Mark Aquino, a Group Design Manager at Deel, began his career with a psychology background before transitioning into design. His entry into the field was unconventional, stemming from an entrepreneurial venture in electronic dance music (Echo Drop Entertainment). After selling the business, he moved to agency consulting, which eventually led him to work with design teams. He played a pivotal role in helping major Canadian banks build their first product and design teams in the early 2010s. His career progressed through companies like Intellects (where he gained a strong product mindset) and Procurify (his first full-time management role), before joining Deel in 2023. At Deel, he scaled the payroll design team from 4 to 25 designers, contributing to the overall design team's growth from 40 to nearly 100. His management trajectory is rooted in a natural inclination towards leadership, honed through programs like Sea Cadets, and an ability to identify and build effective processes and teams.
