Alexis Cotton, a Design Lead at Meta, discusses her journey into design and her experience as a neurodivergent designer. She shares her passion for storytelling and finding her voice as a designer. Alexis also talks about the challenges of making friends during the pandemic and the importance of work-life balance.Key Takeaways:Learn how to rediscover hobbies, find new interests, and embrace change post-pandemicDiscover strategies for connecting with others and transform your home into a comfortable and uniquely creative space that perfectly reflects your styleCreate impactful designs using the power of communication and storytellingLeverage your distinctive point of view to accomplish outstanding outcomes in your professionUse Alexis' tip to effectively manage remote work and maintain a work-life balanceQuotes:"We should talk about how hard it is to make friends during the pandemic and be more upfront with people that we are close to and ask them to set us up." - Alexis Cotton"Your design work is only as great as the way that you can articulate it." - Alexis Cotton"With these decisions to go back to the office, be hybrid or remote, you should really think about where you do your best work." - Alexis CottonTimestamps:(00:24) Introduction to the episode and guest, Alexis Cotton(01:08) Icebreaker: Rediscovering hobbies post-pandemic (02:52) Icebreaker: The place that best symbolizes her personality(05:42) Icebreaker: The challenges of making new friends(08:13) Her journey into design and the impact of the Posse Foundation on her career(11:51) Her transition from fine arts to product design(14:01) Her role as a Product Design Architect at Meta(18:04) Neurodivergence and its impact on work(20:52) The importance of storytelling and finding your voice(28:07) Her advice on work-life balance and finding what works best for you(28:48) How to reach Alexis CottonAbout The Guest:Meet Alexis Cotton, a Design Lead at Meta with a fine arts and graphic design background. She has honed her skills at renowned companies like Gigster and Intuit. Alexis is passionate about storytelling and constantly strives to find her unique voice as a designer. Additionally, she is neurodivergent, which gives her a distinct perspective and helps her excel in her work.Connect with Alexis Cotton:LinkedInReferenced Links:Learn more about Posse here. Rent your furniture here. What's Next:Please leave us a rating and a review on Apple Podcast.Support Technically Speaking by being a Patron. Visit the website here. Connect With Me:InstagramLinkedIn

​Reginé Gilbert, designer and author of "Inclusive Design for a Digital World," joins the show to discuss her recent award, The James Weldon Johnson Professorship, and her work in accessibility and inclusion in the XR space. She shares her journey into UX design and how she became interested in accessibility, as well as her current focus on spatial computing, including augmented reality and virtual reality. Reginé also talks about her upcoming book, "Human Spatial Computing," and the importance of considering accessibility from the beginning when building AR/VR experiences.Key Takeaways:Discover the ways Reginé is advancing XR research through The James Weldon Johnson Professorship AwardExplore her path from novice to authority in UX DesignImagine the meetup that changed her perspective on what she could do as a designer, and her mission focused on inclusivity and accessibility in XR for people like her friends Thomas Logan and Nefertiti Matos Outline her upcoming book on AR/VR, Human Spatial ComputingTimestamps(01:33) Introduction to the episode and guest, Reginé Gilbert(02:46) Winning the James Weldon Johnson Professor Award(05:17) Reflecting on the importance of doing the work and being recognized(07:50) Icebreaker: Her obsession with Peloton(11:19) Icebreaker: The kindness she has witnessed in New York City during the pandemic(13:51) How life-changing encounters with Nefertiti Matos and Thomas Logan shifted her perspective on UX and accessibility(20:04) Her focus on spatial computing and teaching a class on it(23:38) The concept of spatial computing and her upcoming book explained(30:04) Accessibility and building experiences in AR/VR(33:23) A look into her second book in collaboration with Doug North Cook About The GuestReginé Gilbert is a designer, author, and professor at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. She is the author of "Inclusive Design for a Digital World" and was recently awarded the James Weldon Johnson Professorship. Reginé is passionate about accessibility and inclusion in the XR (extended reality) space, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).Connect with Reginé Gilbert:WebsiteTwitterLinkedInReferenced Links:Inclusive Design for a Digital World - Designing with Accessibility in Mind NYU James Weldon Johnson Professor Appointment ArticleSubway Map of Development Tools in XRStanford Talk About XR ToolsJoin the Conversation About AccessibilityNefertiti Matos’ Work on HalftimeWhat's Next:Visit the website here. Support...

