From crossroads to clarity

Career coaching can feel abstract and amorphous until you witness what it produces: a person who trusts themselves enough to pitch their story with full confidence. Call it embodied storytelling; the talent is already there, and it benefits from honing and refinement.

I’ve had the honor of working with two such remarkable talents this year in my classrooms — Karen-Happuch Henneh and Kyle Samonte — and their words say more about this work than I ever could.

Karen grew up in Ghana, West Africa, and has always loved design. “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. But it felt heavy, burdened by what she felt was a lack of focus, as a public speaker, community builder, mentor, and educator. She initially wanted to explain away her versatility rather than lead with it. In my class, she found the words for exactly what she wanted to do next. 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 in the midst of a career pivot. He’d moved from Texas to the Bay Area to study computer science at Santa Clara University. Three years in, he knew something was missing. A web usability course accelerated his engagement in the material, sparking interest in HCI and user-centered design. He switched his major, finished his undergrad closer to the design world he was passionate about, and then applied to MDes still hungry for more.

Still, he arrived nervous, worried what everyone thought of his work, certain his newness was showing. Instead, what he found was a cohort of people from wildly different paths, all building each other up in critique and in 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.” From that day forward, it sits on his desk, a daily reminder that he gets to define what his career looks like.

A few weeks ago, he spoke at his graduation. He shared vulnerably that when he was asked to speak, his initial reaction was disbelief — “why me, why not a real designer?” He ultimately arrived at a place of clarity for himself and his value: the MDes program had given him not only belonging, but also permission to trust himself without waiting for someone else’s approval. He delivered a truly heartfelt speech. These days, he’s building the app he first piloted in my Form class last fall, and continues to lean 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 emergent in the job market like Kyle — I’m here to help you.