Working with Nina

my design leadership goals

Work: how to get it when you haven’t done it

The beginning of a design career is so hard. You have good taste, huge potential, and you’re even scoring a few exciting interviews where you’re an obvious culture fit. But they say you’re too junior, need more experience, and should get back in touch…

5 ways design managers can nurture growth outside the levels

The very first one-on-one

Setting up your new design hire for success

New jobs are exciting, hopeful, and a little nerve-wracking. Set a positive and safe tone in the very first one-on-one with your new designer. You are the guide through their first time…

How to Start Writing

Ditch your laundry list of topics you want to write about. Ignore all the outlines you started months, nay, years ago. They’ll be useful later. Maybe.

My biggest writing secret is getting down what I have on my mind the moment the idea strikes. Usually it’s in the…

Managing growth: run a lightning round of feedback

Short iteration loops are just as essential for your designers as it is for the products they design. Frequent, kind, and actionable insights can accelerate your designer’s growth and strengthen your relationship together. With this method…

Advocating for your designers to the business

A design leader lives in two worlds: product design and the business. It’s your job to mediate when the needs of designers and the needs of the business compete.

Designer Career Mapping

What do you want to do in 5 years? What about 15 years? This question is hard because technology, industries, and…

The Easiest Book Club

I love work book clubs! They help me stay motivated, show me new perspectives, and create a shared point of view to reference in my working relationships. Here’s my favorite book club format. It’s super easy. You just read and show up.

New Manager Career Deep Dive

Discussion and activity guides to help managers onboarding and inheriting new direct reports. Try these…