Natalie Nixon, Ph.D., is a creativity strategist, keynote speaker, and author. She is the CEO of Figure 8 Thinking and known as the Creativity Whisperer for the C-Suite.She has been recognized as one of the "Top 50 Keynote Speakers for 2022" by Real Leaders and her book, "The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation, and Intuition at Work," received an award at Fast Company's World Changing Ideas Awards in 2021.In this episode we discuss various aspects of creativity, including building curiosity and empathy, productivity solutions, work-life integration, creativity in executive roles, and intuition in business.About the Guest:A creativity strategist, keynote speaker, and author, Natalie Nixon, Ph.D., CEO of Figure 8 Thinking, is the Creativity Whisperer for the C-Suite. Through wonder and rigor, she helps leaders amplify growth and business value through transformation.Real Leaders named Natalie one of the "Top 50 Keynote Speakers for 2022". In 2021, Fast Company's World Changing Ideas Awards honored her book The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation, and Intuition at Work.In 2021, Core 77 named Figure 8 Thinking one of the Top 20 Women-Led Innovation Firms. Natalie is a trustee of the Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, Vassar College, and Leadership+Design. She holds a BA (Honors) from Vassar College and a Ph.D. from the University of Westminster in London. She is a Foresight Practitioner certified by the Institute for the Future.Quote of the episode“As my mom used to tell us as we were growing up, all learning is interconnected. Everything that we do, whether it's waiting tables or leading a team, is relevant, and we can interweave it into our current work and outlook."Connect with Natalie Nixon:Website: https://www.figure8thinking.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/natwnixonLinkedIn Learning Course: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/lead-with-inquiry-improvisation-and-intuition/the-power-of-inquiry-improvisation-and-intuition?autoplay=trueFast Company Articles: https://www.fastcompany.com/90721653/your-invisible-work-is-key-to-your-most-productive-selfTimestamps(00:13) - Icebreaker: Natalie's current obsession that helps build curiosity and empathy.(02:32) - Icebreaker: The best yet counterintuitive approach to productivity and solution to burnout.(05:02) - Icebreaker: How to turn work-life balance into work-life integration with daydream breaks, timed walks, and dancing.(09:04) - Being The Creativity Whisperer in the C-Suite and creativity's role at the executive level.(12:05) - Natalie's diverse and loopy background in cultural anthropology and fashion.(13:37) - Common misconceptions about fashion, what it's really about, and how her career in fashion taught her everything about business.(15:30) - Building a business using intuition and prototyping.(16:32) - How to gain confidence in your intuition by toggling between wonder and rigor.(19:30) - Coming up with the name Figure 8 Thinking for her business and the types of projects they work on.(24:34) - Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation, and Intuition at Work through The Creativity Leap book.(26:15) - How her podcast guesting for The Creativity Leap book promotion on...

Melvin Hale has undergone a remarkable evolution in his life. He has 25 years of experience in the design industry and has worked at the biggest names in tech like LinkedIn, Meta, YouTube, RGA, and Google. We'll delve into his journey of finding happiness, reflections on leadership style, and coping with personal challenges. Tune in for an engaging and insightful conversation.About the Guest:Melvin has 25 years of experience in the design industry and has worked at the biggest names in tech like LinkedIn, Meta, YouTube, RGA, and Google. He has established himself as an artist who pushes boundaries.The best thing about him is his uncanny ability to connect with people from all walks of life. By building meaningful relationships through mentorship and positive reinforcement, he reminds us that leadership comes from peace, not might. His success can be attributed to his perseverance, failures, redemptions, and fresh starts.Timestamps(01:26) - The two elements that contributed to his evolution and what knowing where he's at now allows him to do (03:37) - Icebreaker: Why he is currently obsessed with his credit score and credit utilization(04:51) - Icebreaker: Melvin dreams of retiring in this Asian country and what he finds most appealing about its culture(06:43) - Icebreaker: How he and Bender “Bending” Rodriguez of Futurama are both “lovable *ssholes”(08:26) - How his search for happiness led him to discover joy, evolve, and begin his second journey in life(10:09) - The differences between Mel Then and Mel Now(13:09) - How he was never satisfied despite having everything and what was missing in his life(14:37) - Where his mercenary mindset came from and his desire to be a missionary instead(16:25) - How he coped with his personal challenges and what prompted him to get his sh*t together and seek help(19:57) - Why it's important to be kind to yourself and why he took a break from social media(24:50) - How his daily morning affirmations turned into action steps and why he sees it as an embodiment of him continuing to move forward(26:45) – What's cooking, Melvin? Launching soon: How his app will bring joy through food for foodies like him(28:10) - Dispelling startup requirements myth and why he picked startup in the first place(30:22) - The best song to express his last thoughts for all of usResources:Learn more about the resources, podcasts, and community. https://www.technicallyspeakinghw.comSupport the Technically Speaking podcast by becoming a patron. Get early access to episodes and free swags by becoming a supporter. https://www.patreon.com/technicallyspeakinghw?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creatorAccess the Glossary here: https://www.technicallyspeakinghw.com/resources/glossaryBuy merch here: https://www.technicallyspeakinghw.com/shopConnect With Me:Website: https://www.technicallyspeakinghw.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/technicallyspeakinghw/YouTube:

