#12: Jonty Sharples on Global Teams, Career Transitions, And How Design Leadership Must Adapt

In this episode of UX Fika podcast, I reconnect with Jonty Sharples – product, design, and business leader, and now consulting CPO working from a wooden box at the bottom of his garden. When we first spoke in 2021, Jonty was at Where Is My Transport, building products for emerging markets.Four years later, we catch up on where he is now, what he learned from building and scaling teams across continents, why checking your privilege and context matters when working globally, and how he’s been refining his niche as a generalist with deep specialist interests.We also dive into climbing walls, disinformation through trusted sources, the challenges of job titles, the reality of today’s hiring market, doing outreach, and how a lot of people – even the really successful ones – are struggling to find work, even if they don’t openly share.As ever with Jonty, it’s a conversation full of sharp insights, practical lessons, and reflections on how design and leadership can (and must) adapt to change, and why writing and storytelling are underrated skills for anyone in design and leadership.Plus:☕️ Why black coffee is now his go to fika and not tea⭐ Why you should surround yourself with smart people, ask questions, and listenWhat we cover:02:01 Introduction and Catching Up02:22 Working From A Wooden Box04:49 Reflections on Remote Work and Team Dynamics10:56 Career Transitions and Learning Experiences11:30 Understanding eSIM Technology and Market Dynamics17:46 Navigating Career Breaks and Job Market Changes20:11 Building a Niche and Consulting Strategies27:59 Job Titles and Industry Trends41:56 The Evolution of UX Design Roles44:20 Leadership in Design: The Player-Coach Dilemma45:13 The Future of Work: AI and Human Collaboration47:44 Communication Skills in a Globalized Workforce49:30 Navigating Change: The Impact of AI on Jobs53:23 Education and the Role of Design in Shaping Futures58:04 Personal Growth and Career Transitions01:03:51 The Importance of Hiring Smart01:09:21 Job Market Realities and Networking StrategiesWhere you’ll find Jonty:⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Where you’ll find Anna & UX Fika:⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠If you liked this episode, help us reach more people by following, leaving a rating and a review.~#innovation, #business, #technology, #Hactar, #globalteams, #designleadership #careertransitions #scaleups #ai #productdesign #uxfika #uxfikapodcast #jontysharples