“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Jane Goodall
How I became who I am :
TL;DR :
From med school dreams to designing for impact — my journey is upsided from circuits to touchpoints.
Full version
My name is Lawanya (Laa-vuhn-ya) ,and I’m from Chennai, India.
I find joy in crafting impactful products and services that resonate with users and business driving a positive change.
My childhood dream was to become a doctor, however life took me into the field of electronics engineering. Despite my initial aversion, I discovered a passion for products. I pursued a master's in product design, where I crafted tangible products during my university days and endeavored to pitch these ideas to companies.
Upon entering as a UX designer, I observed a natural shift towards designing digital products from tangible product, the key point was the ability to quickly learn from failures in building fast.
Throughout my 9 years journey in crafting digital experiences, I delved into the realm of designing for impact. Recognizing the profound influence a designer can have on human lives and the environment, I realized this connected back to my childhood dream of saving lives as a doctor. This realization has evolved into a deep-seated passion—product design for societal and environmental impact. Currently am working for Udemy's vision - a world where everyone, everywhere has access to skills they need to unlock their potential.
My core values
I’m an INFJ-T — the 'Advocate' personality, known for being empathetic, thoughtful, and quietly determined. Taking the Myers-Briggs personality test helped me better understand the values that shape how I work and collaborate and here are few pointers I found myself highly related with
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🔍 Innovative problem-solving
I often find myself zooming out to see the bigger picture, which helps me connect dots that aren’t always obvious. It’s something that naturally leads me to creative and thoughtful solutions, especially when tackling complex or ambiguous challenges. -
🌱 Purpose-driven mindset
I care deeply about doing meaningful work. Having a clear sense of purpose keeps me grounded and motivated, even when things get tough. It’s what draws me to projects that aim to make a real impact on people’s lives. -
🤝 Bridging perspectives
Understanding what drives people, whether users or teammates, helps me navigate conflicts and find common ground. I enjoy helping teams come together through empathy and shared understanding. -
🌼 Leading with empathy
While I don’t think of myself as a traditional leader, I naturally lean into empathy when guiding or mentoring others. I try to create safe, collaborative spaces where everyone feels heard and supported. -
⚖️ Balanced standards
I hold myself to high standards, but I’ve also learned when to flex and adapt. It’s important to me to keep the quality of work high, without getting stuck in perfectionism. -
🧭 Strategic by nature
I enjoy turning abstract ideas into something real and actionable. Thinking ahead, setting a vision, and then quietly building toward it, that’s a space I feel comfortable in, especially when working across product or service design journeys.
Working with me
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🎯 Meaningful goals
I feel most engaged when the work I do aligns with my values and contributes positively, whether to individuals, communities, or the world at large. Purpose gives my design process meaning. -
🤝 Harmony & collaboration
Kindness and empathy aren’t just personal values, they shape how I collaborate. I thrive in environments where people support one another and where diverse perspectives are met with curiosity and care. -
🌟 Purpose-driven teams
When I’m part of a team united by a shared goal or vision, it brings out a deeper sense of commitment in me. I feel energized when we’re all moving in the same direction for something that matters. -
🌿 Quiet focus
I do my best thinking in calm, reflective spaces. Having the room to think deeply helps me bring more intention and thoughtfulness to the work I produce. -
🎨 Creativity & originality
I love projects that give me space to experiment, problem-solve intuitively, and create with a sense of play and purpose. That’s often where my most original ideas come from. -
🧩 Structured flexibility
I appreciate clarity in expectations and outcomes, but I also value the freedom to find my own approach. That mix of structure and autonomy allows me to stay both grounded and creatively open.