I'm joined by Kristy Tillman, Director of Design at Netflix, as she shares invaluable insights on career growth and the pursuit of creative opportunities. Kristy challenges the traditional emphasis on job titles, urging listeners to prioritize personal growth and learning. Drawing from her experience as a Director of Design, she highlights the diverse scopes and possibilities that each role can offer. Furthermore, Kristy emphasizes the importance of designers developing strong business acumen to thrive in their roles.The conversation then delves into expanding one's horizon of opportunities. Kristy emphasizes the significance of building connections and making oneself open to different people and experiences. By broadening networks and creating opportunities for others, individuals can unlock unforeseen collaborations and pathways to success. Kristy addresses the ongoing question of designers' presence at the decision-making table within businesses, stressing the importance of fostering relationships and making a lasting impact.The episode also explores the concept of personal detachment from work and the value of pursuing side projects. Kristy shares a valuable lesson: the work done at one's job ultimately belongs to the company, but side projects offer a realm of personal freedom and creativity. By taking charge of these projects, individuals can craft their own opportunities, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and lay the foundation for future endeavors. Kristy highlights the importance of networking by giving back and creating opportunities for others, as it serves as a gateway to entering new networks and expanding professional horizons.About the Guest:Having worked across industries for over 15 years, Design Extraordinaire Kristy Tillman is currently the Product Design Director at Netflix.Through her experience as Head of Global Experience Design, Head of Communication Design, and Design Director, she acquired a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to be equipped for a variety of design challenges and development.As part of MICA's Flexible Design Studio workshop, she teaches a module on social impact design. She studied design at Kansas City Art Institute and is a proud HBCU alum of FamU - Florida A&M University.As a design leader, she has built design teams from scratch and transitioned talent from entry level to design leadership. She is an Advisor for Designer Fund and sits on the board of Design Advisory Council for the University of Texas at Austin.A designer, investor, and cultivator of a different kind of tomorrow, one that harnesses the exponential addition of talent in the gaps, she's learned a lot along the way around growing her own talent and those around her in the realm of design.Connect with Kristy Tillman:Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristytLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristytillman/Timestamps(02:28) - Icebreaker: Kristy's current obsessions from work and personal perspectives(03:43) - Her journey from nervousness to excitement over the size and scope of her organization and role within Netflix(05:22) - What makes each of her job titles as a director unique and the end goal in mind that’s being set up by her current role(07:58) - Understanding the multiple layers in Web3, why it is considered Wild West, and how it can be improved and made safer through UX and Design(11:24) - Icebreaker: Her current playlist and how visualizing music can change your experience (12:47) - Icebreaker: The two obvious problems about the design industry that's worth turning around. And no, it's not the D word or having

Aastha, Director of Product Design at Google, joins us again in this engaging podcast that covers the world of AI at the intersection of customer engagement. In this episode, we cover valuable insights into its definition, the reasons behind its current hype, and the crucial distinction between consuming and creating AI-powered products.We explore the societal shift from initial resistance and fear towards new technologies to their eventual acceptance and integration into daily life.Drawing from her experience leading the customer engagement team at Google, Aastha explores the differences between the technology-forward approach versus the customer-back approach strategy in user experience, emphasizing the importance of research, personalization, and AI principles in achieving full-on experience design. She also sheds light on Google's North Star, the overarching goal that ensures the optimal use of technology, and discusses the pros and cons of the technology-first approach.Tune in to hear Aastha's deep dive into understanding what is real when it comes to today’s latest tech buzz - Artificial Intelligence! Get ready to be inspired by all that she has shared.About the Guest:Aastha Gaur is Google's UX Leader for Customer Engagement. Her team uses sales, support, and marketing for advertisers to elevate the customer experience for Google's business. As a designer, she has worked at boutique design studios and big corporations. Through Leading with Mindfulness, Intuition, Creativity, and Compassion, she brings her experience designing for consumers and enterprise into her passion.Her values are: Invest in people since focusing on each unique individual makes for a stronger, more connected team; inspire through craft because practicing their art with obsessive attention to detail and deep knowledge of the business earns them the trust and respect of their partners; and Xfn team first since their goals and their PM+Eng partners' goals are the same: No walled gardens.She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Anurag, and their two dogs, Gustave and Rumi. She is a trained yoga and fitness instructor who used to co-own a yoga and fitness studio. Her favorite photography subjects are humans together, badass women doing badass things, and bloopers. A total Jungalow fan, she loves to decorate with plants. Her favorite way to de-stress is to play with her boys, Gustave and Rumi, who enjoy learning new tricks.Connect with Aastha Gaur:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aasthagaurWebsite: https://aasthagaur.com/Twitter: @astaheartsEmail: aasthagaur@gmail.comIG: https://instagram.com/astaheartsTimestamps(02:26) - Past and current obsessions: A quick update on her pole-dancing studio, the language she's trying to teach herself because of a reality TV show, and her unique approach to photography(04:57) - What AI is, why there is so much hype around it now, and the difference between consumption and creation of products using the power of AI(07:45) - The shift from initial resistance and fear towards new technologies into acceptance and daily life integration and its natural progression that starts with younger generations as early adopters (10:15) - Real talk: AI as a threat to livelihood vs. a tool to help enhance work(14:03) - How she leads the customer engagement team at Google by doing sales, support, and marketing for advertisers, and the difference between AI...

