{"id":7,"date":"2026-05-14T04:04:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T04:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marisajoystudio.com\/?page_id=7"},"modified":"2026-06-10T23:31:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T23:31:29","slug":"marisa-j-smailes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marisajoystudio.com\/","title":{"rendered":"Marisa J. Smailes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Experience<\/span><\/a>Skills<\/span><\/a>Portfolio<\/span><\/a>Recommendations<\/span><\/a>Contact<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
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01<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Helping great products find their people.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Hello! I’m Marisa Smailes, a strategic product manager with 18 years of experience helping creators, developers, and studios understand their users and delivering products that resonate, engage, and grow. I have a proven track record of building from zero to one, then sustaining products through long-tail live operations by building the tools, processes, and team infrastructure that let lean teams deliver outsized results. From releasing games or features to running AB tests or building a stacked calendar of events, I have owned the full lifecycle and built the scaffolding that makes it repeatable. <\/span><\/p>\n

Using deep user research including interviews, playtests, community listening, and behavioral data, I’ll craft dynamic personas that help teams understand <\/span>who<\/em> they are building for and <\/span>why<\/em>. <\/span>We’ll build <\/span>with<\/em> your community rather than telling them what they want, because when your users have a place to belong, they’ll become invested. This makes them your most vocal advocates, your earliest signal on what to fix or where to double-down, as well your most durable retention engine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Genuinely one of my favorite parts of the PM role is keeping teams fueled with insights that get them excited to tackle the next problem space. Then we can<\/span> collaborate to turn those solutions into a killer roadmap that will get results.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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EXPERIENCE<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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02<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jan 2024 – Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Associate Director of Product<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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@ POLYARC <\/span><\/h6>\n

Indie Game Studio w\/ 40-50 employees making VR, console, and PC games.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sep 2022 – Dec 2023<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Principal Product Manager<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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@ POLYARC <\/span><\/h6>\n

Indie Game Studio w\/ 40-50 employees making VR, console, and PC games.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sep 2021 – Sep 2022<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Director of Product Performance<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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@ SUPERSOCIAL (Acquired by SUPER LEAGUE; NASDAQ:SLE)<\/span><\/p>\n

Startup w\/ 20-30 employees making branded IP collaborations for Roblox.<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Oct 2020 – Sep 2021<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Senior Product Manager<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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@ NETFLIX GAMES – BOSS FIGHT ENTERTAINMENT<\/span><\/p>\n

Mid-size studio w\/ ~150 employees making Midcore & Casual mobile games.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Jan 2018 – Sep 2020<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Senior Product Manager<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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@ BIG FISH GAMES<\/span><\/p>\n

Casual Game Studio w\/ 400-500 employees making PC & mobile games.<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Jan 2015 – Dec 2017<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lead Producer<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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@ BIG FISH GAMES<\/span><\/p>\n

Casual Game Studio w\/ 400-500 employees making PC & mobile games.<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Jan 2014 – Dec 2014<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sr. Technical Producer<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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@ BIG FISH GAMES<\/span><\/p>\n

(Casual Game Studio w\/ 400-500 employees making PC & mobile games)<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Jan 2013 – Dec 2013<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Games Producer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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@ BIG FISH GAMES<\/span><\/p>\n

Casual Game Studio w\/ 400-500 employees making PC & mobile games.<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Jan 2010 – Dec 2012<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Associate Producer<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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@ BIG FISH GAMES<\/span><\/p>\n

Casual Game Studio w\/ 400-500 employees making PC & mobile games.<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Nov 2008 – Dec 2009<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Game Moderator & Customer Support<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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@ BIG FISH GAMES<\/span><\/p>\n

Casual Game Studio w\/ 400-500 employees making PC & mobile games.<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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03<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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SKILLS<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Product & Strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Live ops; roadmap development; free-to-play<\/span><\/p>\n

economy design, monetization and battle pass systems; LTV and price elasticity modeling; A\/B testing; Go-to-market strategy; Community management; Customer Relationship Management (CRM) including notification, push, email, and re-engagement strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Research & Analytics<\/strong><\/p>\n

Qualitative research including playtesting, interviews, and survey design; dynamic user personas; competitive analysis<\/span><\/p>\n

and market landscape mapping; KPI benchmarking and OKRs.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n

Portfolio management; cross-functional<\/span><\/p>\n

team leadership; stakeholder communication; contractor management; mentorship; business development and strategy including pitch support, deck building and platform partner liaison.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Tools I frequently use:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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PRODUCT<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Notion, Confluence, Excel, Google Suite, Tableau, Looker, Hex, GameAnalytics<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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COMMUNITY<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Discord, Reddit, CRM (Braze, Brevo, Omnisend)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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PROJECT M<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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JIRA, Trello, Clickup<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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UX<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Miro, Figma<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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PORTFOLIO<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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04<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Glassbreakers Retrospective: Communty Was Our Compass<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Read More<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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An Example Product Teardown of Quinn<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Is Every Game Dev Team Like the Fellowship of the Ring?<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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RECOMMENDATIONS<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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05<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Amy Pantea<\/a><\/h5>\n

