Summary
As a startup in hyper growth mode, the design teams at Signifyd immediately faced the unique challenges in meeting the demands of a fast-paced, agile environment which rarely looked the same everyday. With growth, the pace of change continued, leading challenge of managing an organization in a constant state of transformation. How do you build and nourish teams to be both agile and hardy, having both flexible branches and strongly planted roots? Sharing stories from across two design teams–the largely centralized Brand and Marketing team, and the mostly embedded Product team–Kincade and Ortiz-Reyes will illustrate how in just three years, those teams have transformed models through cross-pollination and shared best practices. Brand and Marketing’s centralized model has become more embedded, and Product’s embedded model now largely resembles a centralized model. The result? Signifyd’s design teams are among the most highly ranked in terms of employee satisfaction. Join this session and gain valuable firsthand insights that will empower you to: Prepare your organization for transformation Implement and manage a participatory visualization of the org Understand and apply the psychology of change management
Key Insights
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Transformation is a complex process that requires a shift in mindset and clear communication.
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Building trust within a team is essential for navigating change and overcoming fears.
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Establishing a mission statement or a 'North Star' can guide a team through transformations.
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Adopting flexible design management models can help cater to growth and varying organizational needs.
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Regular check-ins and inclusivity in decision-making foster a supportive environment during transitions.
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Design pairs can enhance output quality and teamwork without additional hires.
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Leadership empathy is crucial in connecting different perspectives during transformation.
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Self-serve design portals can streamline processes and improve stakeholder engagement.
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Creative problem-solving is key to building effective teams from scratch in fast-paced environments.
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Documenting lessons learned from each stage of transformation prepares teams for future challenges.
Notable Quotes
"Transformation can be dramatic and difficult, bringing a lot of feelings to the table."
"A transformation mindset paired with the right foundation nurtures your ability as a leader to respond effectively to triggers."
"Trust is really the first foundation in order to ideate and innovate."
"Establishing a North Star is essential to guide the team amidst change."
"Using freelance talent can provide a proof of concept without complex budget discussions."
"We couldn't just keep adding talented folks and hope that everything would fall into place."
"The embedded model allowed us to focus on impact rather than just coverage."
"Designers work better in pairs; it creates strength in numbers."
"We needed to embrace the agility and impact that our future model would bring."
"Transformation is about new ways of thinking and doing, and understanding our roles is key."
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