The Real Reason You’re Not Getting Promoted (And What to Do About It)
Update: 2025-06-16
Description
How do you actually get promoted from Senior to Staff Product Designer? What skills, mindset, and strategies matter most at the Staff level?
In this episode, I talk with Catt Small, a Staff Product Designer, developer, and game maker who’s worked at companies like Asana, Etsy, SoundCloud, and Nasdaq, about how to move up the design career ladder and build influence as a senior IC.
We cover:
- What hiring managers look for in Staff Designer interviews
- The difference between Senior and Staff Designers
- How to demonstrate staff-level impact without being a manager
- The reality of career resets, emotional burnout, and how to stay in love with the craft
Mentioned in the show:
- https://www.cattsmall.com
- https://maven.com/catt-small/staff-designer
Whether you’re a Senior Product Designer trying to get promoted, or you’re aiming to understand the Staff+ IC career path, this conversation is full of real talk and tactical advice.
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