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Chris Abad

Design executive, investor, & entrepreneur. Formerly Google, Dropbox, & Square.

Chris Abad is a dedicated product and design leader known for his passion in creating innovative user experiences. With a strong background in user-centered design, product management, and data-driven strategies, he has led successful teams in both startup and enterprise environments. Chris focuses on helping early-to-mid-career professionals advance by sharing his expertise in product strategy, productivity, and workplace dynamics. He advocates for inclusive environments that promote well-being to foster productivity and success. His ultimate goal is to make a lasting impact through his work and to mentor the next generation of leaders.

Highlights

Jul 10 · linkedin

Hi everyone! 👋

I’m excited to announced the launch of a new podcast for UX designers: Pixelated Path (https://lnkd.in/eHnsgRSU). We explore the winding, exciting, and unpredictable career path of being a UX Designer, as told by the industry’s top veterans.

Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, to get notified about new episodes. We have a STACKED list of upcoming guests, which include:

Renda Morton, former Design Manager @ Dropbox Josh Silverman & Billie Mandel @ Master of Interaction Design Program, CCA Peter Merholz, author of Org Design for Design Orgs, founder of Adaptive Path Jessica Sommer, formerly UX Research @ Dropbox, Amazon, and Intuit Jenna Bilotta, formerly Design Leadership @ Dropbox, Spotify, and Shopify Charles Warren formerly Design Leadership @ Google, Salesforce, and Twitter Kai Haley formerly Design Leadership @ Google and Coinbase Angel Steger formerly Design Leadership @ Meta, Dropbox, and Pinterest Jennifer Wong (She/Her) Senior Product Designer @ Netflix Michelle Morrison Senior Staff UX Program Manager @ Google Micah Laaker, formerly senior designer @ Google Collin Whitehead, VP of Design at Grammarly Jay Davani @ Rhode Island School of Design Alastair Simpson, VP of Design at Dropbox

…and more 🔥

If you know someone you think would be a great fit for the podcast, please reach out to me directly. I’d love to hear their story!

Jul 9 · linkedin

Your next big opportunity in UX could come from the connections you make today. Let’s talk networking with some creative approaches you might not have heard before.

  1. Attend Niche UX Events Attend specialized UX events tailored to your interests, like accessibility in design or mobile UX. These smaller, focused events offer deeper connections and more meaningful conversations.

  2. Contribute to Open Source Projects Get involved in open-source projects on platforms like GitHub. Working on these projects exposes you to new challenges and connects you with developers and designers globally.

  3. Start a UX Book Club Organize a UX book club to discuss the latest in design literature. Regular meetups foster strong relationships and continuous learning.

  4. Network Through Volunteer Work Volunteer your UX skills for community projects or non-profits. These experiences not only broaden your impact but also connect you with diverse groups outside your usual professional circle.

  5. Conduct Informational Interviews Reach out to industry leaders and peers for informational interviews. These conversations can provide invaluable insights and open doors to new opportunities.

  6. Join Exclusive Online Communities Become part of invite-only UX communities on platforms like Slack or Discord. These exclusive groups often have high engagement and valuable resources.

Networking in UX doesn't have to be traditional. Try these unique strategies and see how they elevate your career. How do you approach networking? Share your tips below.

✌️

Chris Abad
Add to my network

Location

San Francisco Bay Area