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Leadership & Diversity—A Fireside Chat with Dantley Davis
Thursday, September 17, 2020 • Enterprise Community
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Leadership & Diversity—A Fireside Chat with Dantley Davis
Speakers: Dantley Davis
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Summary

Join us for a special "fireside chat" with Dantley Davis, Chief Design Officer at Twitter. We hosted a live conversation about Dantley's own path of becoming a design leader, diving into his influences and lessons learned along the way. We also discussed what it means to enable greater inclusivity and diversity in our field, particularly in these momentous times.

Key Insights

  • Design is influenced by personal experiences and diverse perspectives.

  • Situational awareness from military training enhances decision-making in design leadership.

  • Diversity in teams improves product relevance and market success.

  • Empathy in design must extend beyond similar backgrounds to include varied life experiences.

  • Design leaders should actively seek mentorship and perspectives from outside their immediate networks.

  • A strong business acumen complements design skills for better collaboration with product teams.

  • Inclusivity in hiring practices is essential for a diverse and innovative company culture.

  • The 'tax' of being a minority in tech challenges personal and professional growth but can motivate change.

  • Encouraging teams to focus on collective impact rather than individual ownership fosters collaboration.

  • Investing in diversity creates a virtuous cycle of engagement and improvement within organizations.

Notable Quotes

"I learned how to program, I started to deconstruct video games, and that led me to design."

"Having an MBA helped others see me as someone who could understand and navigate business challenges."

"As a designer, it's essential to think about the job we are trying to satisfy for our customers."

"Design is not just about making things pretty; it's about adding business value."

"My dad taught me to work two times harder than anyone else to earn respect in my field."

"We can't just fill positions; we need to ensure diversity is represented in decision-making."

"It's important to create an environment where people feel safe to voice their ideas and concerns."

"If we don't diversify our teams, we risk creating products that don't resonate with a wider audience."

"Empathy in design must include understanding community and cultural contexts."

"It's a privilege to have a seat at the table, but it's crucial to ensure that other voices are heard."

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