Join us on an insightful journey with Leslie Miley, a tech industry veteran and advisor to the CTO of Microsoft. In this episode, we explore topics of leadership, courage, representation, and the unique perspective of an introverted business influencer. Leslie shares his remarkable career path, spanning from diverse experiences of privilege to marginalization, providing valuable insights into the tech industry. Discover how he hacked his way to success and gain thought-provoking perspectives on leadership, oppression, and navigating marginalization in the tech world. Don't miss this engaging conversation with Leslie Miley, where we challenge conventional norms and explore the untold stories of the tech industry.About the Guest:Leslie Miley (he/him), The Complicated Man Who Risks his neck for non-binary peeps, trans folk, women and men, currently works as a Partner Technical Advisor to Microsoft CTO.Empathy, self-awareness, and coffee are three of the things he's trying to get better at. He has extensive experience building, motivating, and managing globally-distributed teams with different cultural backgrounds. He's an expert at designing and implementing development best practices to manage geographically-distributed teams. An amazing technologist who worked as the 1st CTO at The Obama Foundation, he also held leadership roles at Google, Slack, Twitter, and Apple. He also invests in a number of start-up companies around the world.Connect with Leslie Miley:Twitter: https://twitter.com/shaftLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliehm/Medium: https://shaft.medium.com/Timestamps(01:03) - How Leslie's engineering background helped him keep up with his physical activities, maintain his fitness level, and track his progress during the pandemic(04:34) - Icebreaker: The groundbreaking intro song he would play upon entering an arena or walking onstage(06:05) - Icebreaker: The subject he would instantly become an expert in if he’s given a chance and how he’d use it to solve problems(07:54) - Icebreaker: His current obsession: How to inspire leaders to be courageous; and why he thinks voter suppression contributed to Roe v. Wade getting overturned(09:46) - Voter suppression, lack of representation, how leaders use their current position as a stepping stone to higher office instead of serving their people, and what they should focus on instead(13:13) - Why the public sector lacks experts in technology(15:10) - Taking the cue from Dave Chappelle about the need for grace and space to grow and the importance of acknowledging that people can change(17:00) - Hacking systems and access as a hallmark of his career, and charging his own adventure and career in tech as a person of color(22:25) - The experiences that almost made him quit his tech job, the two reasons why he chose to stay, and the constant battle between changing the world vs. trying to survive through tech(24:54) - How tech jobs are transformational for women and people of color, why it’s okay for white people to quit tech, and what reverse friends and family round means in meeting BIPOC hierarchy of needs(27:41) - What it means to be a leader (how to pick good model leaders and how to spot the asshole ones), and the challenges he faced in his leadership journey and transformation(31:53) - His inspiration for his leadership style and why he took a step back from leadership roles(33:19) - Working through trauma by forgiving himself and accepting he's a work-in-progress, the difficulties in being an authentic human...

What does it take to start a business? Is it by having the money or by having investors? Does it depend on having social capital? Or both?Would you believe that it all starts in your head? It all starts with ONE idea that solves a problem. And it's not impossible that 3,000 miles away, someone will pay for that solution you came up with.By taking that first baby step, you're choosing to embark on your journey, from which you'll learn a lot, whether it becomes successful or not.Listen to this episode with Stephen Green to learn about how he started his career in finance and as an entrepreneur. Learn how he uses his background to support Black-owned businesses in Portland through PitchBlack, and how he helped A Kids Book About to start challenging, empowering, and important conversations with kids.About the Guest:Stephen Green (he/him) from Portland, Oregon is a Blatino who has spreadsheets as his super power and sneakers as his kryptonite. As a result of living in Portland his whole life, he's become a person that gobbles up relationships and community. Like most entrepreneurs, his journey began with his parents who were both entrepreneurs while he was growing up. While his mom started a tech company, his dad worked for Intel for a long time before starting his own HR company with Intel as their main client. And he’s now passed this on to his oldest daughter, who also started a business during the pandemic and now takes him out to dinner.A husband, father, recovering banker, and VC, he’s also the founder of PitchBlack, a pitch competition he started in 2015 that highlights black founders in regions across the country who strive for community over competition. It has expanded to include events in Seattle, Austin, and Philadelphia. And to date, 100 founders have pitched their ideas, more than 1,000 people have attended the combined events, and more than $100,000 has been awarded directly to the winning companies. In addition, the Portland winners have raised an additional $40M in funding since 2015. A startup mentor and advisor to portfolio firms at Backstage Capital, he also held positions at these companies: Director of Operations at PENSOLE, COO at A Kids Book About, and Community Director at WeWork. He co-authored A Kids Book About Family and he's a contributor to A Kids Book About Public Speaking by TEDxPortland, a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization, where speakers and performers share ideas on a wide range of topics to bring people together and spark deep discussion and connection.Connect with Stephen Green:Twitter: @PDXStephenGInstagram: @PDXStephenGPitchBlack: https://www.pitchblackpdx.com/A Kids Book About: https://akidsco.com/Timestamps(02:33) - Icebreaker: How Stephen Green became "The Guy Who Knows Everybody"(04:06) - Icebreaker: What America looks like through the eyes of immigrants(04:53) - Icebreaker: His sneaker collection and his three Grail shoes(07:25) - One of the few things that can give you true gratification(08:07) - The two kinds of people in the world(08:44) - His educational background, career in banking, and working with founders(10:18) - What being part of a community is all about and how you can participate in yours better(12:16) - PitchBlack's success story(13:54) - How PitchBlack started and what to watch out for next(16:53) - Being a Blatino while having his own identity in and out of the home(19:34) - Why he thinks now is the easiest, cheapest, and quickest time to start a business(20:45) - The over-glamorized world of entrepreneurship and what you should be focusing on instead before raising money for your business(23:55) - The core tenets of starting and/or running a business(25:45) - Ways your Mission, Vision, and Values

