Gemma Aguiar, CEO of Design Like Whoa, shifts from doing everything to empowering her team in a sustainable business landscape. She shares insights on the pitfalls of being a capable doer and emphasizes the importance of effective delegation. Calendar blocking and time management emerge as crucial tools for leaders. Gemma discusses the necessity of asking for help, revealing how this critical skill opens doors and fosters community. Her journey from corporate to sustainable entrepreneurship inspires leaders to adapt and grow alongside their organizations.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Initial Spark
Gemma Aguiar asked her boss for a raise or title change, but was told she wasn't eligible yet.
This prompted her to reflect on her career path and start a side business.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Hobby to Hustle
Feeling unfulfilled in her media buying job, Gemma started designing t-shirts as a hobby.
Her early designs satirized Los Angeles culture and were popular among her friends.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Scaling Up
Gemma's t-shirt hobby grew, requiring a $20,000 digital printer.
She moved back home, asking her mother to co-sign the lease, and ran the business from a spare bedroom.
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Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever
Michael Bungay Stanier
In 'The Coaching Habit,' Michael Bungay Stanier provides a straightforward and effective approach to coaching. Drawing on his extensive experience training managers worldwide, he introduces seven essential coaching questions designed to help managers unlock their team's potential. These questions include the Kickstart Question, the AWE Question, the Lazy Question, the Strategic Question, the Focus Question, the Foundation Question, and the Learning Question. The book emphasizes the importance of saying less and asking more, fostering a collaborative and empowering work environment. It combines practical advice with research in neuroscience and behavioral economics, making coaching a daily, informal part of managerial work rather than a formal event.
Gemma Aguiar: Design Like Whoa
Gemma Aguiar is the CEO of Design Like Whoa. Her firm helps brands like Sephora, Meta, the Golden State Warriors, and Spotify amplify their brand and strengthen their culture through sustainably focused apparel, accessories, and gifts. Her team serves clients by curating meaningful, high-quality products through partnership with local, minority-owned, sustainable, and mission-driven businesses. She's also an alum of the Coaching for Leaders Academy.
In this episode, Gemma and I discuss the transition she made of doing it all herself early on in the business to now empowering a large team. We detail how she made this change tactically through calendar blocking, regular delegation, and intentional outcomes. Plus, we explore how asking for help is a critical muscle for all leaders to develop.
Key Points
Gemma didn’t see the growth potential in her traditional role, so she started her own, sustainable business.
Being able to do lots of things well can be a trap for leaders. Shifting to delegate effectively is key.
Getting clear on how time is used through planning and calendar blocking is essential.
The responsibility of leadership changes over time. It’s key to be able to learn and adapt as the organization demands a different skillset.
Asking for help is a critical competency for leaders. Getting better at this opens tons of doors.
Resources Mentioned
Design Like Whoa
hello@designlikewhoa.com
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Align Your Calendar to What Matters, with Nir Eyal (episode 431)
How to Define a Role, with Pat Griffin (episode 517)
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