Ep 11 | Beyond Craft: Career Ownership, AI Mindsets and Team Unity with Canva’s Simone Attanasio
Behind the TeamsShow Notes
Who is truly responsible for your career growth?
On this episode of Behind the Teams, host Nicole How sits down with Simone Attanasio, Head of Design, User Voice at Canva and founder of Therapy for Designers.
Simone breaks down why creatives must look beyond craft to take radical ownership of their development, how to lead people who do not mirror your personality and why approaching AI as a playground beats productivity anxiety every time. We also explore regional design cultures, what it takes to protect team unity and why modern design leaders need to get their hands dirty in the tools again. Key takeaways: Owning Your Growth: Why leaders are guides, but personal progression is entirely your responsibility. AI as a Playground: Replacing fear with playful exploration to understand technical constraints and LLM behaviour. Leading Different Minds: Adapting your communication style to manage and collaborate with people unlike yourself. Back to the Tools: Why design leaders must return to hands-on UX workflows in the age of AI.
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