Welcome to an extra special episode of LeanCast! Today, we have a fantastic treat for you as our usual host, Behrad Mirafshar, takes on the role of a guest speaker at the amazing SPICED Academy. He was invited to share his extensive experiences, including insights from starting and running his design agency, Bonanza Design. In this engaging podcast, Behrad starts by sharing his journey and the trials he faced early in his career. He highlights the value of taking initiative, a crucial personality trait for career advancement. Initiative, as he defines it, is taking action on things that you believe will create an impact without requiring someone else's explicit instruction. Behrad graciously walks us through the inception of Bonanza Design. He introduces the services offered by the agency, which includes everything from UX design to growth work. By leveraging agile, Lean, and Design Thinking methodologies, Bonanza Design aims to drive impact and deliver remarkable results to its clients. During the podcast, Behrad offers invaluable advice for up-and-coming designers looking to make a mark in the industry. He emphasizes the importance of showcasing a clear understanding of the design process and being outcome-oriented rather than merely focusing on outputs. He encourages aspiring designers to conduct multiple iterations and to continuously refine their skills to stand out in the competitive global creative industry. With the discussion moving forward, Behrad delves into the exciting topic of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and how they can be utilized for utility rather than just for expensive PNGs. He highlights NFT ticketing as an example of how NFTs can be harnessed to solve real-world problems for businesses. In the Q&A session, Behrad answers questions from eager participants, sharing more insights on the design process and how to enter the design job market. He emphasizes the importance of training, honing one's craft, and producing work consistently to build a strong portfolio and stand out among the competition. Overall, this episode of LeanCast is an enriching experience, filled with valuable advice and practical insights from a seasoned professional like Behrad Mirafshar. Whether you're an aspiring designer or a design enthusiast, this podcast is sure to inspire and guide you on your own design journey. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn and grow from this engaging discussion! Join our Discord Community here. Check out our UX Gym Training Program here.