Xavier Bertels

About Xavier

I’m Xavier Bertels. I’m currently Head of Product at Phished, after spending a decade working with SweepBright and eight years building Mono.

Before I worked in software, I studied Germanic languages and co-founded independent music labels during the shift to digital distribution. I changed course and studied Human-Centered Graphic Design at LUCA School of Arts, then moved from design into company building and product leadership.

Design is still part of how I work: a way to make complicated systems understandable, to ask better questions and to turn decisions into something people can use. My responsibilities have broadened, but that foundation has not disappeared.

I live and work in Ghent. I have been writing on this site, in English and Dutch, since 2007.

Current position

  • Head of Product, Phished (since May 2026)

Curriculum Vitae

  • CPO, SweepBright (2024–2026)
  • Head of Product, SweepBright (2021–2024)
  • Product Manager, SweepBright — embedded via Mono (2018–2021)
  • Design Lead, SweepBright — embedded via Mono (2016–2018)
  • Founder, Co-CEO, Mono (2013–2021)
  • Product & Design Coach, open Summer of code (2014–2021)
  • Design Lead, Duke & Grace (2011–2013)
  • Co-founder, Wanted Music Group (2006–2010)

Studies

  • Bachelor of Arts, Human-Centered Graphic Design, LUCA School of Arts/KHLim (2008–2011)
  • Germanic Languages, Literature & Linguistics, KU Leuven (2006–2008)

Projects

Talks

Publications