped not just her work, but her personal journey too.  Josephine came out in her early 20s, but her path to self-acceptance wasn’t linear.

“For a long time, I tried to conform. I kept my distance from the LGBTQ+ community. I wanted to prove that even though I was with a woman, I could still live a ‘normal’ life.”

It wasn’t until a breakup and a quiet evening alone at a queer bar during the London 2012 Olympics, that something shifted. “That night changed everything. I started to let go of my internalised homophobia. I embraced the community. I embraced myself.”

Soon after, she met her wife. Together, they’ve built a life full of love, support, and purpose. Now, Josephine is committed to helping others feel safe, supported, and empowered to embrace their own authentic paths.

Bringing your full self to work

Since day one at Checkout.com, Josephine has felt empowered to show up authentically.

“There’s a culture of respect here. I’ve had the freedom to be open about who I am, as a queer woman, as a leader, and as someone going through fertility treatment.”

She credits her manager and colleagues for their unwavering support during what she calls “a physically and emotionally demanding journey” and highlights Carrot, Checkout.com’s fertility benefit, as a game-changer.

“Having an employer that doesn’t just accept LGBTQ+ family planning, but actively supports it - that’s rare. And it means everything.”

Leadership, allyship, and action

As a member of Checkout.com’s Pride leadership team, Josephine is committed to building inclusive spaces and making sure DEIB efforts are seen as business-critical, not “nice-to-have.”

“If businesses want to walk the talk, they need to back DEIB with time, resources, and budget. Inclusion isn’t extra - it’s essential.”

She also brings awareness to every leadership decision, recognising both her privilege and the need to create space for underrepresented voices at every level.

The world she wants to see

Josephine hopes for a future where LGBTQ+ people don’t have to “come out” repeatedly - where mentioning your partner doesn’t come with a moment of hesitation.

“We’ve come far. But real progress means more than policy. It means creating cultures where people feel safe, supported, and seen. That’s how we build high-performing teams. That’s how we make work truly human.”