Lexie Barnhorn, former Head of Social and Influencer Marketing at Notion, shares her journey from Ohio to Silicon Valley. She reveals how she launched viral campaigns like "Notion Faces" and infused pop culture into B2B marketing. Lexie discusses practical influencer marketing tips for startups and addresses the importance of mental health in high-stress roles, including her innovative use of AI for emotional support. She also explores future trends in the creator economy, emphasizing the need for authenticity in influencer collaborations.

In this episode, Kate Syuma dives into a conversation with Mallory Contois, Head of Community & Mercury Raise at Mercury, and founder of The Old Girls Club, to explore her journey from Pinterest to building a thriving community. Mallory shares how overcoming cancer shaped her perspective, how her psychology background influences product and community growth, and why empathy is the key to creating meaningful connections in tech.Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.—This episode is brought to you by Amplitude — сheck new Guides and Surveys to deliver helpful, well-timed messages: https://amplitude.com/guides-and-surveys—One more special update for you 🎓 Level up your growth with a 3-week cohort-based course with proven strategies, behavioral science insights, and real-world examples. Use promo code "growthmates" for $100 off and create a growth roadmap with feedback from Kate: https://maven.com/growthmates/user-centric-product-led-growth?promoCode=growthmates—Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth Advisor, ex-Miro. This season, “In the Company of Women,” is about celebrating women who successfully balance work, family, and creative passions while building meaningful careers.Growthmates is where top product and growth leaders share real strategies and insights to help you turn ideas into successful products. Learn from experts at Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and more in deep dive interviews with Kate Syuma, ex-Miro Head of Growth Design and founder of Growthmates.Mallory took an unconventional path, transitioning from a career in tech to founding Old Girls Club — a community-driven space for women in the industry. Her journey was shaped by resilience, from overcoming cancer to navigating diverse roles at major companies like Pinterest. Instead of following traditional playbooks, she built a movement centered on authenticity, connection, and the power of psychology in product and community growth.She also shares insights on fostering engaged communities, redefining success beyond corporate ladders, and using empathy as a tool for innovation.Tune in to hear Mallory’s perspective on building with purpose, leading with heart, and creating impact through community.🔗 Find more insights on growthmates.club and follow on your favorite platforms for more episodes.—Key highlights from this episode 👇* Turning trauma into a movement: "If you died tomorrow, what would people say?" Mallory revealed how surviving cancer at 25 shaped her legacy-first approach to work: rejecting stability, embracing fast failures, and prioritizing urgent impact over traditional career paths.* The "funeral test" framework: Mallory shared how a moment of career panic— feeling overwhelmed after raising $25M — led her to a raw LinkedIn post. This vulnerability sparked an organic movement, growing into the 2,100-strong Old Girls Club for women in male-dominated industries.* Why communities fail when brands act like corporations: Mallory challenges brands to treat digital interactions like real-life conversations: "Would you say this to someone at a coffee shop?" Her rule? Avoid “salesy” tactics — build trust through human-centric design, not referral bribes or forced funnels.* Redefining "job hopping" as intentional sprints: From Pinterest’s early days to gaming startups, Mallory reframes rapid career shifts as strategic impact sprints. Her focus? Loyalty to people and missions, not logos—a blueprint for thriving in today’s fluid tech landscape.* Launching terrified? Do this first: Mallory’s counterintuitive tactic for validating communities: Charge $10/month immediately. This filters casual joiners, surfaces true believers, and lets the community co-build its value — even before you feel ready to lead it.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syumaWhere to find Kate Syuma:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: https://www.growthmates.news/Where to find Mallory Contois:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorycontois/* Personal page: https://www.mallorycontois.com/* X (Twitter): https://x.com/mallorycontois—What we covered:(00:00) Introduction (08:15) From Psychology to Tech (16:40) Pinterest Years (25:30) The Cancer Journey (34:15) Birth of Old Girls Club (43:20) Building Community (52:10) Psychology in Product Design—📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:* The Old Girls Club: https://www.jointheogc.com/* Mallory’s course “Community-led Growth”: https://bit.ly/4gZUjwy* Kate’s course: “User-centric Product-led Growth” with 100$ discount: https://maven.com/growthmates/user-centric-product-led-growth?promoCode=growthmates* “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights.If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you 💜For sponsorship and other inquiries, reach out to hello@growthmates.clubLet’s keep growing together!Growthmates with Kate Syuma is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

