Hi, I'm Liya Kostikova
Product Manager & Learning Experience Designer
Creating innovative educational solutions that make a real impact
About Me
I’m a Product Manager and Learning Experience Designer with over 7 years of experience in the EdTech industry. With a data-driven approach and a commitment to honesty and openness, I design learning experiences that truly resonate with users.
My work focuses on leveraging technology to enhance education, from AI-powered learning paths to gamified language learning platforms. I believe in the power of innovation to transform how people learn and grow.
My Values
Honesty
Openness
Impact
Innovation
Data-Driven
Projects
EdTech products and platforms I've worked on
Leoni - AI Learning Trajectories
AI-powered platform that creates personalized learning paths based on student performance and goals
EL School - Learning Management System
Comprehensive LMS platform serving 50K+ students with modern learning tools and analytics
Zerocoder - Online school for no-code developers
Educational content and courses for no-code platform development
Skysmart - online school for children
Online school for children aged 4-17 that offers personalised, interactive courses in core academics, languages and IT to build skills for the future.
Skillfactory - Online Course Platform
Professional development platform offering tech and business courses
Professional Experience
My professional journey and key accomplishments
Product Owner
Leoni
Leading AI-powered learning paths platform development
- Designed and launched an AI-driven career development product for B2B clients, generating over 3M rubles in revenue within six months
- Built and scaled an online school for soft skills development for children (B2C), reaching profitability of 1M+ rubles in the first months after launch
- Led the international expansion into the MENA market, successfully delivering a pilot program and establishing the company’s first local partnerships
- Partnered with ML engineers to enhance recommendation algorithms and increase user engagement through adaptive learning content
Product Manager
EL School
Managed LMS platform serving 2K+ students
- Led the end-to-end development and launch of an LMS platform enabling the full cycle of K–12 learning activities
- Achieved rapid growth to 2,000 active students after launch, with NPS of 89, COR of 70, and 80% of learners successfully passing final exams
- Managed a cross-functional team of 20+ professionals, including tutors, instructional designers, teachers, and IT specialists
Learning Experience Designer
Uchi.ru
Created gamified language learning experiences
- Designed and launched a prototype of an educational game for 3rd–4th grade students focused on Russian language learning
- Conducted in-depth user research and interviews, ran focus group testing, and iterated the product based on user insights
- Led a cross-functional team of seven (developers, UX/UI designers, and instructional designers) through the game's first launch cycle
- Developed engaging gamification mechanics that significantly improved student motivation and completion rates
Learning Experience Designer
Zerocoder
Created and launched online courses for no-code development
- Designed a series of five professional courses for adults aiming to gain new career skills, achieving NPS 80 and COR 60
- Developed all learning materials from scratch, including course roadmaps, student journey maps, narratives, and learning formats
- Collaborated with subject-matter experts to design, review, and deliver high-quality lessons for students
Skills & Expertise
My expertise and technical proficiencies
Product Strategy
Led product vision for 3+ EdTech platforms, actively applying product frameworks such as JTBD, CJM, and USM to shape strategy and user experience
User Research
Applied qualitative and quantitative research frameworks — including CustDev, JTBD interviews, and usability testing — to uncover user needs and inform product decisions
Data Analysis
Analyzed user behavior patterns through Tableau and DataLens dashboards, identifying insights that shaped product improvements and growth strategies
SJM
Designed creative student journey maps integrating edutainment, narrative design, and gamification to enhance engagement and learning outcomes
Educational result
Launched 10+ educational products with measurable learning outcomes and clear impact metrics
Learning Design
Designed engaging learning experiences based on Bloom’s and Marzano’s Taxonomies, applying learning design frameworks such as ADDIE, SAM, 4C/ID, and project-based learning
Education & Languages
My academic background and qualifications
Master's Degree in Cultural Anthropology
MSUCA (Moscow State University of Culture and Arts)
certificate in Leadership in Education
Universal University: School of Education