Cultivating Design Leadership
A case study on mentoring product designers from Associate to Senior level through strategic guidance and intentional growth
Transformational Journey
Found rhythm by setting action items and timelines, ensuring focus on work and purpose leading to senior designer track.
In the first few months as his manager, he had many goals and ambitions but lacked clear direction due to poor past management. It took some time to see how he learns and works toward his personal goals. Eventually, we found a rhythm, setting action items for each meeting and timelines for longer tasks, ensuring he stayed focused on his work and its purpose. In just six months, we had completed a few goals, including getting on a track to senior designer.
His accolades are largely a byproduct of increased visibility, but they are not the sole or exclusive growth paths I intentionally championed for him and across my entire team.
Strategic approaches that built skills and relationships
Growth Strategy
Context coaching
Context coaching is a powerful approach that helps individuals understand the environments and situations influencing their behaviors and decisions by examining broader circumstances rather than isolated problems, allowing coaches to guide clients toward tailored strategies through collaborative recognition of patterns, external influences, and systemic factors for more sustainable personal and professional changes.
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His Multiline (net-new) work drove:
which included a mix of BYOD and device purchases had a 20.3% conversion rate for 2 line orders, a 28% boost in P360 attach rate and assisted channels support with 75% of ML orders.
Jatin’s growth over the last year is a clear example of how intentional coaching and structure can unlock leadership.
His work on Multiline wasn’t just successful on paper—it delivered real business value.
But what made it possible was the foundation we built.... regular 1:1s with actionable goals, accountability around priorities, and deep investment in storytelling skills.
My role here was, and is still today, to create a safe space for clarity, momentum, and visibility.
Weekly 1:1s
Team syncs are essential touch-points that bring together members from various departments to align on objectives, share updates, and ensure everyone is moving in the same direction. These regular gatherings serve as the backbone of effective team communication, helping to break down silos and foster a more collaborative working environment while providing valuable opportunities for relationship building. By documenting key decisions and assigning clear ownership of next steps, teams can maintain accountability and transform discussions into tangible outcomes that move projects forward.
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Jatin has built strong relationships with product and engineering, emerging as a reliable, cross-functional voice in eCommerce initiatives.
This growth was fostered through:
• Twice-weekly team syncs that I host to encourage open conversation and knowledge sharing
• Helping him prioritize his day to build relationships with his partners to build trust
• I continuously nurture through design rituals and inclusive dialogue
Jatin used that space to build real trust across engineering and product, becoming a go-to partner in our eComm ecosystem.
Relationship Building
Building meaningful relationships forms the cornerstone of both personal fulfillment and professional success. These connections require genuine investment of time, active listening, and consistent demonstration of reliability. Trust develops gradually through authentic interactions where values align and mutual respect is established. Effective relationship building also involves recognizing and appreciating the unique perspectives and contributions of others. The strongest relationships ultimately withstand challenges and evolve through shared experiences and open communication.
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Peer Recognition
Jatin’s work is visible—and it’s valued. This year, he’s earned two Digital team awards, has his name on a patent, and regularly receives kudos from both peers and partners, as well as, being promoted into a Sr. Product Designer.
I work hard to make sure the team’s impact gets seen, and Jatin is someone who lifts others while excelling himself. He models the kind of leadership we want at every level.
Influencing with words
Effective storytelling captures audiences through compelling narratives that resonate on an emotional level. Great stories connect with viewers by creating relatable characters and situations that draw people in from the very first moment. The power of storytelling lies in its ability to communicate complex ideas in accessible, memorable ways that traditional messaging cannot achieve. Stories have the unique capacity to transport audiences to different worlds while simultaneously reflecting universal human truths. A well-crafted narrative doesn't just entertain—it transforms perspectives and drives meaningful action.
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Jatin came to me initially back in the day with ambition to be able to tell a story and influence those who choose to listen. Today, he has become a trusted voice when it comes to aligning stakeholders through narrative. His data-backed presentations now drive strategic conversations and are consistently praised by senior leadership.
Early on, we talked about the importance of context and intention—leading stakeholders with a story, not just a solution. While guiding him to take up the T-Mobile Storytelling Program and NNG influence course, which both gave him the tools to lean into those skillsets.
His storytelling now moves strategy forward and earns praise from senior leaders.
Seek Growth
Professional development represents a continuous journey of growth and skill enhancement throughout one's career, encompassing formal education, specialized training, and self-directed learning opportunities that contribute to improved job performance, requiring both personal commitment and organizational support while engaging with mentors, industry conferences, and professional networks to maintain career sustainability in evolving workplace demands.
Months of structured growth with consistent tracking
Leadership Development
Recognition earned
Jatin is consistently celebrated by his peers and cross-functional collaborators guided by my leadership:
Two Digital Team Awards (Innovation & Inclusivity)
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Named on a patent for accessible source code and virtual assistant invocation
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Regular recognition in our Appreciation Zone and a PEAK Award nomination