In this episode, Kate Syuma dives into a conversation with Marie Martens, co-founder of Tally, to explore the journey of building a profitable business around a product that is 99% free.Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.—This episode is brought to you by Amplitude — сheck new Guides and Surveys to deliver helpful, well-timed messages: https://amplitude.com/guides-and-surveys—One more special update for you 🎓 Level up your growth with a 3-week cohort-based course with proven strategies, behavioral science insights, and real-world examples. Use promo code "growthmates" for $100 off and create a growth roadmap with feedback from Kate: https://maven.com/growthmates/user-centric-product-led-growth?promoCode=growthmates—Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth Advisor, ex-Miro. This season, “In the Company of Women,” is about celebrating women who successfully balance work, family, and creative passions while building meaningful careers.Growthmates is where top product and growth leaders share real strategies and insights to help you turn ideas into successful products. Learn from experts at Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and more in deep dive interviews with Kate Syuma, ex-Miro Head of Growth Design and founder of Growthmates.Marie and her co-founder Fillip — who is also her life partner — took the road less traveled, bootstrapping Tally after their first startup idea collapsed during Covid. Instead of chasing VC funding, they built a thriving product with no ads, no sales team, and no outside investment. She also dives into budget-friendly marketing tactics, lessons from scaling a startup without external investment, and the mindset shifts needed to make bootstrapping work.Tune in to hear Marie’s firsthand experience on building a sustainable business by focusing on users, not investors.🔗 Find more insights on growthmates.club and follow on your favorite platforms for more episodes.—In September, I focused on a few key conferences, prioritizing quality over quantity. While one event had 700 attendees, the smaller one with 150 offered a much higher ROI. The best part was meeting like-minded founders, Marie and Filip from Tally.so, whose journey from a failed idea to a bootstrapped success was truly inspiring.Their community-driven approach resonated with me and made the entire experience worthwhile. One of those connections made the entire emotional investment of speaking at that event worth it. So, I invited Marie to my podcast, and here we are.—Key highlights from this episode 👇* From a travel marketplace to a bootstrapped success: Marie started with a travel marketplace before pivoting to Tally. She shares how COVID reshaped their vision and led to a form builder loved by thousands.* Bootstrapping a $2M ARR business with no external funding: Marie and her co-founder bootstrapped their way to $2M ARR, relying on product simplicity, word-of-mouth, and community-driven growth.* Balancing parenting, life partnership, and building a startup: Marie shares how she balances entrepreneurship, parenting, and working with her life partner — plus the key habits that keep it all together.* Growing without ads: Instead of paid marketing, Tally scaled through influencer partnerships and organic community growth. Marie reflects on their Product Hunt launch and what she’d do differently today.* What makes Tally a "lovable" product? Simplicity, intuitive UX inspired by Notion, and transparent pricing (just one tier!)—Marie explains the key design and business decisions that made Tally stand out in a crowded market.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syumaWhere to find Kate Syuma:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: https://www.growthmates.news/Where to find Marie Martens:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariemartens/* X (Twitter): https://x.com/MarieMartens* Tally.so: https://tally.so/—What we covered:(00:00) Introduction & Meet Marie Martens (07:00) Starting Business in 2020 (15:29) Building Boundaries (20:46) Sacrifices To Be Made (30:53) Launching on Product Hunt (48:00) Zooming Out Is Important (53:00) Why Bootstrapped?—📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:* Marie Martens shares How We Bootstrapped to $50k MRR with Team of 2 at SaaSOpen 2023 in NYC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70uUNfpnWuI&ab_channel=NathanLatka * Marie Martens Tally's Product Hunt Launch: Our Checklist for Success: https://blog.tally.so/product-hunt-launch/ * Bootstrapping to $150K MRR by doing less, better: https://blog.tally.so/bootstrapping-to-150k-mrr-by-doing-less-better/ * Tally’s Bootstrapped Journey to 500,000 Users and $160K MRR: https://knowledge.gtmstrategist.com/p/tallys-bootstrapped-journey-to-500000-users —Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights.If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you 💜For sponsorship and other inquiries, reach out to hello@growthmates.clubLet’s keep growing together! Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

Elena Verna, a seasoned growth leader with a rich background at companies like SurveyMonkey and Dropbox, shares her insights on navigating career transitions and the journey from corporate life to solopreneurship. She emphasizes the importance of identifying one's 'superpower zone' and setting boundaries for sustainable success. The conversation dives into strategies for businesses transitioning from product-led growth to sales, alongside personal anecdotes about prioritizing tasks and finding joy in work, even amidst challenges.

Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth advisor, previously Head of Growth Design at Miro. I’m building Growthmates as a place to connect with inspiring leaders to help you grow yourself and your product. Here you can learn how companies like Dropbox, Adobe, Canva, Loom, and many more are building excellent products and growth culture. Get all episodes and a free playbook for Growth teams on our brand-new website — growthmates.club, and press follow to support us on your favorite platforms.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).In this episode: We’re wrapping up this incredible season with a special twist! For the first time, host Kate Syuma switches roles and becomes the guest. Kate is interviewed by her friend and former colleague, Lana Kul, in an honest and vulnerable conversation about her first year as a solopreneur.—Brought to you by Command.ai — a user-focused platform offering an alternative to traditional popups or chatbots. Their AI “Copilot” answers questions, performs actions, and simplifies complex tasks. Use “Nudges” to guide users with timely, relevant messages, all within a no-code platform. Perfect for Product, Support, and Marketing teams to positively influence user behavior while respecting their needs:—Key highlights from this episode 👇Reflections on a Transformational Year:* Recognizing the importance of building social capital and meaningful connections.* Taking time for reflection by blocking off two weeks to recharge and reassess priorities.* Acknowledging gratitude for support amidst challenges and moments of rejection.* ⭐️ “End of Year” Reflection framework: https://growthmates.notion.site/End-of-Year-Reflection-framework-15fadc80326980178cbff3754b6932b1?pvs=4This reflection framework includes five elements: Results, Gratefulness, Goodbyes (limiting beliefs), Dreams, and Priorities. Use it to structure your reflections and create a meaningful plan for the year ahead.—👉 Plan your 2025 with us — Join with 150$ discount before 31 Dec 🎁How do you decide where to grow? IC vs. Manager, in-house or solo? For 6+ years, we have supported career growth and hired 10+ people at Miro, helped with coaching and mentorship people from Loom, Intercom, Mentimeter, and more. Now, we want to share these practices with everyone who are on a cross-way in planning the next career step. For that, we created a special 1-week Design Career Accelerator (promo “endofyear”, valid by 31 December): https://maven.com/lena-kul-kate-syuma/product-design-career-accelerator?promoCode=endofyear —Embracing Creativity and Personal Growth:* Creativity stems from making space, allowing boredom, and trusting intuition.* Identifying limiting beliefs through self-reflection and aligning personal interests with professional goals.* Recognizing the importance of courage, consistency, and commitment in personal and professional endeavors.Navigating Professional Aspirations:* Combining growth advising and user experience to align with authentic goals.* Revisiting and redefining dreams regularly while accepting the evolution of aspirations.* Creating a structured approach to prioritize focus, recovery, and sustained creativity.Building Community and Expanding Horizons:* Building meaningful connections through community-driven initiatives.* Enhancing cultural understanding through conscious traveling experiences.* Leveraging platforms like podcasts to create unexpected opportunities and broader impact.Balancing Professional and Personal Priorities:* Prioritizing personal growth alongside professional aspirations for a well-rounded life.* Emphasizing recovery and self-care to sustain long-term productivity and creativity.—⭐️ Some exciting plans for Growthmates’ next season:“In the Company of Women,” premiering in January 2024. This season will spotlight amazing women leaders, like Elena Verna, Marie Martens, Jennifer Phan and explore their journeys in building groundbreaking products and organizations.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery):https://www.growthmates.news/p/what-4-years-of-advising-35-companies* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syuma* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates_/Where to find Kate Syuma, Growth Advisor (ex-Miro):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Growthmates website: https://growthmates.club/* Newsletter: https://www.growthmates.news/Where to find — Lena Kul:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-kul/—What we covered:[00:00] Introduction & Reflection on GrowthMates[03:02] One Year as a Solopreneur[06:12] Building Social Capital & Unlocking Creativity[09:49] Planning for the Future[13:11] Support Systems and Gratitude[15:06] Lessons Learned from Challenges[18:06] Embracing Courage and Consistency[21:14] Turning Negatives into Positives[34:04] Dreams and Aspirations: A Year in Reflection[38:55] The Impact of GrowthMates: Stories of Connection[45:04] Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Embracing Change[54:01] Prioritizing Personal and Professional Growth [01:03:38] Exciting Announcements and Future Directions—📕 Useful Resources:* ⭐️ “End of Year” Reflection framework: https://growthmates.notion.site/End-of-Year-Reflection-framework-15fadc80326980178cbff3754b6932b1?pvs=4This reflection framework includes five elements: Results, Gratefulness, Goodbyes (limiting beliefs), Dreams, and Priorities. Use it to structure your reflections and create a meaningful plan for the year ahead.* Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés – A powerful guide on reconnecting with intuition and creativity. https://www.amazon.com/Women-Who-Run-Wolves-Archetype/dp/0345409876 * In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney – A collection of stories from 100 inspiring creative women. https://www.amazon.com/Company-Women-Inspiration-Artists-Entrepreneurs/dp/1579655971* Slow Productivity by Cal Newport – Insights on balancing work and intentional living. https://www.amazon.com/Slow-Productivity-Accomplishment-Without-Burnout/dp/0593544854* The Art of Accomplishment Podcast – A favorite for personal development and building a supportive system. https://www.artofaccomplishment.com/podcast—💫 Before the new season — check our featured 2024 episodes:* The Role of Design in PLG: Embracing Quality and Non-Linear Paths with David Hoang (ex-Webflow, VP at Replit): https://www.growthmates.news/p/the-role-of-design-in-plg-embracing* Top 1% Talent Tactics: Navigating Startup & Scale-up Hiring | Tom Scott, Founder at Verified: https://www.growthmates.news/p/top-1-talent-tactics-navigating-startup* How to Get Your Dream Job and Stand Out in the Crowd | Lena Kul (ex-Miro): https://www.growthmates.news/p/how-to-get-your-dream-job-and-stand* Unpacking a New Growth Playbook with Andrew Capland (Growth Coach, ex-Wisia): https://www.growthmates.news/p/unpacking-a-new-growth-playbook-with* Making Decisions with User Research from Startup to Scale-up | Behzod Sirjani (Advisor & Partner at Reforge, ex-Slack): https://www.growthmates.news/p/making-decisions-with-user-research—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights. If you find this valuable, please share it with your friends and colleagues, and subscribe to this show on your favorite platforms to get new episodes. Let’s keep growing together, and see you back in 2025!For sponsorship and other inquiries, reach out to hello@growthmates.clubThanks for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth advisor, previously Head of Growth Design at Miro. I’m building Growthmates as a place to connect with inspiring leaders to help you grow yourself and your product. Here you can learn how companies like Dropbox, Adobe, Canva, Loom, and many more are building excellent products and growth culture. Get all episodes and a free playbook for Growth teams on our brand-new website — growthmates.club, and press follow to support us on your favorite platforms.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).In this episode, Kate speaks with Chetana Deorah , a seasoned design leader who shares her journey across renowned companies like Yahoo!, Netflix, and Coursera, along with her transition to building a community-driven vegan pizza initiative. Chetana opens up about navigating the intersection of creativity, leadership, and self-reflection while balancing corporate and personal passions.—Brought to you by Command.ai — a user-focused platform offering an alternative to traditional popups or chatbots. Their AI “Copilot” answers questions, performs actions, and simplifies complex tasks. Use “Nudges” to guide users with timely, relevant messages, all within a no-code platform. Perfect for Product, Support, and Marketing teams to positively influence user behavior while respecting their needs:—Key highlights from this episode 👇* From Binge Watching to Binge Learning: Chetana reflects on her career’s evolution—from binge-watching at Netflix to binge-learning at Coursera—and how aligning with personal values reshaped her path.* Belonging vs. Fitting In: Drawing from @Brené Brown’s work, Chetana shares insights into workplace culture and how recognizing the difference between belonging and fitting in shaped her professional growth.* Balancing Creativity with Corporate Leadership: Creative professionals often feel stifled in structured environments. Chetana provides strategies to thrive without losing your creative spark.* The Power of Mentorship and Self-Reflection: Chetana emphasizes the importance of mentorship and learning to ask yourself the right questions to unlock growth opportunities.* From Corporate to Community: Discover how Chetana co-founded Pizza Valley, a vegan and sustainable initiative that fosters community and connection.