SummaryDid you know that technical writing is all around us?From manuals, recipes, to tribal codified values, they have served as guides and instructions about how to live our lives for ages.But what would you do if instructional design didn't apply to you? How do you ensure that all voices are heard, included, and valued?To help with that, listen to this episode as Dr. Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq shares how to challenge the status quo and be inclusive through socially-just technical writing and equitable research that's relevant to your life and community."I think that really starts with you as the writer and understanding number one thinking through your own positionality and privilege, right? And how that affects your worldview, therefore your writing, and what you might value, what you might think is normal, what you might think isn't normal, and how that might change in different circumstances. And also how your positionality and privilege really afford you a certain power. And, as a technical communicator, or as a designer in your sphere of influence and what you are doing as a professional, you have certain affordances, right? A margin of maneuverability, and I'm using these terms that come from scholars in my field, Rebecca Walton, Natasha Jones, and Kristen Moore, but I just want to give them a shout-out."About the Guest:Dr. Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq (she/they) is an Iñupiaq scholar and member of the Noorvik Native Community in Northwest Alaska.As an assistant professor of professional and technical writing at Virginia Tech, Cana's research integrates humanities and environmental sciences to support culturally appropriate environmental justice work.Her expertise includes developing effective methods, protocols, partnerships, and programs that support community-driven and community-led environmental justice action in marginalized communities.As the academic project lead for the Rematriation Project, she aims to create capacity and access for digital archiving of Inuit cultural, tribal, and scientific knowledges and history, which are led by Inuit; assist tribal communities in developing solutions to their own self-determinated needs, such as climate change, by developing culturally-appropriate localized approaches and solutions. Connect with Dr. Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq:Website: https://www.itchuaqiyaq.com/about-meGoogle Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8Q2aqIEAAAAJ&hl=enORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4417-4534Timestamps(02:03) - Foraging as a hobby versus as a way of life and using technology to identify and classify plant life for decoloniality(08:22) - Icebreaker: How to grow as a musician while playing the piano on a budget(11:13) - Icebreaker: Value labels and stigma of body parts and the implications of having rules around what can and cannot be talked about(17:09) - Learning while traveling from Northwest Alaska to Chile and back to Idaho(21:15) - The most important role of an elder, the difference between Cana's culture and Western aging, and why she abstained from centering her community in her dissertation research(25:50) - Technical writing and how it shows up in our daily lives(30:49) - What counts as writing, how it impacts society, and how to make it socially just(34:28) - How her passion, experience, and background played a role in pushing against academia status quo and her advice for folks who are trying to be more...

SummaryWouldn’t it be nice to do every day for our careers the same thing that brought us joy when we were kids?Keith Rich was able to do this by merging his creativity in the soccer field with his work in design and development to come up with solutions for people to use and enjoy throughout their day.With his combined love for soccer and design, he’s created a unique career that allows him to be creative every day. He knows it’s important for people to enjoy their work, and he wants to help others find the same joy in their careers.So check out this episode to learn more about design, development, design systems, OOUX, and why he uses “dev-ign” whenever he can.About the Guest:The "Midfielder" at Think Company, Keith Rich, is a versatile designer. His background in pharma advertising and service-oriented digital products, as well as his interdisciplinary skills, allow him to bridge gaps along the spectrum of design, but primarily between design and development. When prototyping new ideas, his mission is to create experiences and connections that enhance people's lives.A few things have remained constant in his life: his love of soccer, design, and curiosity about technology's evolution. His earliest memories of design are making soccer wallpapers as a part of an online group of designers worldwide. Who would have thought he'd be doing every day for his career that same thing that brought him joy as a kid?Over time that curiosity has led him to the world of front-end development and keeps him thinking about how things he designs representationally are technically built as a product for people to use. You'll understand why if he uses “dev-ign” in conversations.“To feel satisfied in my life, I strive to exhibit efficient simplicity, creative curiosity, and caring collaboration in how I communicate with people, view the world, and create work in it.”Connect with Keith Rich:Twitter: https://twitter.com/keith_richWebsite: http://www.keith-rich.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-rich-83b88717/Think Company: https://www.thinkcompany.com/Timestamps(02:47) - Icebreaker: Which team is Keith on? Team Hoagie or Team Cheesesteak(03:12) - Icebreaker: What it takes to be on the same page on design and development with everybody without translation(05:34) - Icebreaker: His love of soccer, his favorite club, and the Canadian band that will play his entrance song for him(09:08) - How he blends design and creativity into solutions people can enjoy(09:45) -  Getting into art and design through his love for soccer (12:04) - The kind of art that’s not only be looked at: Designing his first website in high school (16:03) - How technology is evolving, how to deal with it, and how he got into the mindset of technology as always evolving  (19:19) - His introduction to Object Oriented UX (OOUX) while in advertising and how it helped him after going over to Think Company(22:21) - Working as Think Company’s principal designer and the one question you should ask yourself before choosing which aspect to focus on between craft and management (25:00) - The key to having a positive work relationship with developersResources:Learn more about the resources, podcasts, and community.

