Speaker Introduction – Kimya Gandhi
Every now and then I come across someone whose work immediately makes me pause. Not because it’s loud. Not because it’s flashy. But because it feels grounded. Thoughtful and intentional. Beautiful. Sometimes I find this work when I fly through the internet, sometimes someone points me to it and sometimes people who create this work simply email me.
That was what Kimya Gandhi did. And when she emailed me and I checked her work, I felt what I have mentioned above and invited her to a video-chat with me, to find out who Kimya is and if she’d fit the idea of beyond tellerrand.
Well, I’m genuinely excited to welcome her to the beyond tellerrand stage. Next to her personality here is why …
Asking Better Questions
Kimya is a design leader working at the intersection of product, systems and organisational culture. But what interests me most isn’t a job title or a list of companies. It’s her mindset.
In a time where so much of our industry revolves around growth metrics, optimisation and speed, Kimya asks different questions, I think:
- Who does this serve?
- Who might it exclude?
- What kind of behaviours are we encouraging – consciously or not?
I deeply appreciate this perspective. Because design doesn’t happen in isolation. It shapes experiences, decisions and sometimes even values. And that comes with responsibility.
Beyond Craft
Of course, craft matters. But it is not the only thing that matters and what stands out in Kimya’s work is her ability to “zoom out”.
Design is never just interface. It’s systems. Incentives. Power structures. And last but not least: Culture.
She speaks about the realities of working within business constraints while still holding on to ethical principles. Not in a preachy way, not idealistic, but practical and honest.
That balance is something I find incredibly important and also rare.
Why I’m Looking Forward to Her Talk
I invite people to beyond tellerrand whose perspectives expand the conversation. Kimya does exactly that.
As far as I understand her talk will touch on:
- Building healthier product cultures
- Designing with long-term impact in mind
- Navigating leadership with empathy and clarity
- Aligning business goals with human needs
From what I’ve seen and heard, her sessions are thoughtful, sharp and reflective. The kind that stays with you.
I’m very much looking forward to having her on stage and to seeing the discussions her talk will spark afterwards in the hallway track.
If you care about design beyond trends and tools, this is one you don’t want to miss.