—⭐️ Special announcement — Join the Design Career Accelerator, coming in January ❄️ How do you decide where to grow? IC vs. Manager, in-house or solo? For years, I’ve collected frameworks that helped me and my coaching clients from Loom, Intercom, and more. This year I want to share these practices with everyone who are on a cross-way in planning the next career step. To help you dedicate time for that at the end of the year, we created a special 1-week Design Career Accelerator — learn more about the program and grab your slot in December with 120$ discount: https://maven.com/lena-kul-kate-syuma/product-design-career-accelerator?promoCode=growthmates—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/p/what-4-years-of-advising-35-companies* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syuma* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates_/Where to find Kate Syuma, Growth Advisor (ex-Miro):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: katesyuma.substack.comWhere to find our guest* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetanadeorah/—What we covered:[00:00] Introduction[03:42] Career journey[07:41] Pizza business[12:19] Work culture[15:15] Fitting in[29:26] Mentorship[35:08] Recharge & reflect[37:58] Yoga asana[42:05] Lifestyle[48:52] Favorite app[52:22] Chetana suggestion[53:49] Outro—📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:The Culture Map by Erin Meyer – A guide to navigating cultural differences in global business.The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin – Insights into nurturing creativity and finding inspiration in life.Dare to Lead– Brené Brown’s podcast exploring leadership, values, and human connection.—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights. If you find this valuable, please share it with your friends and colleagues, and subscribe to this show on your favorite platforms to get new episodes. Let’s keep growing together!For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to hello@growthmates.clubThanks for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

Benjamin Humphrey, Co-founder and CEO of Dovetail, transitions from a designer at Atlassian to an entrepreneur tackling UX and research challenges. He shares insights on the emotional dynamics of teamwork in business and the evolution of Dovetail into a powerhouse for over 3,700 organizations. The conversation explores the importance of user experience, the balance of product-led growth strategies, and how design skills play a crucial role in leadership and startup success. Additionally, Benjamin reflects on the value of mentorship and personal well-being in the entrepreneurial journey.

Yuriy Timen, a former growth leader at Grammarly who helped scale the company to impressive revenues, shares his journey into the advisory world. He discusses the emotional shift from corporate life to advisory roles, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and personal growth. The conversation touches on enhancing user experiences, the challenges of redefining professional identities, and the rewarding aspects of teamwork. Yuriy also reflects on the deeper engagement found in advisory roles versus founding ventures, providing valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth advisor, previously Head of Growth Design at Miro. I’m building Growthmates as a place to connect with inspiring leaders to help you grow yourself and your product. Here you can learn how companies like Dropbox, Adobe, Canva, Loom, and many more are building excellent products and growth culture. Get all episodes and a free playbook for Growth teams on our brand-new website — growthmates.club, and press follow to support us on your favorite platforms.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).In this episode, we chat with Emily Campbell, VP of Design at HackerRank. Emily shares her fascinating journey, from starting in economics to leading design at HackerRank, where she focuses on creating design systems that integrate AI while maintaining a human-centered approach. She is also the founder of Women in AI and The Shape of AI, where she explores how AI is reshaping design, creativity, and human interaction. In this conversation, Emily dives deep into how AI can augment human potential, the ethical implications of AI in social media, and why maintaining a human-centered approach is critical as AI evolves.—Brought to you by Command.ai — a user-focused platform offering an alternative to traditional popups or chatbots. Their AI “Copilot” answers questions, performs actions, and simplifies complex tasks. Use “Nudges” to guide users with timely, relevant messages, all within a no-code platform. Perfect for Product, Support, and Marketing teams to positively influence user behavior while respecting their needs:—Key highlights from this episode 👇* AI can be your design co-pilot, not your replacement: While AI is becoming more integrated into design workflows, it shouldn’t replace human creativity. Emily emphasizes that AI works best when it augments human decision-making, allowing designers to focus on the more meaningful, creative aspects of their work. AI can automate the mundane, but the heart of design remains human.