In this episode of Beyond the Interface, Laura Baker shares her journey from industrial design to becoming a leader in UX and service design. She discusses the challenges and rewards of accidental leadership, the importance of adaptive management styles, and the need for a thriving team environment. Laura emphasizes the significance of hiring practices in building a strong culture and the necessity of creating a shared vision within design teams. The conversation also touches on the future of design operations, the value of collaboration, and strategies for securing budget and resources for design initiatives.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurahbaker

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background of Laura Baker

02:50 Accidental Leadership Journey

05:58 Transitioning from IC to Leadership

08:49 Finding Balance in Management Styles

11:50 Learning from Leadership Experiences

14:40 Adapting Leadership as You Grow

17:54 Creating a Thriving Team Environment

20:54 The Importance of Hiring for Culture

23:52 Visioning and Moving Beyond Feature Factories

26:28 Crafting a Collaborative Vision

29:49 Empowering Team Members to Contribute

32:40 Strategic Thinking in Design Leadership

41:51 The Role of Strategic Thinking in Design

43:57 Defining Success in Design Projects

46:26 Managing Design Operations Effectively

49:33 Visioning and Leadership in Design

51:18 The Future of Design Operations

54:14 Investing in Design: Expected Outcomes

57:15 Building Advocacy for Design

01:01:04 Navigating the Future of Design in 2025