Leadership
Leading Innovative Design Teams
As a leader of successful product design teams, I guide them in applying behavioral studies, cognitive principles, and empathy to craft world-class designs that foster business and customer growth.
Holistic Product
Design
Team structure is always evolving. UX Design focuses on the user’s journey, ensuring the product is easy to navigate, efficient, and meets user needs. This involves research, testing, and designing interactions that provide an intuitive experience.
UI Design, on the other hand, deals with the aesthetic aspects: layout, color schemes, typography, and the overall look and feel of the product. It ensures the product not only works well but also delights the user visually.
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Having both on a team ensures that the product is not only functional but also engaging and easy to use. The integration of both disciplines leads to a seamless and cohesive experience but this model are general approaches that should be applied and adapted as organizations learn what works best for their evolving needs.
Observe. Understand. Connect.
When forming or joining a new design team, my initial focus is to create a strategy that emphasizes active listening, empathy, and a deep understanding of challenges and business objectives.
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Approach:
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Initiate a comprehensive listening tour across the organization, conducting interviews with both leadership and individual contributors from various teams (e.g., customer success, engineering, product, business operations, design).
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Analyze and distill the key challenges facing the organization, customers, and business, then prioritize them based on their impact.
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Foster empathy by examining the gap between the current and ideal behaviors of both customers and the organization, identifying opportunities for improvement in both areas.
Fostering Team
Culture
The design team's culture is a collective effort. It’s not something I build on my own, but something we all shape together. We define what matters most to each member, aligning our efforts toward a shared goal of personal development, ongoing satisfaction, and pride in the work we create.
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Approach:
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Create and share a cohesive design process and growth framework that energizes the team and attracts top talent by offering clear incentives.
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Host team workshops and team building to truly understand the needs, values, and motivations of each individual.
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Share the team’s vision and achievements with the broader organization, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
Enabling Innovation
As a leader in Product Design, I ensure innovation is a key part of our process, driving creativity and user-focused solutions in every product. Working with the Product and Tech leadership teams, I helped create Innovation pillars. This approach makes innovation a core part of our culture.​
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Innovation Principles:
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Customer-Centric: Focus on meeting the unique needs of every customer to drive engagement and loyalty.
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Spectrum of Innovation: Balance incremental improvements with bold, disruptive innovations that drive industry change.
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Inclusive Culture: Foster an environment where ideas can come from anyone, anywhere in the organization.
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Embedded in Everyday: Innovation is woven into our daily operations, whether through new features or refining how we deliver them.
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Empowered Leadership: Leadership sets direction and frameworks that empower teams to drive innovation, balancing risk and business-as-usual expectations.
The Recipe for Growth as a Designer
As a leader, I provide a clear career ladder for product designers, offering a roadmap for their growth. This ladder outlines the skills and responsibilities required to progress within their role, helping them understand what is needed to reach the next level. It empowers them to set achievable goals and stay motivated in developing their abilities, fostering a sense of purpose and direction within the company.
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Approach:
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Ensure designers have a career ladders document as a resource.
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Provide regular feedback and mentorship to guide designers at every stage of their career.
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Offer opportunities for skill development to ensure continuous growth.
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Foster a supportive environment that encourages both challenge and personal growth.
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Cultivate a culture of learning, where designers feel empowered and confident in their development.