Ever wondered what really happens when managers decide who gets promoted?In this episode of Ran Talks Design, I sit down with Leslie Yang, design leader at Lyft (formerly OpenTable, Pivotal Labs), to pull back the curtain on how promotion decisions are made — from calibration meetings to performance reviews and the real factors that influence career growth in design.This is the conversation we all wish we had earlier in our careers.🎯 What we cover: • How to know if you’re actually ready for promotion • Why doing great work alone isn’t enough • What happens inside closed-door calibration meetings • Building a strong promotion case (with examples) • What to do when your manager isn’t supporting your growthWhether you’re a mid-level designer, aiming for senior or staff, or managing ICs yourself — this episode will help you navigate the unspoken rules and build a path toward real growth.⸻👤 Guest: Leslie YangLeslie Yang leads product design for core platform teams at Lyft. She loves tackling complex team, product, and user challenges that propel business growth. Prior to Lyft, she led product design for enterprise at OpenTable and taught product discovery and designed 0-1 products from startups to big enterprise clients at Pivotal Labs.https://leslieyang.substack.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-yang-design/⸻🔗 Connect with RanLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranliudesign/💕 Love the content? Consider supporting the channel by buying me a coffee! buymeacoffee.com/rantalksdesign🔔 New episodes on growth, product strategy, and startup design every week.If this helped you, share it with someone you care about. Talk soon.00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:21 Leslie Yang's Career Journey01:42 Career Growth Framework04:00 Defining Career Growth04:55 Promotion Criteria and Process06:42 Advice for Aspiring Designers09:12 Handling Career Pathway Challenges16:32 Building a Strong Case for Promotion22:05 Aligning Passion with Career Growth23:47 Monthly Check-ins for Growth24:50 Impact of Activities on Promotions26:05 Building a Strong Case for Promotion28:38 Collecting Feedback for Promotion32:33 Understanding the Promotion Decision Process39:09 Managing Up with an Inexperienced Manager40:55 Regular One-on-One Meetings44:01 Reflecting on Career Mistakes45:23 Staying Connected and Continuous Learning