Birthday Note for 2026
Another year, another milestone
Today is my birthday and usually I do a birthday write-up. Sometimes I post it, sometimes I don’t. This year, I want to make it a habit to do it every year, and post it online. It will remind me how I grow over the years, and of the challenges I faced and will continue to face in that particular year.
In 2025, I lost my job due to a lay-off, followed by a brief period at another company. It was a learning experience as I figured out what kind of environment I would want to be in. The second job in 2025 was not a good fit for me. I think I thrive better in a more mature and structured organisation, at least for full-time work.
Being a people manager for the last three years has taught me many things: design is no longer just the “craft” you deal with in Figma. It is also about “crafting” organisations and human relationships. Sometimes politics becomes part of it too, and it can be painful and revealing. Such is worki…
