Unveiling UX Complexity: A Multifaceted Design Role - Lacey Picazo - S3 - Ep. 4

In this episode, we are joined by Lacey Picazo, the Founder & CEO of ZoCo Design. She is an award-winning creative force known for her expertise in transforming and growing nonprofits, startups, and Fortune 500 clients. Lacey is also a renowned speaker and presenter, and a member of the prestigious Business First 2016 Forty Under 40 class.

Discussion points - 

• How did you start it in design? And, what made you choose this career? 1:29
• How do the recognition and accolades received by ZoCo design for being rated as the best place to work and appearing on prestigious lists like Columbus Business First, Fast 50, and the Inc. 5000, validate your agency's mission? How does one plan to build a business like this? 6:02
• Rapid fire round 10:33
• How did you navigate through the difficulties of being a young woman entrepreneur when you started out your career? What was your support system like? And, do you think the times have changed? 17:25
• You are focused a lot on your team and the cultural building that you do within ZoCo. Would you mind shedding some light on how you go about it? 20:19
• What advice would you give to someone who is starting a career in design? 25:31

Show notes

• I enjoyed making things, and iterating and experimenting, even as a young child. And so, when I got into this career, as a designer, I was focused mainly on digital design, creating software, and creating websites. 
• While our team feels very energized, to be recognized and to see the power and potential of their work, they are most motivated by the impact we make for our clients. 
• The vision is to bring more user-centricity to design and technology and product. That is still the case and still what we champion and what we fight for. 
• There's so much complexity in different parts of UX, which is fascinating. Because I think for those of us who want to learn about diverse industries and see different parts of the business, it's the best role to be able to get into that.
• I found the most value in my own learning and development by creating a community and finding other folks who are trying to solve similar problems to me.
• I learned early on at ZoCo, that cultivating a team and creating a path positive and very connected culture is probably the most central motivator for me and building my business more than anything else. 
• I hope people feel empowered today more than ever to build the career that they want and not feel like it has to fit into a box. 
• We apply a lot of UX principles and design thinking principles to how we operate the business. But the last piece related to building what you want is making sure you ask for what you want.
• Being verbal, candid, and transparent is important in building any career, whether you're an entrepreneur or an agency CEO like I am, or if you're just trying to be the best UX-er in the land.

Links -

 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/

Company website: https://zocodesign.com/