In this Cheers & Tiers episode, Ashleigh Axios shares her journey in design leadership, highlighting her extensive involvement with AIGA and the impact of community engagement on her career. She reflects on memorable experiences at leadership retreats, the importance of building trust within design communities, and the lessons learned from her leadership roles. Ashleigh also discusses the creation of the DotGov design conference and the significance of fostering connections among designers in government. The conversation emphasizes the value of giving back to the community and the personal growth that comes from such involvement. More about AIGA DC's DotGov: https://dc.aiga.org/dotgovdesign/

Key Takeaways

• Volunteering in design communities can lead to significant personal and professional growth.
• Leadership retreats provide opportunities for networking and sharing creative ideas.
• Building trust and vulnerability is essential in design communities.
• The DotGov design conference was created to connect government designers and share resources.
• Leadership roles in AIGA taught valuable management and negotiation skills.
• Community involvement can lead to lasting friendships and connections.
• The importance of succession planning in volunteer organizations.
• Design initiatives can have a significant impact on public services.
• Reflecting on experiences in design leadership can inspire future generations.

Episode Chapters

03:03 Community Engagement and Leadership in AIGA

05:56 Memorable Experiences at Leadership Retreats

08:58 Building Trust and Vulnerability in Design Communities

11:52 The Impact of AIGA on Personal and Professional Growth

15:00 Creating Initiatives: DotGov Design Conference

21:13 Lessons Learned from Leadership Roles

24:04 Reflections on Community and Future Engagement

Featuring

• Guest Ashleigh Axios, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
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