Susana Chinchilla

I attribute my success to not quitting. I see failure as feedback, not a stop sign. Every time something doesn’t work, I use it as motivation to get better.

I’m also very intentional about learning. I pay attention to what’s happening around me and try to stay ahead of it. When AI started gaining traction, I had already been working on an AI product back in 2021. I saw where things were going, so I leaned into it early, which helped me stand out in my work.

More recently, I’ve focused on the business side. Design alone is not enough. It’s about understanding how your work impacts the business. That shift has changed how I think and how I build.

At the core, I believe you can never learn enough. There is always another level to reach, and I’m always working toward it.

The best advice I’ve received is to learn how to read between the lines.

I got this from a VP during a time when a lot was changing in 2023. She could not openly share what was happening, but it pushed me to pay closer attention to what wasn’t being said. I started looking at patterns, decisions, and where things were going.

That shift changed how I show up. Instead of waiting for direction, I focus on where I can add value, how I can support others, and how to use my skills to drive meaningful change.

Be intentional and reverse engineer what you want.

Before starting my master’s, I already knew the role I was aiming for. I looked at job descriptions, identified the required skills, and made sure I developed each one before applying. That preparation made a big difference when it came to getting opportunities.

I also recommend learning from people who are already doing what you want to do. Study their path, identify the gaps, and close them. Reach out, ask questions, and build relationships. A big part of growth comes from being willing to connect and learn from others.

You don’t have to know everything. You just need to take initiative and keep moving forward.

AI is both the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity in the field right now.

On one side, it’s raising the bar. Design skills alone are not enough anymore. You need to understand business impact, strategy, and how your work contributes to outcomes. With more talent entering the field and AI accelerating production, it’s easier than ever to get lost in the crowd.

On the other side, it’s opening new doors, especially in education. There is a clear gap in how people are learning to adapt to these changes. There is an opportunity to build tools and experiences that help people understand AI and apply it to their specific roles.

The designers who will stand out are the ones who go beyond execution and focus on impact.

The values that matter most to me are staying true to myself, integrity, and transparency.

I don’t believe in doing things just for the outcome or recognition. I need to feel a sense of purpose in what I’m doing. In design, that means not just building something because it drives revenue, but making sure it actually helps the user. I care about doing the research, understanding the problem, and being honest about whether what we’re creating is truly valuable.

Integrity shows up in the choices I make, even when it’s not the easiest path. Transparency matters in how I communicate and collaborate with others.

Teamwork is also a big part of how I operate. I believe the best results come from working closely with others, learning from different perspectives, and building something stronger together.