“I got laid off weeks before my first child was born… and I was so happy.” 

Most people panic when they lose a job. 

Jordan Diatlo built a business. 

Just weeks before becoming a dad, Jordan was laid off. Instead of spiraling, he used it as fuel to start Leadoff Studio — now one of New York’s go-to design consultancies for health & wellness brands. 

In this episode of Why Design, Jordan shares how he went from rejected by corporate to building a values-driven studio that’s helped startups like Roman and Dame become category leaders. 

Don’t just listen. Go beyond the podcast. Join the Why Design community → teamkodu.com/events 

What You’ll Learn 👇 

🔥 Why getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to him 

🏗️ The 5 values that drive every hire, project, and partnership at Leadoff 

🎯 How “niching down” created bigger opportunities 

📑 The portfolio formula that makes designers stand out 

👨‍👩‍👧 Why time > money when balancing family and business 

Memorable Quotes 

💬 “I got laid off with a kid on the way, and I was so happy.” 

💬 “Somebody else’s win should feel as important to you as your own.” 

💬 “Design isn’t just about objects, it’s communication.” 

Resources & Links 

🌍 Connect with Jordan Diatlo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordandiatlo/ 

🏢 Explore Leadoff Studio: https://leadoffstudio.com/ 

🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube → http://www.youtube.com/@whydesignpod 

📸 Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whydesignxkodu/ 

🎵 TikTok: @_whydesign 

👥 Join the Why Design community → teamkodu.com/events 

🔗 Follow Chris Whyte on LinkedIn 

🎧 Listen to Why Design on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Amazon Music → www.whydesign.club 

👉 Keep the conversation going! Join the Why Design community and go beyond the podcast → teamkodu.com/events 

📲 Subscribe to Why Design on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube so you never miss an episode. 

👥 If this resonated, share it with a friend or colleague who’s rethinking their career path. 

⚡ About Kodu 

Why Design is produced by Kodu, a recruitment partner to ambitious hardware brands, design consultancies, and product start-ups. We help founders and teams hire top talent across industrial design, mechanical engineering, and product leadership. Learn more → teamkodu.com