Operating with Purpose
Summary
Our teams are living through unprecedented times. With the weight of everything unfolding around us, it’s easy to feel that our work is inconsequential. However, DesignOps teams have more power to influence change than we realize. In this session, we’ll discuss how the small decisions we make every day impact our teams, our companies and our communities. We’ll take a look at how our operations can empower teams to operate with a greater sense of purpose.
Key Insights
-
•
Onboarding 80% of MailChimp’s CX and design department over four weeks creates a strong cultural foundation.
-
•
A clear sense of purpose significantly improves work engagement and personal well-being.
-
•
Purpose-driven messaging encourages better habits, such as hospital workers improving hand hygiene.
-
•
Mentorship during onboarding benefits both new hires and mentors by reigniting passion for work.
-
•
Remote work exacerbates loneliness, making intentional one-on-one connections vital for team health.
-
•
Tailored microlearning and flexible scheduling help employees continue growing without added stress.
-
•
Work-life boundaries are essential for mental health, especially when working from home.
-
•
Celebrating efforts, not only successes, fosters persistence and connection among teammates.
-
•
Managers setting examples by openly prioritizing mental health encourages healthier team environments.
-
•
Understanding teammates’ personal and career goals helps align individual purpose with company objectives.
Notable Quotes
"I’ve onboarded 80% of the design and CX department, and it really shapes their trajectory and connection to culture."
"When you feel your work connects to a greater purpose, you’re more invested and perform better."
"Hospital workers were 45% more likely to wash hands properly when told it helped patients rather than themselves."
"Mentoring new hires actually reignites the mentor’s own passion for their work."
"My manager says never ask me to take a day off, just tell me — it’s a huge cultural shift."
"Onboarding isn’t a one-time activity, it’s an ongoing event that helps people connect and find their place."
"People coming from agencies sometimes need help dropping bad habits like working at 2am or stressful environments."
"It’s important to create space outside work for people to connect to meaningful activities and communities."
"Celebrating efforts, even when they’re not wins, helps people keep moving forward."
"If your purpose is just getting through 2020, that’s okay — survival can be the goal right now."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"It doesn’t matter when work is done, so long as it’s done and its quality."
Lavy Kumar Kat Temple Shan Sebastian Tara Jensen Jenn ChouFuture of Work
June 9, 2021
"I’m most excited to get back in the office because I miss that culture and feeling like I’m working with friends every day."
Andreas Huebner Amy Takata Craig BrookesWhat Is It Like To Be Part of The UX Team at Compass?
March 11, 2021
"Perception maps visually represent how consumers perceive brands relative to competitors along key attributes."
Ricardo MartinsUnlocking the power of advanced quantitative methods
March 12, 2025
"Our mission is to empower everybody to learn; not the few learning on behalf of the many."
Monty HammontreeThe Future of UX Research
December 3, 2020
"We need to share the importance of design ops visibly so everyone understands their role in enabling design success."
Benjamin RealShowing the Value of DesignOps by Not Having a DesignOps Team
October 21, 2020
"Every operation is going to have whirlwinds and fires all the time; strategy doesn't end that."
Kate TowseyAsk Me Anything (AMA) with Kate Towsey
April 2, 2025
"Breaking enterprise into small segments lets you apply research methods effectively at scale."
Steve Portigal Chris Chapo Kelly Goto Christian RohrerDiscussion
May 13, 2015
"Offering the ability to save your progress allows users with disabilities to complete tasks on their own time."
Sam ProulxOnline Shopping: Designing an Accessible Experience
March 28, 2023
"Users with physical challenges often can see and interpret prototypes but may need help clicking through them because assistive tech may not support the prototype system."
Sam ProulxPrototype Reviews, People With Disabilities, and You
October 1, 2021