SummaryMic test. 1, 2, 3.You know, this interview should have been done in between karaoke songs. Why? Because Harrison and his guest share a love for singing.As a creative since the age of 3 and a pioneer in the field of UX and design, Mindy Duong is an eyewitness to its challenges and improvements, one of which is being the only woman in the room.So to give back to the community and show strong support to women in technology, she's been trying to help the younger generation, especially women, get into technology through Advancing Women in Technology.By helping promote technology, explaining, and sharing her experiences, she helps inspire the younger generation of women to stay creative. So listen to this episode to get to know more about Mindy, her advocacy, as well as her love for the arts.Highlights"Maytal Shainberg said that you need to have the courage to stand up for yourself. And I think for a long time, I feel like I lost that courage. Maybe because I was just so complacent in where I was in my life that I wasn't being that go-getter that I used to be, and that was a really great reminder from her that you need to have the confidence to do what you need to do. And that really stuck to me.""Having conversations with other people in their companies, their struggles, I noticed that we do have very similar roadblocks. It's communication, internal communication. I think that's the biggest roadblock. Because without the proper internal communication, you're losing a lot of input feedback."About the Guest:As a creative leader, UX innovator, and strategic brand builder, Mindy Duong has proven experience building high-performing teams and bringing bold strategies to life to position top-tier brands for maximum growth.She has led marketing, UX, and digital initiatives in various industries throughout her career. These include financial services, fashion, retail, consumer products, technology, telecommunications, and events/live entertainment.Since 2012, she has led all aspects of user experience, digital, and brand design for US & China-focused financial institution East West Bank — coaching a cross-functional team based in the US, India, and China through the delivery of brand-aligned assets and content.Earlier, she played a key role in elevating the e-commerce capability and digital presence of LA-based fashion brand BCBGMAXAZRIA — successfully building a staff of four (4), boosting brand awareness, and significantly growing customer engagement.She began her career with creative roles at Ticketmaster/Citysearch, TelePacific, and Big Zoo while also leading two organizations as an entrepreneur.As a passionate creative, she thrives on aligning technology, vision, culture, and design thinking to solve critical challenges and enhance the customer experience. With impeccable relationship-building skills, she brings the best out of teams, drives transformational results, and consistently achieves success.Connect with Mindy Duong:Website: http://min-d.com/Email: info@min-d.comForm: http://min-d.com/contact.htmlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-duong/Reach Further Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reach-further-podcast/id1612153380Advancing Women in Tech

SummaryIf you were told you were about to die, how would you respond? Steven Wakabayashi didn’t wait long to use it as opportunity to turn his health, life, and career around. His three programs are his best approach to prevent others from going through the same thing he did.Do not wait until something bad happens to start taking your health seriously. Steven's story provides valuable information and support to help you make lasting changes in your life, so that you can become your best self today.You would love what he said about how there isn't only one way to work and talk about things. By providing a space where people can observe other options, we can help empower them. The world needs more stories like these.So check out this week's episode where he shares not only his accomplishments in UX, but also his vulnerabilities. Discover how he changed how his team works, processes, and still produced impactful results.Highlights“I try to come in with really fresh blank slate into different projects that I come in. And even the concept of like the vision we want to achieve, I try really hard, especially as a leader not to go in with this preconceived notion. Because at the end of the day, it's something that we have to build collectively as a group, and not just a vision that I have like myself.”“There's been a lot of amazing work by many organizations, such as the Creative Reaction Lab, Project Inkblot that focus on how we can bring the community into our work. So context is of spaces thinking about reconstituting power. And one thing that we're trying to add to the mix as an organization with Stranger Creative right now are just different heuristics that we can bring that measure safety, that measure autonomy, that measure transparency.”Timestamps(00:47) - Leading by example; showing up for himself and his community while weathering COVID (01:49) - Icebreaker: The mind-blowing pandemic hobby he developed, how it benefits him, and his plans for it in the future(04:01) - Icebreaker: The two words synonymous to Steven Wakabayashi     (08:05) - Icebreaker: Why it's important to talk about institutionalizing changes needed in DEI (08:37) - Who Steven Wakabayashi is: The unabridged version(11:37) - Why he took a step back to reflect after achieving success(15:12) - Resuscitating not only his love for creativity but his heart as well(16:09) - How his identity played a role in his work on inclusion and equity and his three programs thay support it(17:47) - QTBIPOC(19:55) - Stranger Creative(30:13) - Mindful Sights(21:07) - Changing institutionalized inequity one word at a time through self-expression(24:25) - Methods to use to approach more equitable problem spaces(30:13) - The beauty of mindfulness and presentness in two perspectives: his as an individual and the society's(32:22) - How to approach a new project (36:03) - COVID recovery adviceAbout the Guest:Steven Wakabayashi (he/him) is a queer, first-generation Taiwanese-Japanese American based in New York City. He's a Creative Director, Changemaker, and Founder of mission-driven organizations empowering historically marginalized communities within the design, tech, and mindfulness industries.After leading creative teams at many notable brands and agencies, including Apple, Google, Walmart, Huge, and Razorfish, he is now creating pathways for queer BIPOC creatives into the design industry through QTBIPOC Design, creating safe spaces for BIPOC communities within mindfulness through Mindful Sights, and designing equitable products and experiences for clients with his creative agency Stranger...

