Why did you decide to become a mentor?
I think I always had this in me. I like helping people and seeing them succeed. I went through a lot of struggles to be where I am and I wouldn't like others to get there the hard way. Today there are amazing resources online that can help you accelerate in your career. And mentorship is one of them. I like getting to know a person, find their strengths and tailor the advice based on their goals, background and what's best about them. I think there is a lot of unfairness in the world and I am here to battle it. By knowing how to present yourself you are going to succeed. I want to guide you in this.
How did you get your career start?
I started my career by helping a friend. I didn't know back then I will go into the UX/UI field. I recognized that there is a lot of demand for my services. I registered my company and I started to freelance while I was doing my bachelor and master.I got clients from USA and India. Mainly because I showcased my work on Behance and Dribbble. I was really obsessed about posting marvelous designs. I wanted my work to be as excellent as others. I was comparing myself a lot to others. I am not going to hide it.
After couple of years of freelancing, once I finished my studies I got a chance to come to USA. I thought to myself - this is an excellent opportunity to be exposed to the tech world as I will be in Silicon Valley. I signed up for a course to get some formal education in UX/UI design. That allowed me to get OPT- Optional Practical Training. I got hired by BCG Digital Ventures and the rest is history.
What do mentees usually come to you for?
They usually come to me either with very specific questions or they need advice how to land their first job. As I went through all of it I am ready to help them. I have been a consultant and in house designer. I have seen both of these worlds.
When they come to me with very specific questions, the session will be educational. We will talk about design systems, working with design libraries, talk about typography etc.
If they come with career advice, I will try to get to know them first. What school did you do, what work did you produce, what steps you already took to get where you want. I will discuss with you what I would do as if I were you. I will outline a plan of action and help you by utilizing my network. I will look at your resume and your portfolio and give you advices. I will say where to look for opportunities and how you get prepared to get that first job landed.
What's been your favourite mentorship success story so far?
Few years ago a friend asked me if I could advise his sister as she wants to transition from an Architect role to UX/UI Designer role. I prepared a framework for this girl and plan of action so that she can get ready to land the first internship. I consulted her and she diligently followed the advices and landed her dream internship. I couldn't be more proud! Now she is excelling in her senior product designer role. Here is her portfolio for your reference - https://manicpicsy.webflow.io I wasn't considering mentoring as my full time role but now I see that I have always wanted to help designers and always had a plan in my head how to do it.
What are you getting out of being a mentor?
Mentoring is giving me a lot of benefits as a designer, leader and a person. It makes me feel satisfied that I can help others by sharing my experience. I am also gaining leadership skills that will be greatly needed as I become staff/lead product designer. It makes me more structured as a designer, I can think of my role and career in the same lens as I do about designers that I mentor. I love frameworks and want others to utilize them. Having a plan is the first step towards success.