Ever wondered what it really costs to escape the 9-5?

You’ve never heard a conversation like this with Kate Syuma. The former Head of Growth Design at Miro, reveals how she "bought back her time" by leaving corporate to found Growth Mates - and why her living costs actually decreased in the process. She gets raw about the psychological preparation needed for the leap, the hidden maintenance costs of corporate life, and how she puts "what's good for users is good for business" into practice. Whether you're a product designer feeling trapped or a founder questioning your path, Kate's journey offers both inspiration and tactical wisdom for building an authentic career on your own terms.

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Chapters 📖

[00:00:00] Introduction: Kate's Journey from Miro Head of Growth Design to Founder

[00:02:42] From Art School to Product Design: Finding Your Creative Path in Tech

[00:05:44] The Evolution of Growth Design: When Business Meets Creativity

[00:08:32] Building Growth Communities: From Internal Practice to Public Platform

[00:10:24] The Growth Mindset: Essential Skills for Modern Product Designers

[00:12:05] Making the Leap: Corporate Stability vs Entrepreneurial “Risk”

[00:14:03] Buying Back Your Time: The True Cost of Career Transitions

[00:16:11] Setting Boundaries: Valuing Time as a Freelancer and Consultant

[00:18:08] Recognizing Burnout: When Ambition Becomes Self-Punishment

[00:20:17] Redefining Enough: Breaking Free from Consumer Culture

[00:23:19] Simplicity Over Status: Learning to Appreciate Less

[00:26:42] Conscious Content Consumption: Filtering Information for Mental Health

[00:29:23] Japanese Yaki Onigiri Break

[00:32:21] What is Growth Design? The Five Essential Elements Explained

[00:37:24] Articulating Impact: Communicating Growth Strategy to Stakeholders

[00:39:12] Born vs Made: Can Entrepreneurship Be Learned?

[00:41:16] Authentic Expression: Why Kate Left Corporate to Build GrowthMates

[00:44:05] User-Centric vs Revenue-Focused: Choosing Your Business Philosophy

[00:46:49] Side Projects and Product Dreams: Building Apps for Behavioral Change

[00:47:52] Ethical Growth Design: Making Tech More Conscious and Human

Where to find Kate Syuma 🔎

Growthmates Newsletter

Linkedin

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I'm Sera Tajima, Climate Tech Advisor & Investor. 🤙

I talk about:

→ Product Growth Strategy (Growth, Design, AI)

→ Climate Tech

→ Venture Capital