SummaryOne positive thing about the pandemic is quarantine scheming.Many innovative ideas were born out of it, one of which is HmntyCntrd. What the industry needs are finally being addressed, thanks to Vivianne Castillo and her team. They are passionate about it and can call it out for what it is: How to be human-centered. Because to be human-centered, you must go above and beyond being relevant and performative.For issues as systematic as this, no matter where we end up on our corporate journey, there will always be things that aren't right. Not everyone is willing to think about these things.So check this episode out to learn more about Vivianne, her team, their work within trauma's context, its cycles, and how to be a trauma-informed leader with HmntyCntrd.About the Guest:Vivianne Castillo, who has over 8+ years of experience in psychology and research, founded HmntyCntrd in 2020. Several media outlets have featured her work and opinions, including Slate, Fortune, Huffington Post, Fast Company, and ELLE Magazine.Throughout her career, she has influenced executives, taught others about trauma-informed care, and empowered others to challenge the status quo in Fortune 500 companies. As a human services professional with a multicultural upbringing and with a love of cognitive behavioral psychology, she brings a unique perspective to her work as an entrepreneur, organizational designer, and innovator.Connect with Vivianne Castillo:Website: https://hmntycntrd.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vccastillo/Timestamps(01:44) - Icebreaker: How Vivianne's desire to break free of her unhealthy, toxic, codependent relationship with corporate America led her to help other professionals fight back against capitalism(04:59) - Icebreaker: How to learn and explore new things through reading, playing with babies, traveling, and riding a bike(06:14) - Icebreaker: Sitcom over reality TV, which show she’d like to be on, and why(07:48) - How she bridged her love of people with business and helping others (10:20) - Her realization of how broken the industry is after attending the O'Reilly Design Conference and the one speaker that gave her hope(16:38) - Creating her own voice, brand, and thought work instead of over-indexing on her relationship with any of her employers(19:21) - How losing herself felt like versus how healing from workplace trauma and hardship looked like(23:04) - HmntyCntrd’s beliefs and three areas of content(25:29) - The huge differences between burnout and trauma(28:53) - What the great resignation is really telling us and how to prepare for the new generation of workforce in the next 10 years(30:14) - The future of work: Trauma-informed and healthy workplace relationships (31:13) - What's on the horizon for HmntyCntrd(33:10) - 4 tips on how to build dreams, fulfill desires, and develop interestsResource:Learn more about the resources, podcasts, and community.https://www.technicallyspeakinghw.comSupport the Technically Speaking podcast by becoming a patron.Get early access to episodes and free swags by becoming a supporter.https://www.patreon.com/technicallyspeakinghw?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creatorGet my free...

David Silva is a web developer and founder of Techqueria, the largest community of Latinx professionals in the tech industry, with over 18,000 members. In this episode, we explore his tech path, from learning to code as a young child in Colombia to studying religion in Israel, working in startups in San Francisco, and finally settling in New York. We also talk about how difficult it can be to start a business as a minority and how important it is to find and create a community.Jump straight into:(01:27) - Icebreaker questions: David’s philosophy and mindset, his latest obsession, and the two words that describe him the most. (10:46) - Introducing David Silva: a man who is always around education and goes wherever his curiosity leads him. (14:45) - David’s journey to engineering. (17:14) - The biggest challenges of owning a consulting firm and working as a freelancer. (23:21) - The motivation behind TETA: a safe community for Latinos who work in tech. (30:17 ) - The importance of finding a community to encourage and empower one another.  Episode Resources:Connect with David through Instagram and Twitter.   Techqueria | Homepage

Temi Adeniyi is a design leader and product designer who’s making wonderful things for the internet. In this episode, she takes us through her journey into the design industry, from London to Berlin, always following her curiosity. We also dive further into her four principles, which are: collaboration in all directions openness, giving trust, and fairness. Join us to know more about leadership in the field of design!Jump straight into:(00:54) - Introducing Temi Adeniyi: a former product and current design leader who happens to be a candy lover.  (04:09) - The design scene of the creative and innovative city of Berlin.(06:16) - Icebreaker questions: her latest obsession, what she thinks people should know more about, and why people describe her as funny and thoughtful. (14:09) - Beginnigs, motivations, and next challenges in Temi’s design journey.  (19:00) - Temi’s four principles of lead can be applied to any industry. (25:28) - More information about Temi's article: Do designers who claim to have the impostor syndrome actually have it? How to get out of that?.  Episode Resources:Connect with Temi through Twitter. Temi Adeniyi | Website.What we misunderstand about imposter syndrome as design leaders | Article.

Kevin Bethune is an author, designer, and entrepreneur. He is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Dreams Design + Life, an agency that offers design and innovation services with a human-centered approach. In this episode, we explore his remarkable background, which ranges from engineering to finance to design, while maintaining a creatively curious eye. We also discuss the future of design in an increasingly interconnected world. Listen and learn how to help the world by delivering important innovations that will benefit everyone.Jump straight into: (00:57) - Introducing Kevin Bethune: his dream and vision of shaping the future that led to the creation of the agency DreamsDesign + Life.(4:21) - Getting to know the creatively curious person Kevin: his love of music, where he finds inspiration, and his creative heroes. (8:44) - Kevin's soul-searching journey: from engineering to finance to startups and, eventually, to running his own agency and publishing a book. (16:33) - DreamsDesign + Life: the motivation to start an agency where multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation coexist. (20:27) - More on Kevin's book, "Reimagining Design, Unlocking Strategic Innovation": the connection of design and business, and the value of multidisciplinary collaboration.(24:02) - What's next for design? More representation and diversity is needed in the field to break through and have a better future.Episode Resources:Connect with Kevin Bethune through LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter. Dreams Design + Life |  Homepage Reimagining Design: Unlocking Strategic Innovation | Book Chasing Trane | Documentary

