From crossroads to clarity
Career coaching can feel abstract until you see what it actually produces: not just a better resume, but a talented person who trusts and fully embodies their own story — enough to sell it with confidence.
I’ve had the honor of working with two remarkable people this year in my classrooms — Karen-Happuch Henneh and Kyle Samonte — and their words say more about what this work looks like than I ever could.
Karen grew up in Ghana, West Africa, and has always loved design — especially design that helps people: “I don’t just design for people,” she says, “I design with them — listening closely, testing often, building experiences that feel inclusive and meaningful.” That belief was already there when she entered my class at a career crossroads, carrying a background and perspective that felt, to her, like something to explain away rather than lead with. In my class, she found the words for exactly what she wanted. And the thing she articulated in that room, she manifested.
“Josh’s guidance gave me clarity on exactly what I wanted and helped me position myself strategically for my next career move. He helped me own my story, communicate it with confidence, and see that my different background and perspective were not disadvantages, but strengths I could lead with. His advice was thoughtful, practical, and empowering, and it played a meaningful role in helping me land my dream job.”
Kyle came to MDes mid-pivot. He moved from Texas to the Bay Area to study computer science at Santa Clara — three years into it, he knew something was missing. A web usability course changed that: basic concepts, HCI, user-centered design — he’d never been more engaged in a class. He switched his major, finished his undergrad closer to the design world he was curious about, and then applied to MDes still hungry for more.
He arrived nervous, worried what everyone thought of his work, certain his inexperience was showing. What he found instead was a cohort of people from wildly different paths, all building each other up in critique and conversation. Partway through, in my Purpose to Practice course, he (along with the rest of the class, including Karen) received a small coin — one side reads “you decide,” the other “your value.” It sat on his desk every day after that, a daily reminder that he gets to define what his career looks like.
A few weeks ago, he spoke at his graduation. He shared with us that when he was initially asked to speak, his first reaction was disbelief — “why me, why not a real designer?” His second was clarity: the MDes program had given him belonging, a redefinition of what design actually is (empathy and authenticity over pixel-pushing), and permission to trust himself without waiting for someone else’s approval. He gave a phenomenal, heartfelt speech, and he continues to build the app he first piloted in my Form class last fall — also leaning into an entrepreneurial instinct that’s now central to his thinking.
“Josh is exceptionally skilled at helping others find clarity and confidence throughout their professional lives. I came to Josh at a career crossroads, not truly knowing where to go or how to get there. His refreshingly optimistic and thoughtfully empathetic approach to framing my experiences made it easy for me to focus on what I wanted from my next role and, more importantly, why I wanted it.
His vast knowledge added several tools to my job-seeking toolbox, from frameworks for constructing and presenting case studies to resources for discovering roles I didn’t even know I wanted. He made space for me to connect with my own purpose by considering my beliefs, motivations, and broader goals throughout my job search.
I admire his genuine care for understanding his clients and how he meets them where they are. I would not be the designer, the professional, or the person I am today without his guidance, and I highly recommend working with him if you get the chance. Thanks, Josh!”
Since officially launching my recruiting practice under the name PeopleWork in January 2023, I’m proud that every standout candidate I’ve placed or supported has come from a background historically underrepresented in tech and design — women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ professionals among them. As a queer man myself, this isn’t incidental to how I work; it’s central to it.
If you’re at a crossroads like Karen was, or newly out in the job market like Kyle — I’m here to help you.