Meet Allegra Deangelo

We were lucky to catch up with Allegra Deangelo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Allegra, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Realizing that, while certainly not everyone suffers from some form of impostor syndrome, so many people do that we’re never alone in our feelings. Finding and connecting with people who feel the same way and want to commiserate, whether its about work, academics, personal interests, etc. helped me realize that we can support each other, and that no one is truly omniscient about any one topic or activity. I also find that in the moment, what helps me is channeling the energy of someone who doesn’t have impostor syndrome (i.e. “think like a [person in the typical demographic group for this situation]”) – because that person isn’t actually any more “qualified” to be there than anyone else, even if they’re an expert!

Aristotle famously wrote, “The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know” and this certainly still applies today. In an age where endless (sometimes inaccurate) information is at everyone’s fingertips, it’s hard to feel like you’re being your best when you feel those around you seem somehow more qualified than you. While listening is just as important of a conversational skill as speaking, I’ve found that by practicing asserting myself, and making the space to be heard when I have a thought I to share, as well as admitting when I don’t know something or asking for help, others respond favorably in the discussion and I can train myself to have confidence in my ability to participate. All of these skills take practice, like any other ability, and the more you work on it the more you’ll be able to flex those muscles when you need to.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I have a background in industrial design, and have worked as a furniture, retail, and graphic designer for many years, on everything from beauty brands to gardening supply companies, and everything in between, and have recently begun working as a sustainability consultant for consumer goods clients as well. Having graduated this spring (2024) from Harvard with a Master of Liberal Arts in sustainability, I’m currently figuring out my path forward in a way that bridges these two worlds that drive my passions – design and social/environmental sustainability. I’m currently working on freelance design projects in my long-time experience industry of beauty retail – designing graphics, communication, and displays for skin care and cosmetics brands – while I develop partnerships and startups in the environmental products space. Those long-term goals of bridging my two worlds, design and sustainability, are what drives me each day, and my professional journey continues to evolve from one week to the next! You can check out my work samples at www.allegra-design.us.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Persistence – learning to work hard, both at work and in life, is an invaluable skill that will not only benefit your productivity but your own happiness as well. When “good enough” isn’t good enough, you can be proud of what you accomplish, regardless of the outcome. It’s easy to do the bare minimum when your heart isn’t in something, but in my experience doing good work for my own peace of mind helps bring satisfaction to areas of my life that might otherwise be draining.

Boundaries – saying no to taking on more work, another project, attending a social gathering, etc. is crucial to maintaining mental health. It’s ok to turn things down and say no, especially if you’re not ready or unsure! Be transparent with people upfront, and figure out your own goals and needs so you can communicate them clearly to others.

Systems thinking – learning to see how seemingly disparate parts of an organization, company, group, etc. are connected can give you excellent insights that others will be quick to recognize and value. Read a book or take a quick course on systems thinking to start working on this skill, and you’ll see payoffs right away. It will not only help you find problems and solutions quicker, but it’ll expand your way of thinking and open your eyes to insights you might have otherwise overlooked. “Thinking in Systems” by Donella Meadows and “Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature” by Janine Benyus are both excellent places to start!

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

The best clients – and this applies to both design and sustainability clients – are the ones who let you work in your own way. Many clients hire consultants to execute solutions they already have in mind, or to tell them what they think they want to hear. The best clients, however, are those who are open to your ideas as the hired expert coming in with a fresh perspective, and who let you work at your own pace and in your own method to get to the right solution. Sometimes clients think they know what the problem at hand is, and a good client will be willing to listen when the expert does some digging and reports that the problem is actually something else entirely. (See my previous comments about the importance of thinking in systems!) The worst clients think they already know all the answers, and won’t accept what their consultants are presenting as solutions and can end up ruining their own project (just ask any designer – clients are their own worst enemy) while the best ones will see the difference between “here’s what you asked for” and “here’s what you really need,” and value your expertise.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.allegra-design.us
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allegradesign/