Technically Speaking is a podcast by Harrison Wheeler about BIPOC designers, entrepreneurs & technologists sharing their unique stories of triumph and resilience.Episode descriptionMonique Wray is a San Francisco-based animator, illustrator, director, and the founder of Made by Small Studio. In this episode of Technically Speaking, we discuss Monique's path as a black artist and the challenges that come with it, as well as her art style, which is heavily influenced by her Jamaican roots. Join us to discover more about her introspective and creative journey, which resulted in some great projects with a wide variety of clients and content.Jump straight into:(01:36) - Getting to know Monique Wray: the cartoons and books that inspired her to start a career as an artist, as well as her current studio elements, and the digital art technology that she uses in her work. (9:45) - Monique Wray’s career journey: the challenges she faced as a part of a minority, and the start of her creative business. (17:32) - Monique’s art style: a glimpse of her Jamaican heritage.(19:40) - The people and events that encourage her to embrace her work's art and style while always having fun in the process.(22:08) - Monique's favorite part of her job: the ability to work with a wide variety of clients and content.(27:41) - Having a goal, while remaining flexible, and being open to discovering and trying new things are the elements that will lead to success.  Episode Resources:Connect with Monique through InstagramMade by Small Studio Homepage  | Instagram

Eva PenzeyMoog is the author of "Design for Safety," the founder of The Inclusive Safety Project, and the principal designer at 8th Light. She is a strong supporter of protecting the weakest, particularly when it comes to interpersonal violence. In this episode, we addressed design ethics, how technology may harm other people, and the most frequent and alarming violations. Join along and learn more about how the Process for Inclusive Safety may be able to resolve the problem.Jump straight into:(01:43)  - Introducing Eva Penzey Moog: Her journey to protecting the most vulnerable and how technology contributes to domestic violence.  (06:36) - The possible technological angle for policy is to begin connecting vulnerable groups with technology.(10:02) - Eva's book 'Designed for Safety' explores the uncomfortable topic of people in technology causing harm and how to address this issue through a safety process.(16:40) - The most efficient and quick method of implementing the process for inclusive safety.(19:24) - The three most common and very concerning tech violation issues.(23:07) - New technologies like Metaverse, NFTs, and cryptocurrency have the potential to reproduce injustices in a system without regulations.(26:24) - More about Eva’s Inclusive Safety Project: a space to educate about preventing tech from facilitating domestic violence and other interpersonal harm. Episode Resources:Connect with Eva through Twitter and LinkedIn. Eve PenzeyMood |  Homepage.The Inclusive Safety Project |  Homepage. Book Design for Safety

Episode descriptionIn this episode of Technically Speaking, the Experience Designer at NWEA (and my Clubhouse friend) Chris Thoms joins the show to unravel the events that led him into the creative business after dedicating his life to soccer coaching. We touch upon the value of transferable skills and creating safe spaces to reframe the conversations inside a work environment. Plus, he shares how he got in touch with the children and communities that he is designing for and how that is part of his purpose.Jump straight into:(01:18) - From soccer fields to experience design: Discussing biased preferences and systemic racism within sports coaching, design industry and entrepreneurship.(11:23) - The offseason: Get to know more about Chris’ life and the events that led him to the creative business.(21:01) -  Switching industries: Why it’s important that all companies recognize transferable skills?(25:48) - The landmark work: How does Chris approach design and the creation of equitable outcomes?(32:32) - Safe spaces in business: How does Chris enable safe spaces for opinion and power inside his work environment?(36:42) - Aggressive collaboration and teamwork: On locker room communication, reframing conversations and individual success. Episode Resources:Connect with Chris through LinkedIn, Instagram and TwitterMismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design by Kat HolmesNWEA

Timothy Bardlavens is a Product Design leader that works to combat misinformation and harmful content inside Meta apps. In this episode, Timothy has some interesting advice and views around chaotic-good leadership, transparency and accountability. Join us while we discover more about how integrity manifests itself organizationally and within a product inside Meta!Jump straight into:(01:13) - Introducing Timothy Bardlaves: Learn how this chaotic good soul is battling misinformation and harmful content on Meta platforms.(10:40) - A celebration of Black art: How is Timothy approaching his new house renovation?(14:39) - Where are Timothy’s aspirations focused on? What attracts him to leadership roles?(20:06) - The multiplier effect: What are other ways to evaluate good leadership impact that aren’t necessarily based on deliverables?(24:07) - The balance between being a counselor and a coach: What’s Timothy’s best advice for aspiring managers?(26:05) - Transparency and openness: How does integrity manifest itself organizationally and within a product inside Meta?(30:39) -  Safe for the individuals (and the leaders): How does Timothy envision building equitable organizations in 2022? How does that show up in Meta?(37:30) - Building an All-Black team: How was it for Timothy to demonstrate to the world the power of a work team formed exclusively by black people?(41:18) - Timothy's advice for people looking to find their voice (and why he finds his job so energizing).Episode Resources:Connect with Timothy through LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter