Curating Teams That Scale, Not Just Ship
In design, leadership isn't about being the loudest voice in the room—it's about creating space for others to thrive. Think of it like curating a playlist: each team member is a unique track, and together, they create a seamless experience. My job? Make sure everyone hits their high notes while keeping the rhythm aligned to our larger vision.
At Open Financial Technologies, I’ve had the privilege of building design teams that don’t just solve problems—they anticipate them, shaping products that have onboarded millions of businesses and powered $35B+ in annual transactions. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way.
Empowerment at Scale
A strong leader empowers their team to move fast and own their craft. At Open, that means fostering a builder’s mindset. Whether you’re designing a new user journey or rethinking the backend architecture, you’re not waiting for permission—you’re driving the conversation.
But empowerment doesn’t mean “anything goes.” True autonomy thrives with guardrails. My role as a leader is to provide clarity: What’s the vision? What are the non-negotiables? What outcomes are we chasing? With that foundation in place, teams have the freedom to experiment and iterate.
Designing Culture, Not Just Products
Great products are a reflection of great teams, and great teams are built on culture. At Open, we’ve cultivated a design culture that’s collaborative, feedback-driven, and relentlessly curious.
Here’s how we do it:
- Radical Transparency: Everyone knows the why behind every decision. From weekly stand-ups to design reviews, we share openly.
- Continuous Feedback: We run open critiques where every voice is heard. Feedback is a gift, not a judgment.
- Aligned Autonomy: Teams make decisions independently but stay synced with company-wide goals. This balance ensures we’re moving fast without losing focus.
Leadership as a Two-Way Street
Leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all role. At Open, we’ve embraced a Y-shaped career path where designers can choose to grow as individual contributors or leaders. Both tracks are equally valued, and I’ve seen firsthand the impact of letting people lean into their strengths.
For those stepping into leadership, I always ask:
- Are you ready to shift your focus from pixels to people?
- Can you thrive in the background, giving credit to the team?
- Do you have the patience to mentor and grow others?
Process: The Invisible Backbone
In fast-growing teams, chaos can creep in. That’s where Design Ops comes into play. We’ve streamlined our processes—be it product briefs, sprints, or retros—so designers can focus on what they do best: solving problems creatively. Good processes don’t stifle creativity, they supercharge it.
Leadership Is About the Team
At the end of the day, leadership isn’t about your individual output, it’s about the team’s collective impact. When your team feels empowered, inspired, and aligned, that’s when the magic happens. And the best part? Watching them grow, innovate, and create solutions that change the game.
That’s leadership. And that’s how we build at Open.