Special voiceover episode - The last six weeks: the good, the bad, the ugly
A mega update with interns, travel, and credit thieves
Latest
KISS: Keep it short, stupid
Communication challenges when there’s information asymmetry
Building your distinct brand
Define yourself and target audience to communicate your value proposition
AI-powered features in Figma
Next generation of design work and being in a new team
The AI-revolution in UX design
A new era on ways of working
Onboarding to a new team in thirty days
If you are starting a new project with a new stakeholder, a new job, or even a new team, what should you do in the first 30 days?
Cultural challenge: innovation conflicts with operational efficiency
Closing the chapter of my first team
The power of imperfection
Authenticity demands imperfection and vulnerability
Ten learnings from women leadership training
We are bold women.
Greetings from Seattle
I'm writing to you from the PNW! Flew in on Sunday and had my first bowl of 🍜Ramen at Danbo. I've never heard of this place, went because of high ratings. Hit the spot for an introvert like me, eating noodles alone at the bar counter.
Reflections on one year of writing
Learnings from writing for a year...
Premium Edition: How to design innovation - video
84% of company leadership believe innovation is a high priority, but 94% of them are dissatisfied with the performance of the innovation. A great product and service is long-lasting, but how do we know the idea today will stick?
Frameworks & Mental Model
Speaking tips for complex topics
I presented a talk called "How do you design innovation" at the University of Chicago and SAIC, focusing on customer-centric design and exploring Jobs-To-Be-Done. I aimed to cover this complex subject in less than 18 minutes.
AMA
AMA: A word from my mentee...
As a personal project, I am working with Aaron to create a new Youtube series "Speedrun to Senior" where I will try to speed up his skills and fill the gaps.
Satire
There should be a course for being laid off
"Cat, are our jobs safe? Google is laying people off."
Burnout
The fallout of moving fast and breaking things
Breaking customer trust is easy. A company’s business and way of working dictates the limitations and boundaries in which designers manage, operate, and deliver for end customers.
Writing
Imposter syndrome for writing
Happy Tuesday. Last week's post "5 stories from two decades of design" took me two weeks to write. I wrote that 3 times, each time when I read it, I thought "what is this?" 🫣 I had imposter syndrome. I forced myself to post an
Life
5 stories from two decades of design
Celebrating two decades in design this February, I hope my story highlights the qualities that define not just successful designers, but individuals who thrive in an environment of constant change.
Career Growth
From good to great, don't be well-rounded
Surprise! An email on a Friday. Warm welcome to 5 new subscribers in January! Sxd4383, Pooja, Miyu, Lanre, and Emylie. You know what I do on Fridays? I briefly summarize: 1. What were my top 2-3 focus tasks this week? 2. What small wins did I achieve with these tasks?
Life
What do I want to achieve?
Last Wednesday at the office was eerily quiet. Layoffs of 2024 happened with a few teams (Audible, Prime Video, Twitch).
Career Growth
Develop your growth themes in 2024
Before the end of the year, we had drafted our year-end summaries, including wins and growth areas. Last week, we had to turn in written descriptions for "above and beyond" actions, expectations exceeded from role guidelines.
Career Growth
Premium Edition: Career strategy and documenting accomplishments
🔒Paid members only content. Support this newsletter effort by buying me a coffee for $5/mo.
Life
Year-end reflections 2023
Reflective trip to Seattle. I was given the gift of clarity and broadened perspectives.
Life
Season of job change
I don't know what's in the air this past week, but my mentees were asking me about internal transfers and changing teams. Changing teams internally requires a smaller, less painful interview process...