iron fist when necessary

This was my first time leading a cross functional team of eight designers and software engineers. Initially, I took a friendly and accommodating approach, aiming to ensure team members' satisfaction. However, in hindsight, a more assertive leadership style might have been beneficial, as it led to few team members not taking their roles seriously.

Additionally, due to my natural inclination to accommodate, I readily assumed the lead in UX research when requested by my teammates. While I trusted their ability to handle their design responsibilities, unforeseen challenges required me to shoulder more of the workload. It's worth noting that the situation might have unfolded differently had there been some form of compensation involved.

Nevertheless, I’m happy with my transparent communication and leadership in driving the development (& pivoting) the MVP.

AGILE. jira. the whole shabang.

Learning Agile was an incredible experience. I now feel exceptionally well-prepared for my upcoming role as a UX designer, knowing that I am proficient in both Agile and Waterfall methodologies. My prior knowledge of using Slack was undoubtedly advantageous, but gaining hands-on experience in managing a complete Jira account, collaborating closely with software engineers, and grasping their terminology and requirements was truly invaluable. Additionally, my time as a project manager taught me the importance of crafting clear and concise messages on Slack, summarizing meetings effectively, and maintaining high productivity during our frequent three to five weekly meetings and standups. These skills have also enabled me to efficiently manage my team’s work.