The Great Design Lead Podcast

In this episode, I catch up with my friend and former coworker Brian Jacobs, a software engineer who loves tackling root problems and staying curious. We talk about connecting with users, personal growth, and the value of solo adventures and a little self-kindness along the way.Brian JacobsEmail: brianjcbs23@gmail.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-jacobs-0b1710bb/Emily GiordanoEmail: greatdesignlead@gmail.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignleadInstagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead

Michael Restiano is a Staff Content Designer at Webflow, yoga instructor at CorePower Yoga, and an overall kind person who was lovely to chat with for two hours. Listen for stories of Michael growing up in Massachusetts, winning grade school reading competitions, and his self discovery through travel and moving around the country. Michael Restiano: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrestiano/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeyrest Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead

Irina Deeva is an iOS Developer from University of Naples Federico II’s Apple Developer Academy. Irina is a friend of mine whom I met in Italy last Summer. Listen for stories of travel, adventures, and perseverance. Irina Deeva: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-deeva/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/with.deeva/ Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead

Matt Evans is an award-winning Webflow Developer from Wales, now residing in Dublin with his wife and two sons. Matt is the Director & Lead Webflow Developer at Fido & Patch Studio, he also co-hosts the 'Visual Div' podcast with Irish Webflow Developer, Ailín Tobin. Listen as Matt shares about about parenthood, his childhood, rugby memories, and the journey that shaped his career. Overall, a little hangout about the ups and downs of life. Matt Evans Twitter: https://twitter.com/makermattevans Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattyevs/ The Visual Div Twitter: https://twitter.com/thevisualdiv Youtube: https://youtube.com/@TheVisualDiv Fido and Patch Website: https://www.fidoandpatch.com/ Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead

Melissa Mendez and I caught up since our last episode in July of 2022. Melissa is a designer, developer and beloved friend. Listen for updates on both our lives in the last two years. Melissa Mendez Twitter: https://twitter.com/melydelmar06 Eurecah: https://www.eurecah.com/ Email: hello@eurecah.com Eurecah Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eurecahcollective/ Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead

Little life lesson and update

Sharita Vogelzang, a UX Designer at YouSir, has become a new friend from my Dutch adventures. In this episode, you’ll hear about Sharita's childhood in Friesland, her journey studying design, her career adventures post-graduation, and her day-to-day life now. Having met a few months ago, Sharita and I discovered we have many things in common and that made recording this episode really fun experience. Sharita Vogelzang Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spottish/ Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead

Netherlands things and a little hello

First adventure down, many more to go...

Vasavi Aggarwal is a good friend and a multi-disciplinary designer for Sky. Vasavi and I met in college and have gotten really close over the last few years. Listen to stories of her growing up, studying product design at Westphal, traveling the world and moving countries for college, and now working a designer full-time. Vasavi Aggarwal Instagram: @vasaviaggarwal - https://www.instagram.com/vasaviaggarwal/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasaviaggarwal/ Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead

Max Angele is a digital product builder with a focus on user-centric Notion templates and optimizing web experiences. He was based in Munich at the time of this recording, but has since moved to Berlin. At Notus, Max and his teammates help founders build personal brands through interviews that are transformed into social media content. Listen as Max shares his life, growing up in a small hometown and moving to Munich as a teenager, his first ventures with web design, and eventually the path that has led him to where he is today. Max Angele Instagram: @max.notion - https://instagram.com/max.notion?igshid=NzZhOTFlYzFmZQ== Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/maxangele Twitter: @MaxAngele1 - https://x.com/maxangele1?s=11 Moving with Notion Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1d3i5mx2fOhsbobyTOhUyW?si=026c36a2bff94870 Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead

Edwin de Jongh is a staff designer at Airbnb, building new features to connect guests and hosts. Listen for stories of Edwin growing up in Rotterdam, a chance encounter that convinced him to study design, and a few different adventures starting his career in the US. Edwin de Jongh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwindjongh Twitter: https://x.com/edwin_de_jongh?s=21 Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead Website: www.greatdesignlead.com