* Creativity thrives on curiosity: Emily’s journey highlights the power of relentless curiosity. Whether exploring the history of cybernetics or diving into AI’s role in product design, she underscores that staying curious is essential for innovation. Cultivating curiosity helps you see problems differently, driving fresh solutions and creative breakthroughs.* The ethics of AI are urgent, not optional: As AI technology evolves, its societal impact grows. Emily stresses that designers and developers have a responsibility to ensure that AI is used ethically. This includes transparency around algorithmic decisions and addressing the biases that can emerge in AI-driven systems. Regulation is critical to ensure AI benefits society rather than exacerbating existing problems.* AI adoption takes time—but that’s okay: Many companies, including HackerRank, are integrating AI tools, but widespread adoption takes time. Users often need guidance and clear use cases to embrace AI features. Emily discusses the importance of building trust with users by showing how AI can improve their workflows without feeling intrusive or overwhelming.* Design systems must evolve to accommodate AI: As AI becomes more embedded in products, design systems need to adapt. Emily explains that traditional patterns of interaction may break down in AI-powered experiences, requiring designers to rethink how users engage with digital products. The key is designing flexible systems that evolve with new technologies while keeping the user’s experience intuitive.* Fostering diverse collaboration sparks innovation: Cross-disciplinary collaboration is critical in today’s fast-evolving tech landscape. Emily emphasizes how diverse teams—comprising engineers, designers, and AI experts—can generate more innovative and inclusive solutions. Diversity in thought and expertise leads to better products and stronger teams.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* NEW! Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club * Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://katesyuma.substack.com/podcast* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syuma* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates_/Where to find Kate Syuma, Growth Advisor (ex-Miro):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: katesyuma.substack.comWhere to find our guest — Emily Campbell (VP of Design):* LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emily-campbell* Website: emilycampbell.co* Substack: https://shapeofai.substack.com* Women in AI: https://womeninai.xyz* Shape of AI: https://www.shapeof.ai/—What we’ve covered in this episode:[00:00] Cybernetics and AI history[00:28] The importance of AI regulation[02:19] Emily's career journey and inspirations[02:19] Transitioning from Coffee Startup to Tech[06:09] Improvisation and AI-driven design[13:00] The ethical deployment of AI in social spaces[19:54] How AI can unlock creativity and reduce friction[36:33] AI, human patterns, and society—📕Useful Resources from this episode:* Cybernetics: Second Edition by Norbert Wienerhttps://www.amazon.com/Cybernetics-Second-Control-Communication-Machine/dp/026273009X* The Shape of AI: Navigating the Future of Design in Tech by Emily Campbellhttps://www.shapeof.ai* AI Superpowers by Kai-Fu Leehttps://www.amazon.com/AI-Superpowers-China-Silicon-Valley/dp/132854639X* The Fourth Industrial Revolution by Klaus Schwabhttps://www.amazon.com/Fourth-Industrial-Revolution-Klaus-Schwab/dp/1524758868—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights. If you find this valuable, please share it with your friends and colleagues, and subscribe to this show on your favorite platforms to get new episodes. Let’s keep growing together!For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to hello@growthmates.clubThanks for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth advisor, previously Head of Growth Design at Miro. I’m building Growthmates as a place to connect with inspiring leaders to help you grow yourself and your product. Here you can learn how companies like Dropbox, Adobe, Canva, Loom, and many more are building excellent products and growth culture. Get all episodes and a free playbook for Growth teams on our brand-new website — growthamtes.club, and press follow to support us on your favorite platforms.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).In this episode, we chat with Randy, Head of Design at Notion. Join us as we explore Randy's incredible journey from crypto and coffee startups to becoming the Head of Design at Notion. He shares how he blends craftsmanship, simplicity, and user-centered design into Notion’s core values. Randy also provides valuable insights into the balance of functionality and emotional design, his approach to building talent-dense teams, and how to foster creativity within high-performing groups.