UX design is all about creating products that react to changing user needs and expectations and incorporating emerging trends into the design process. By taking this approach, we can guarantee that not only do the interfaces work well and feel intuitive but that they are engaging and forward-thinking. Aparna Unnikrishnan has been advancing UX design for over 17 years in the San Francisco Bay Area as a standout leader and mentor in the field. Her passion is innovation, and she is so dedicated to making technology more accessible and creating user experiences that deeply connect with people.
Currently, Aparna is heading UX design efforts for the Fire Tablets category at Amazon’s Device Design and Services organization. She focuses on designing entertainment-driven experiences that engage the users. She holds a Master’s degree from the Institute of Design at IIT Chicago and a Bachelor’s degree from the National Institute of Design, and her academic background backs up a varied industry experience. Aparna’s work with global companies like Amazon, SC Johnson & Sons, Whirlpool, and LG Electronics has made her an expert in strategic design and a person of excellence.
Today we’ll look at her role in encouraging innovation and cultivating tomorrow’s talent in the design industry, and how her mentorship influences careers and keeps things moving. Now let’s take a look at her influence.
Nurturing the next generation
Aparna’s mentoring philosophy was centered around learning and sharing with each other. “Mentoring, for me, is a two-way relationship—it’s not about one person teaching another, but both gaining something valuable from the interaction,” she explains. Based on this perspective, mentoring becomes a mutual effort of exchange of insights and information between a mentor and mentee. Her approach to her work embodies her ability to listen actively and to understand what each individual needs and offers unique needs.
What distinguishes her is her capacity to create a space in which mentees immediately feel welcome. She’s aware first meetings can be suffocating and prioritizes forming trust, respect and shared values first. This creates an open communication basis for productive exchanges and inspires mentees to be free with their questions, candid with their feedback, and be deep with their involvement. What follows is a very welcoming approach that leads people to be confident, and it helps people build wonderful relationships that help people grow both personally and professionally.
She is among the top 1% of mentors on the ADP List for her dedication to mentoring. “What distinguishes my approach is my unwavering commitment to the people I mentor,” she reflects, underscoring how much she values nurturing mentees beyond technical expertise—equipping them with the self-assurance and perseverance required to excel in the design industry.
Fostering a culture of growth
However, Aparna’s efforts aren’t just around encouraging individual mentorship. It is one of the cornerstones of UX design teams that she is also dedicated to developing. She leads by example, transparency and knowledge sharing. “In meetings, sharing context helps build trust, promotes understanding, and sparks productive discussions,” she explains.
Continuous reflection is also a tool for personal and team development, according to Aparna. She promotes open discussion around project processes, outcomes and collaborations, creating the chance to learn and improve performance. “Empathetic, honest feedback is crucial to personal growth,” she notes, emphasizing that care and understanding are essential components of effective leadership.
She doesn’t just talk about growing; she talks about sparking the structured initiatives of workshops and critiques that go along with it. “When we encourage participation and feedback, we build a culture of continuous improvement,” Aparna remarks. These efforts help empower team members to learn from each other, to be curious, and to collaborate so that the entire team grows together.
Rewarding mentorship moments
Mentoring emerging designers is something Aparna finds truly fulfilling work. “Seeing individuals overcome self-doubt, grow in confidence, and thrive in their careers is incredibly satisfying,” she shares. It’s greatest reward is watching her mentees transform on both a personal and professional basis.
Aparna no longer depends on rigid metrics of measurement as a definition of the success of her mentorship; it’s about the evolution of relationships. “The most meaningful measure of success is when mentees feel comfortable coming back for advice, even after the formal mentorship has ended,” she notes. The legacy of her influence is indicated by the continuity of her work, for that influence was not simply the result of the single sessions conducted with each of her mentees.
Overcoming challenges in mentorship
Rewards, however, are not the only thing that mentoring has to offer. The hardest part is finding the right fit between mentor and mentee. “Mismatches in values, working styles, or personalities are not uncommon,” Aparna explains. To combat this, she recommends that mentees develop long-term relationships with a handful of mentors. “Identify mentors you can connect with over time and invest in building those relationships,” she recommends, emphasizing that mentorship flourishes with consistency and mutual respect.
Mentorship also presents a challenge regarding time management since mentorship often falls outside of the scheduled meeting. Mentees may reach out for timely guidance at critical moments, Aparna notes. Balancing professional boundaries with being responsive is something we have to think about. She stresses that clear expectations enable empathy. “Effective mentorship demands both patience and open communication,” she advises, reinforcing the value of mutual understanding in navigating these challenges.
Inspiring as a judge and speaker
Aparna’s efforts at mentoring go beyond that. She is also a speaker and judge at industry events, inspiring emerging designers through her authenticity. These roles require humility, she stresses, because you never know it all. “My experiences may not resonate with everyone, so I’m always evolving, and I encourage an openness to discuss them and that people have respect for differing perspectives,” she says.
She often shares personal experiences – successes & failures, for that she believes in honesty creating great connections & conversations. “I think it’s through vulnerability that we create meaningful learning moments,” she says. She hopes that participants will feel inspired to go out and start their creative journey, whether that’s from new insights or shared experiences.
Balancing mentoring and professional responsibilities
Aparna has negotiated the territory of maintaining a rigorous career while having mentoring responsibilities and has learned to find ways to make both thrive. “It’s been a process of trial and error and aligning calendars and trying to set realistic boundaries,” she admits. In the beginning, she had trouble with scheduling issues, but platforms like ADP List helped her keep everything running to schedule. “These tools have simplified the logistical side of things, allowing me to focus fully on the interactions themselves,” she explains.
Aparna has dedicated specific time blocks now for mentoring and community contribution so that these don’t indirectly get in the way of her professional responsibilities. Having a structured approach allows me to honor both my professional and mentoring commitments without feeling overwhelmed,” she shares. This discipline balance allows her to do well in both spheres, giving her mentees the time they need while also focusing on her work.
Unnikrishnan’s individual accomplishments are only the tip of the iceberg of her influence — she’s also committed to being a mentor and to innovation. She helps foster talent and builds a supportive, collaborative environment, the like of which leaves a lasting impact on the design community. Not only does she enrich the current UX design landscape, but she inspires the next generation by both following her leadership and pushing boundaries, as well as by showing commitment to excelling. Aparna’s journey is a blueprint of meaningful mentorship – it’s not about spoon-feeding others so you can be seen as a great leader; it’s about enabling others to grow and succeed so you can be seen as a truly great leader.