Associate Director of Marketing – Polyarc<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“<\/span>I had the pleasure of working with Marisa at Polyarc and continue to be impressed by her product intuition and curiosity. When she digs into a question or opportunity, she comes back with an encyclopedia-level understanding of the product space and the player, grounded in thoughtful research.<\/span><\/p>\n

Marisa has a rare level of empathy for players, and it consistently makes the products she works on better. She brings that same empathy to the team as well, creating space for ideas to be shared and debated openly.<\/span><\/p>\n

She cares deeply about the products she works on, and that shows in the care and conviction she brings to major product decisions. Working alongside her has been a real value add to both the studio and the games we create.<\/span>“<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Danny Bulla<\/a><\/h5>\n

Design Director & Co-Founder – Polyarc<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“<\/span>Marisa joined Polyarc at a time where our team had little Product Management expertise. Upon joining, her impact was immediately noticeable. Not only in how we should think about planning and developing a live game but also in how to drill into player profiles, behavior patterns, and community engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a Game Design Director and Co-Founder, I valued both the cultural impact Marisa had at Polyarc as well as the collaboration with the Game Design team. Every conversation was a bright light and we were able to accomplish a lot in a small amount of time. Marisa excelled at towing the line between both the product perspective and the developer perspective. A rare trait that we valued highly at Polyarc.<\/span>“<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Aimee Paganini<\/a><\/h5>\n

Game Producer – The Pokemon Company International<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“<\/span>I had the pleasure of working directly with Marisa at both Boss Fight Entertainment and Big Fish Games. She is undoubtedly one of the most inventive, creative, and player-focused PMs I’ve ever worked with. Marisa balances her role with data-driven conviction and strategic vision. It was energizing to work with her – I felt equally empowered and supported. I would welcome the chance to work with Marisa again; she is a product-powerhouse and would make an excellent addition to any team.<\/span>“<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Peter Im<\/span><\/h5>\n

Product Operations, Galaxy Store – Samsung Electronics America<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“<\/span>At Boss Fight Entertainment Marisa made a significant impact on our team, playerbase, and flagship game through her product expertise and contagious passion. As Lead Live Ops PM, she owned the roadmap and development of product features that dramatically increased KPIs as well as a balanced event schedule which delivered on player engagement and business objectives. From conducting scrappy experiments to crafting a complex matrix of targeted offers across user archetypes, Marisa took ideas and ran with them, executing flawlessly and exceeding expectations along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was incredibly impressed with her knowledge of industry trends, knack for in-depth competitive teardowns, and ability to take action on insights, but Marisa’s attitude and work ethic were what I admired most. She consistently brought a grounded, supportive, and emotionally intelligent approach to her work, and made sure the team had a good time while learning and building together. <\/span><\/p>\n

Marisa is a highly strategic, capable leader who excels at fine-tuning details and I highly recommend her for any company looking to reach new heights. <\/span>“<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Alisa Fortin<\/a><\/h5>\n

Sr. Product Manager – Google AI Studio & Gemini Developer API<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“<\/span>When thinking about Marisa’s product style, three main qualities come to mind: extreme focus on users, deep understanding of industry trends, and a knack for scaling processes. Marisa always has a clear goal and success metrics in mind when executing on a product vision and realistically manages stakeholder expectations. When leading a team, she keeps her hand on the pulse of the whole organization to contribute to business goals. <\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, Marisa is my go to person when I want to learn something new or have an in-depth conversation about any technology subject. I look forward to learning what great things she will accomplish next.<\/span>“<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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CONTACT<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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linkedin.com\/in\/marisajsmailes\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Download Resume<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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hello@marisajoystudio.com<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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+1 (520) 256-8363<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a9 Marisa Smailes \/ All Rights Reserved<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ExperienceSkillsPortfolioRecommendationsContact 01 Helping great products find their people. Hello! I’m Marisa Smailes, a strategic product manager with 18 years of experience helping creators, developers, and studios understand their users and delivering products that resonate, engage, and grow. I have a proven track record of building from zero to one, then sustaining products through long-tail live […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"brizy-blank-template.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"desktop_mode_comment_count":0,"desktop_mode_lock":null,"desktop_mode_contributors":[],"desktop_mode_attached_media":[50,42,51,52,114,121,117],"yoast_head":"\nMarisa J. Smailes - Marisa Joy Studio<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/marisajoystudio.com\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Marisa J. Smailes - Marisa Joy Studio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"ExperienceSkillsPortfolioRecommendationsContact 01 Helping great products find their people. Hello! I’m Marisa Smailes, a strategic product manager with 18 years of experience helping creators, developers, and studios understand their users and delivering products that resonate, engage, and grow. 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