If the thought of networking makes you want to hide behind your laptop, this conversation is for you. Metsy Rose and J Schuh continue their conversation with Brian Sullivan, Executive Director of Big Design, about community building, professional connection, and why product, design, research, and strategy professionals need to get out of their bubbles. Brian shares practical advice for introverts, explains why community should be built before a crisis, and explores how authentic networking creates stronger careers, better problem-solving, and more resilient teams. For anyone navigating modern digital work, this episode is a warm reminder that your network is not just about opportunity. It is about connection. Pull up a chair and join the conversation.

Product and design teams talk a lot about empathy for users, but what about empathy for each other? J and Metsy explore the moments that first taught them empathy mattered more than skill, then connect those lessons to the daily partnership between product and design. They unpack the hidden pressures both roles carry, why playbooks are often “always in progress,” and how curiosity, positive energy, and small systems can build trust. The result: better collaboration, better outcomes, and less burnout.