Apart from leading and managing a team of designers, researchers, managers, and engineers - My work revolves around delving into the lives of people, their cultures, organizations, business models, and the tools they use. Understanding human interactions with the world is truly captivating and fulfilling to me.
I have a keen ear for listening and learning, and I mean really listening, to a wide range of individuals. From my team to clients and executives to CEOs, vendors, and even the humble kirana storewalas, I find their perspectives invaluable.
For me, validating any data goes beyond just matching instincts and narratives with the numbers. We must infuse a bit of heart along with the brain when interpreting the data, recognizing that it originates from people. The goal is always to make our solutions human-centric, catering to the needs of those we serve.
I genuinely cherish my job, where I get to solve problems, collaborate with exceptional team members, partners, and clients from across the world, and continually learn. I have been fortunate to be trusted for holding the mantel at Red Baron for diverse set of initiatives - be it in the space of design, AI or organisational ops and business expansion. I stumbled into UX and design thinking before even realizing it, and it's been my only passion for many years now, close to a decade. And, that’s how Darjeeling Design Company , a HCD design consultancy came to be.
A little sneak peek outside of work – you'll often find me playing and training my beautiful Labrador Retriever, Phoebe, when I'm not being a couch potato with my partner. It's a delightful balance!
My motto: Be mindful to never forget what the core purpose of design is – it’s the ease of doing things in the most innate human way.
Hello!
My name is Payal, a creative problem solver.
Now, on to some more specifics.
To be honest, my journey has been quite a diverse and adventurous one, making it hard to summarize neatly by role or year. I'm not someone who chases after titles; I prefer straight talk with a flavor of my own.
What I lead with is pretty simple really which is logic and reasoning. Having graduated in Astrophysics, I find myself constantly asking "Why" and driven by a curiosity to unravel the inner workings of things in the most logical way possible.
My work experience spans over 12 years, during which I've dabbled in various fields such as writing, marketing, communications, branding, UX design for products and services, and even founding an AI startup, which was an absolute blast, to being a speaker at startup events and then involved in new business and geo expansions, you get me; someone who works with a collaborative and diverse team to bring ideas to life in the digital world. My focus on UX and technology comes from a desire to build useful products and services that are accessible to a broader audience, including seniors. While some might label me an "entrepreneur" or a "product manager," I prefer to see myself as a “dreamer” and a forever optimist. So call me a Product Manager if you will but really I am someone who can get things done.
I've been a perpetual learner - taking IDEO courses, several online classes, a strategy course for executives from ISB Hyderabad, and even attending sessions at prestigious institutions like UC Berkeley's HAAS school of business for building a collaboration framework between a mentor and a mentee. I have always been provided with a supportive learning environment in my workspace where this constant learning has sharpened my strategic thinking, allowing me to connect the dots backward and forward.
At heart, I'm a creator, always striving to solve problems and bring new ideas to life. I've taught myself about relevant technologies and taken on leadership roles, managing teams.
Outside of work - I enjoy off-roading. That’s me in the picture on my motorbike at a training camp. I am also a trained Hindustani classical vocalist of more than 3 decades. I attribute who I am today to the years of music training and the discipline it instilled in me during my formative years.