Hi everyone! Just a quick check in to say thank you and share a bit about what I'm up to this summer and when I'll be back. Love, Emily

Marvin Kaunda is a freelance Webflow Developer and Web Designer as well as the startup founder behind CocktailAndDinner. C&D is a marketplace for homeowners to safely rent out their kitchen and dining rooms when not in use. Matching them with verified individuals in search of a larger & intimate space to host a dinner with their family, friends, or community. Listen for stories of Marvin’s travels, childhood, and outlook on life. Marvin Kaunda Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvinkaunda/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaundaMarvin CocktailAndDinner: www.cocktailanddinner.com https://twitter.com/cocktailndinner Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead Website: www.greatdesignlead.com

JP Dionisio is a Webflow Wizard at Beyond agency, Webflow Global Leader, as well as an independent Webflow Consultant. When JP isn’t working on his own projects, he is mentoring and community building with other Filipino Webflower and designers. Listen for stories of JP growing up in the Philippines, changing careers, and how he got to where he is today. JP Dionisio Twitter: @jpthedio - https://twitter.com/jpthedio Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jpthedio Website: https://www.dionisio.jp/ Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead Website: www.greatdesignlead.com

Tanya Karpenko is a UX/UI Designer in web-based information system design and iOS app design. Tanya is currently based out of Italy and recently graduated from Naples’ Apple Developer Academy. Listen for stories of her adventures, career switch, and my plans to visit her in Italy. Tanya Karpenko All contact info: https://tanyakarpe6.notion.site/Hello-World-19440a3d5c634aa1b60a83b8453db528?pvs=4 Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead Website: www.greatdesignlead.com

Kristina Ivanović is the Creative Director at Flow Ninja. Listen for stories of how Kika and I walked very similar life paths on opposite sides of the world. Kristina Ivanović Linkedin: https://rs.linkedin.com/in/kristina-ivanovi%C4%87-642b26192 Twitter: https://twitter.com/kika_ivanovic Flow Ninja Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flow-ninja/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowninjastudio/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlowNinjaStudio Website: https://www.flow.ninja/ Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead Website: www.greatdesignlead.com Podwork (Network for Guests & Podcasts): www.podwork.io

Miša Vučković is the Media Innovation Manager at Flow Ninja. Listen for stories of dedication, following a passion, and what makes Flow Ninja a place to stay. Miša Vučković Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vuckovicmisa/ Flow Ninja Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flow-ninja/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowninjastudio/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlowNinjaStudio Website: https://www.flow.ninja/ Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead Website: www.greatdesignlead.com Podwork (Network for Guests & Podcasts): www.podwork.io

Tine Maher is the creative lead for The Wall Communications, a design, development and marketing studio based out of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Listen for stories of love, life, coffee and a bit of Webflow. Tine Maher Awwwards!! https://www.awwwards.com/thewall/ Website: https://www.thewall.design/ Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/__________thewall Twitter: https://twitter.com/________thewall Email: info@thewall.design Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead Website: www.greatdesignlead.com Sponsor: Unfinished https://www.unfinished.cc/ Podwork (Network for Guests & Podcasts): www.podwork.io

McGuire Brannon is a VP of Education & Community at Webflow. McGuire is, for many, the first face they met on their path to learning Webflow. Listen to hear a bit more about who he was before that. McGuire Brannon Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcguire-brannon-539903154/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcguirebrannon Stacy Han’s contact: Email: stacy@webflow.com Emily Giordano Email: emily@greatdesignlead.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-giordano/ Twitter: @greatdesignlead - https://twitter.com/greatdesignlead Instagram: @greatdesignlead - https://www.instagram.com/greatdesignlead Website: www.greatdesignlead.com Sponsor: Unfinished https://www.unfinished.cc/ Podwork (Network for Guests & Podcasts): www.podwork.io