Are content design’s problems self-created? (Victor Beigelman, Meta)
Writers of Silicon Valley
Listen on: | Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! 👉 Get 25% off courses and workshops through April 6, 2025 at . 👉 Check out 👉 Victor's that sparked this conversation Rethinking influence, resentment, and the future of content design It’s easy (and often correct) to blame external factors for why content design doesn’t get the respect it deserves. But what if some of our biggest challenges are ones we’ve created ourselves? In this episode, Victor Beigelman, a longtime content designer at Meta, joins us for a candid conversation about how...
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How to defend your design decisions (Tom Greever)
Writers of Silicon Valley
Listen on: | Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! 👉 Get 20% off courses and workshops at . Just use the code PODCAST20 at checkout. 👉 Check out "" Mastering the art of defending your designs As a content designer, you’ve probably been asked, "Why did you use that word?" or "Why does this need to change?" Defending design decisions can be tough. Especially when feedback comes from stakeholders who might not fully understand content strategy. In this episode, Tom Greever, author of "Articulating Design Decisions", shares his framework for explaining and...
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The rise of UX writing in India (Sidika Sehgal)
Writers of Silicon Valley
Listen on: | Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! Get 20% off courses and workshops at . Just use the code PODCAST20 at checkout. The rise of UX writing in India UX writing is still a young discipline in India, but it’s growing—fast. In this episode, Sidika Sehgal shares what’s happening on the ground: the demand for UX writers, why hiring is so challenging, and how localization is reshaping product experiences in one of the world’s most diverse markets. Sidika, a content designer at Rubrik, has seen the industry evolve over the past few years. She explains why tech...
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From tech layoff to leadership (Cara Lam)
Writers of Silicon Valley
Listen on: | Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! Get 20% off courses and workshops at . Just use the code PODCAST20 at checkout. From layoff to leadership: How Cara Lam rebuilt her career Getting laid off is tough—but for content designers on work visas, it can feel like everything is on the line. When Cara Lam lost her job at Instagram during the wave of tech layoffs, she had just 60 days to figure out her next move or leave the country. What followed was a relentless job search, rejections, and a journey of self-discovery. In this episode, Cara shares how she bounced back,...
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How to survive burnout in tech and UX (Yvonne Xiao)
Writers of Silicon Valley
Listen on: | Do you enjoy the podcast? Get 20% off courses and workshops at UX Content Collective. Just use the code PODCAST20. Burnout isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a reality for many of us working in UX and tech. The long hours, the shifting priorities, the constant pressure to prove our value… it all adds up. And if you’re not careful, it can take a serious toll. Yvonne Xiao has been there. She’s worked at companies like Microsoft and Uber, navigating the highs and lows of content design in fast-paced environments. But instead of letting burnout define her career,...
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Forget tone - embrace systems thinking (Dave Connis)
Writers of Silicon Valley
Listen on: | Do you enjoy the podcast? Get 20% off courses and workshops at UX Content Collective. Just use the code PODCAST20. Content design has some growing up to do. Whether it's the things we talk about at conferences, or even the aspects of our job that we *think* are important (but really aren't), we need to see some change. Dave Connis, Lead Content Designer at OutSystems, has embraced systems thinking and he wants you to as well. Go beyond the deliverables we're used to (tone, style guides, etc) and start thinking about how to connect the elements of your product in...
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Why your support content sucks (Maring Eberlein)
Writers of Silicon Valley
Listen on: | Do you enjoy the podcast? We're proud to announce Maring's new course at UX Content Collective: . Get it now for 25% off! If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by terrible help center content, you’re not alone. Most of it sucks. But why? That’s why I’m excited to share this conversation with Maring Eberlein. Maring is a support content expert with a deep understanding of what makes help centers effective — and what makes them fail. She’s worked with companies large and small, transforming their support content from "just get it done" projects...
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Leading content design at Canva (Sally Bagshaw)
Writers of Silicon Valley
Listen on: | Do you enjoy the podcast? Canva is a true (Aussie) tech success story, and the content design practice there is no small reason why. One of the people leading that practice is Sally, Head of Content Design at Canva. Sally and I dive into how Canva has built one of the strongest content design practices in the world, why leadership is about more than managing people, and what content designers need to do to grow their careers. We also discuss why content design in Australia often feels a few steps behind the global stage and what Canva is doing to set an example. This was...
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Product vs content (Scott Kubie)
Writers of Silicon Valley
Listen on: Do you enjoy the podcast? ! A few weeks ago I that caused a little bit of a stir. I said that content designers need to do more in considering how content supports the greater product ecosystem...and why that lack of curiosity might be holding them back. In essence, I was asking: which is more important - product or content? I got a lot of great responses, but Scott Kubie's was one that stood out to me. His view was that my assessment of the situation was a little upside down, and that we should talk about it. So I did. Scott and I agree that content designers need to...
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Stop taking content work personally (Deiadora Blanche)
Writers of Silicon Valley
Listen on: Do you enjoy the podcast? ! Having trouble letting go? Deiadora Blanche (Airbnb, Coursera) can help. In this episode, we dive deep into the idea of ego detachment — letting go of personal attachment to the work we do. Deiadora shares her journey from business consulting to content strategy, and how she’s learned to balance personal growth with professional success. We also chat about thinking like a CEO, even when you’re not in leadership, and how content professionals can create their own success by setting metrics and driving results. Plus, Deiadora...
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From layoff to leadership: How Cara Lam rebuilt her career
Getting laid off is tough—but for content designers on work visas, it can feel like everything is on the line. When Cara Lam lost her job at Instagram during the wave of tech layoffs, she had just 60 days to figure out her next move or leave the country.
What followed was a relentless job search, rejections, and a journey of self-discovery. In this episode, Cara shares how she bounced back, the lessons she learned from her time at Meta, Venmo, NBC Universal, and Silicon Valley Bank, and why content designers need to embrace strategy, research, and resilience to stand out in today’s job market.
If you've ever struggled with layoffs, job hunting, or making your content career more sustainable, this conversation is packed with real talk, tactical advice, and industry insights you won’t want to miss.
What we talked about:
✅ How Cara moved across Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and the US—and stumbled into content design
✅ What it’s really like working at Instagram/Meta as a content designer
✅ The hackathon project that could have changed Instagram Stories forever
✅ How financial UX writing is different from other industries—and why it matters
✅ What it feels like to get laid off at a big tech company
✅ Job hunting after a layoff—how to survive endless rejections
✅ The power of referrals, LinkedIn outreach, and strategic networking
✅ How contract work helped Cara get back into the industry
✅ Interviewing like a pro—portfolio tips that helped her land a job
✅ Why every content designer should think like a business strategist
Notable quotes:
💬 "Your job can be taken away, but your skills and passion can’t." — Cara Lam
💬 "If you want to get hired, show that you understand how content affects business outcomes." — Cara Lam
Where to find Cara:
🔗 LinkedIn
📸 Instagram: @thecaraadventures
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