Born in Zimbabwe, Farai was going to be doctor but didn’t get the grades. Now he’s a designer. Make of that what you will.
Using words, scribbles, and pixels he’s spent the last 18 years helping design and build products and teams in the UK, South Africa and Canada.
Today, he makes a living designing interactions and leading a team as a UX Manager at Shopify in Ottawa.
In South Africa, Farai designed banking apps used by many across the continent. He grappled with unique design challenges because most internet users have never used a laptop or desktop. And some buy data by the megabyte.
He organises Pixel Up! , a series of UX and design conferences and meetups in South Africa. These events connect designers and developers in Africa with their peers around the world.
Also, he adores verbiage, in all languages, township jazz, nerdy hip-hop, and the number 127.
What are you doing with the most important meeting in your career?
The most important conversations about your career happen in your 1:1 (One on One meeting) between you and your manager.
Or at least they should. In an effective 1:1 you and your lead prioritise and untangle the topics that will have the most positive impact on how you work and how you show up. But many of us miss the fact that a 1:1 is more than just a meeting. It is one of the few vital tools that you and your manager can use to unblock your career progress and unlock your potential.
In this talk we'll discover what makes a 1:1 effective, along with some traps to avoid. We'll explore a framework for understanding, prioritising, and discussing your needs (even if you find it difficult). 1:1s are about you, and for you and your career. Let's learn to use them well.