A rudimentary attempt at communicating some of my career into design leadership.
My journey has been a whirlwind path defined by a culmination of varied experiences: winding yet rewarding, filled with intent and fumblings, misgivings and challenges, sleepless nights, frustrations and reflections, and fantastic people along the way.
& I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Let’s start here
⭣
Losing my Design Lead (2016)
Where:
Intelematics
What happened:
Our Design Lead was made redundant, which left a gap with how the team aligned, organised, and worked with our direct stakeholders (GM of Product, GM of Operations) and the wider organisation (Product and Technology teams).
What I did:
Stepped in to fill the gaps, organising alignment and working rituals (stand-ups, critiques, studios), and leading facilitation of key projects in the organisation.
What I learned:
You don’t have to be a Manager (e.g. have a title) to be a design leader.
Leading from behind
Where:
Design Thinking Games
What happened:
What I did:
What I learned:
Leading from behind – Providing the context and system for support, and empowering your team to make decisions scales out your effectiveness
Hello, formal people management!
Losing my first team members
Rebuilding by need
Performance management and firing
Radical candor, relationship authority and role authority
Designing better 1:1s
Providing career clarity
Scaling out Service Design
Major restructures hurt…
Culture eats strategy for breakfast
Celebrating successes
What happened:
3 of the team members I hired and have supported in their growth journeys receive promotions
What I learned:
These are the reasons why I do what I do
Alignment, alignment, alignment
Consolidating another team
What I learned:
While I am ultimately accountable for the Design team’s output, outcomes and culture, they are responsible for it.
Leading leaders