—Brought to you by Command.ai — a user-focused platform offering an alternative to traditional popups or chatbots. Their AI “Copilot” answers questions, performs actions, and simplifies complex tasks. Use “Nudges” to guide users with timely, relevant messages, all within a no-code platform. Perfect for Product, Support, and Marketing teams to positively influence user behavior while respecting their needs: —Key highlights from this episode 👇-Design for Emotion: Randy explains how Notion prioritizes emotional connection in user experiences.-Craftsmanship with Efficiency: The importance of talent density and focusing on fewer resources for more impact.-Marketplace Insights: How working in multi-sided marketplaces influenced Randy’s approach to product design.-Visual Design Mastery: Randy’s tips on typography and user interaction to improve design quality.-Creative Collaboration: Discover how Notion encourages team improvisation and shared creativity, much like a jazz ensemble.How to make your collaboration more creative? 🎨* Improvisation and Team Dynamics: Notion encourages team members to express their creativity, similar to a jazz ensemble, fostering spontaneous collaboration that leads to innovative solutions.* Cross-Functional Teams: By promoting collaboration across different functions, Notion leverages diverse perspectives to enhance the design process.* Regular Feedback: Open communication and constructive feedback sessions help refine ideas and improve team dynamics.* Design Sprints: Quick prototyping and testing through design sprints allow teams to iterate rapidly while staying aligned with user needs.* Empowerment: Team members are encouraged to take ownership of projects, boosting morale and encouraging boundary-pushing creativity.* Utilizing Notion's Tools: The product itself is used as a collaboration platform, enhancing documentation, feedback, and progress tracking—Follow Growthmates updates on:* NEW! Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://katesyuma.substack.com/podcast* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syuma* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates_/Where to find Kate Syuma, Growth Advisor (ex-Miro):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: katesyuma.substack.comWhere to find our guest — Randy Hunt (Head of Design at Notion):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyjhunt/—What we’ve covered in this episode:[00:00] Introduction[00:06] Randy’s Career Journey[01:12] Working at Notion[02:19] Transitioning from Coffee Startup to Tech[04:04] Leadership at Etsy[05:00] Music and Entrepreneurial Spirit[06:09] Notion’s Craft and High Standards[07:33] Talent Density at Notion[09:16] Interview Process at Notion[13:27] Side Projects and Passion[19:54] Design and Product Collaboration at Notion[24:20] Prototyping and Ideation Process[29:55] Design Execution and Strategic Influence[36:33] Simplicity and Systems Thinking[41:51] Jam Sessions and Design Reviews[43:17] Final Thoughts and Lightning Round—📕Useful Resources from this episode:*  The Lean Product Playbook by Dan OlsenA comprehensive guide on how to apply lean principles to product management and design: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Product-Playbook-Innovate-Products/dp/1118960874 * The Design of Everyday Things by Don NormanThis book offers insights into user-centered design and how good design can enhance usability and user experience: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expanded/dp/0465050654/ref=sr_1_1* Inspired: How To Create Products Customers Love by Marty CaganThis book discusses how successful product teams work and how to build products that meet user needs: https://www.amazon.com/INSPIRED-Create-Tech-Products-Customers/dp/1119387507/ref=sr_1_1 * Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir EyalA guide to understanding user behavior and how to create products that encourage habitual use: https://www.amazon.com/Hooked-How-Build-Habit-Forming-Products/dp/B00HZY1N0K/ref=sr_1_1 * Lean UX: Designing Great Products with Agile Teams by Jeff Gothelf and Josh SeidenThis book emphasizes collaboration and the importance of user experience in agile development: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-UX-Designing-Products-Agile/dp/1491953608 * Design Sprint: A Practical Guidebook for Building Great Digital Products by Richard Banfield, C. Todd Lombardo, and Tracey W. K. McCaffertyA detailed guide on how to run design sprints to solve problems and validate ideas: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Sprint-Practical-Guidebook-Building/dp/1491923172—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights. If you find this valuable, please share it with your friends and colleagues, and subscribe to this show on your favorite platforms to get new episodes. Let’s keep growing together!For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to hello@growthmates.clubThanks for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe