Design Manager Group
What it is:
Newfound Network gathers groups of design managers at a similar career stage for knowledge sharing and peer-coaching. Groups consist of up to 12 members who meet online every two weeks, facilitated by an experienced coach who guides the conversation. Members are matched based on the size and stage of their organization.
Newfound Network will help you:
- Make valuable connections with other great design managers
- Learn about how other great companies build and scale design teams
- Accelerate progress on your personal development goals
Who is this for:
The group is designed for managers with 3 to 12 reports, either managing a team within a large organization or leading the design department in a smaller one.
Diverse perspectives makes our groups (and the industry) better — the breadth and depth of perspectives you bring is strongly considered when reviewing your application.
The experience:
Coaching and Peer Coaching
Get input on your day-to-day challenges and personal development goals from your peers and professional coaches. Newfound Networks helps you identify a few key areas that you would like to accelerate your development around. We will also help you improve your own coaching skills, which you can apply in the group and with your team.
Knowledge Sharing
Learn how other design managers organize their work, build their team, and develop their people in structured knowledge sharing sessions. Our intimate format fosters openness for talking about real challenges in the design manager role.
Topics are set based on the interests and needs of the group, but example themes include:
- Creating a culture of constructive critique
- Advocating for design within your organization
- Setting up successful collaborations with PMs, Engineering and Marketing
- How design teams can thrive, remotely
- Building and supporting a diverse design team
Guest visits
Our guest mentors are experienced design leaders who have done the job before and bring their own set of diverse perspectives to the challenges of leading design and design teams. They will share their own personal stories and share their perspectives on your challenges.
Guest mentors includes:
— Instagram (NYC)
— Samsara (SF)
— Mailchimp (NYC)
— Let's Do This (LND)
Hosts:
The hosts oversee the member experience, facilitate group sessions, and connect you with the right people and resources.
Robert has 10 years of experience leading design teams. His work spans startups, scale-ups, and venture capital. At Artsy in New York he was part of the executive team and built the design and product team from the ground up. Previously a team lead and principal at IDEO in New York; London; and Münich, he most recently co-founded Sweet Studio, a venture studio in Stockholm where he oversaw design and product development.
Alison is a coach and educator who facilitates Newfound Network member groups. She is the founder and CEO of Bracket where she helps companies such as Google, Etsy, and Channel 4 to gain clarity and improve collaboration. She wrote a book on how to run Effective Workshops and is a frequent keynote speaker on company culture and collaboration.
Pricing:
Newfound is $95/month or $900/year ($75/month). VAT will be added for payments within the EU.
If your company doesn’t offer budget for professional development, we offer stipends on a case by case basis to support diverse perspectives in our groups.
There’s a two month minimum commitment to ensure that members invest in their group (The more you put into your group the more you’ll get out) and to avoid transient groups.