UI Breakfast: UI/UX Design and Product Strategy
Episode 287: Career Growth for Individual Contributors with Cliff Seal
Oct 4, 2024
Cliff Seal, a UX architect at Salesforce with a diverse journey from classical music to tech, shares his insights on career growth within design at large organizations. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship and strategic thinking, revealing how to navigate complexities in decision-making and relationship-building. Cliff discusses the dual nature of clear competencies versus opaque promotions and offers personal strategies for advancement. His reflections on the transition from early roles to enterprise-level design highlight the unique challenges and rewards of his path.
46:04
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Quick takeaways
- Career growth in design is uniquely challenging due to the lack of standardized paths and the scarcity of senior roles in the field.
- Successful navigation of workplace dynamics requires strategic interpersonal skills and effective communication to anticipate reactions and gain buy-in.
Deep dives
The Journey from Music to UX Design
The guest speaker shares his unexpected journey from a classical music background to becoming a UX architect at Salesforce. Initially focused on pursuing a music career, financial constraints prompted a shift towards learning coding. As he developed skills in both coding and design, he found fulfillment in the flexibility and creativity of freelance work. This ultimately led him to a full-time role at a nonprofit, marking the beginning of a productive career in design within the tech industry.
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