In the fast-paced world of tech and design, leaders often face immense pressure to deliver, sometimes at the cost of their team's humanity. How do you champion user experience without sacrificing your team's experience? In this episode of the Speak in Flow podcast, Melinda Lee is joined by Marjan Zamanian, a senior leader in UX and accessibility, who shares her empathetic framework for alleviating these tensions by empowering teams.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Empowerment and Accountability
“If the team is not empowered, they're not going to be engaged, therefore they're not going to feel accountable.”
How shifting from a top-down approval model to a co-creation model unlocks your team's ownership and drive.
Building a Confident Voice and Presence
“It's okay to take more space.”
Marjan’s personal journey from being told she couldn't attend a technical school to leading in tech, and the surprising physical practice she uses (and recommends to her team) to project confidence and clarity.
Inclusive Leadership for Introverts and Extroverts
Why traditional meetings often fail and how using workshops and silent writing exercises ensures every team member, especially the quietest, is seen, heard, and can contribute their best ideas.
The Leadership "North Star"
How to translate a high-level company vision into a co-created team strategy. Marjan explains her process for building milestones with her team, ensuring everyone is aligned and motivated by a shared purpose.
BLOG:
Empowering your team sounds great in theory, but what does it actually look like on a Tuesday afternoon? If "fostering accountability" feels like a vague leadership cliché, you're not alone.
Read our latest article, "Empowering Your Team to Take True Ownership"
This article breaks down the exact, actionable steps to shift from a culture of finger-pointing to one of genuine ownership.
About the Guest:
Marjan Zamanian is a Senior Manager overseeing the Eligibility & Enrollment Experience at Covered California, where she leads product and design initiatives to ensure Californians can seamlessly access affordable, high-quality healthcare. With over 13 years of experience across the private and public sectors, she is a passionate leader who bridges user experience, accessibility, and service design to create digital services that are truly intuitive and human-centered.
Social Handles:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjanzamanian/
Website: https://marjanzamanianart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marjanzamanianart/?__pwa=1
Fun Facts:
About Melinda:
Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert,...
