Steph’s process, particularly for CSA project (stood out to me). It’s been a while since I’ve worked with someone who operates like she does. She unpacks complex concepts and applications, disassembling them to an atomic level, then reassembling them to be the point where she’s building a deep understanding of them, while at the same time identifying areas where we can improve them.

She then make it presentable, and take everyone she works with on the same journey, and in a way that’s simple and clear for them to understand and participate in the conversation.

In less than a few months, she managed to navigate our very complex organisation, take something very complex and unpack it, made it simple, sold it to our senior leaders, got her stakeholders and peers on board, and inspired some very senior folks to rethink the way they solve product challenges. All while taking a cool headed approach, never getting stressed, being a team player, and… most importantly, reading and asking questions.

Second to this, she followed a methodical process that got her to a series of design solutions which all made sense when she shared them with me. I knew she couldn’t have arrived at those in a vacuum, and that they were an outcome of a series of calculated steps she took. I’m very impressed! It goes without saying, but be confident and never fear asking questions!

jonathan siegel

Head of design, Standard Chartered Bank