Mentoring & Talent Growth

The Shift

Growing Talent, Building Confidence

Design maturity doesn’t grow without people. At both AvaFin and Lyreco, I saw talented juniors who lacked confidence, structure, and opportunities to step up. The shift was to transform raw potential into capable, independent designers who could drive initiatives on their own.

gray concrete wall inside building
gray concrete wall inside building
white and black abstract painting
white and black abstract painting

My Part

Subtitle: Coach, Mentor, Career Advocate

As UX Lead at AvaFin and later Global UX Manager at Lyreco, I made mentoring a core part of my leadership. Beyond delivering projects, I focused on developing designers as professionals: improving skills, growing confidence, and preparing them for bigger responsibilities.

How We Did It

Subtitle: Hands-On Mentorship & Advocacy

  • 1:1 mentoring: regular sessions focused on design critique, problem-solving, and confidence building.

  • Growth pathways: created clear expectations for juniors to progress into mid-level roles.

  • Exposure opportunities: involved team members in high-visibility projects and presentations to stakeholders.

  • External mentorship: extended my coaching through the Interaction Design Foundation, working with designers outside the company to share knowledge and broaden perspectives.

  • Advocacy: supported career growth by recommending promotions and enabling designers to take ownership of initiatives.

What Happened

Subtitle: Careers Advanced, Teams Strengthened

  • At AvaFin, one of my reportees advanced to UX Lead, taking over leadership of the design team.

  • At Lyreco, juniors progressed to mid-level, building confidence and raising the team’s overall maturity.

  • Designers reported higher engagement and motivation, with mentoring seen as a safe space to learn and experiment.

  • My external mentorships further reinforced my reputation as a leader who grows leaders.

Why It Matters

Subtitle: Empowering People Beyond Projects

For me, success wasn’t just about shipping better products — it was watching people step into roles they once thought out of reach. Mentoring created confidence, independence, and a culture of growth that will outlast any single initiative. The real impact was not only stronger teams, but individuals who believed in themselves and their craft.