A founder recently told me their "dream hire" for a Head of Design had slipped away. They had found the perfect candidate. Seasoned. Visionary. A leader who could transform their product and brand. They threw in a great salary, equity, and all the right perks. The candidate nodded, asked thoughtful questions, seemed engaged. And then? They disappeared. Not a rejection. Just silence. It wasn’t an isolated incident. I’ve heard this from multiple founders, and from design leaders on the other side who say they’re tired—tired of fighting for …
The Great Illusion of “Rational” Decisions
Most people like to think their decisions are driven by logic and reason. We convince ourselves that we carefully consider all options, weigh the pros and cons, and make choices based on facts. In reality? Most of those decisions—especially the important ones—are led by something much less objective: our opinions. These aren't the well-thought-out opinions that come from experience or reflection. They’re the gut-level opinions, shaped by past experiences, biases, emotions, and, sometimes, our egos. These opinions look a lot like rational …
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How I Lost a Great Designer Over $2,000
I still remember the email. Short. To the point. "Hey, I really wanted to work with you, but I’ve decided to take another offer. They matched my expectation." Just like that, a designer I’d been wooing for weeks slipped away. Over $2,000. The Setup It was a perfect match. The designer was exactly what my client needed—sharp thinker, strong portfolio, great cultural fit. The company was equally great—a fantastic team, a product that excited the designer, and solid long-term career growth. The offer was fair. Good, even. But the …
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From Sketches to Strategies: My Path to Helping Leaders Secure Top Design Talent
I still remember the day I traded my design toolkit for a seat at the hiring table. I’d been working in product design for years, immersed in creating user flows and crafting pixel-perfect interfaces. But every time I heard a frustrated executive ask, “Where can I find a true design leader?” I realized there was a bigger challenge lurking beneath the prototypes and user stories. Over time, I transformed my role from a designer into someone dedicated to finding and placing exceptional design leaders. I’ve had a front-row seat to executives …
Closing the Pay Gap: Empowering Designers with Effective Salary Negotiation Strategies
As a designer turned design recruiter, I’ve had the privilege of building design leadership teams for various organizations. This journey has revealed not just the beauty of creative minds but also the stark realities of pay disparities. This story is about understanding these disparities and empowering designers to negotiate better salaries. The Journey Begins: Understanding the Pay Gap In my early days as a designer, I often heard whispers of pay differences but never quite understood their impact. It wasn’t until I transitioned into …