Design Leadership at Customer Data Platform Twilio Segment: Career Growth and Managing Teams

Kwasi's Journey to Twilio Segment

From Capital One Designer to Leading Segment: Career Insights on Design Management, Data Platforms, and Navigating Tech Acquisitions

Ever wondered how designers make the leap to leadership? Join us for a candid conversation with Kwasi Twum-Acheampong, who navigated his way from designing at Capital One to leading the design team at Twilio Segment.

Kwasi shares honestly about the complex, rewarding transition from hands-on design work to guiding a team of talented designers. (And yes, he admits that letting go of daily Figma work wasn't exactly easy!) He breaks down Segment's data platform in accessible terms—finally explaining what CDP and CDI actually mean without the technical jargon—and reveals how he maintained team culture through Twilio's acquisitions.

Whether you're a designer with leadership ambitions, curious about customer data platforms, or simply enjoy authentic stories of professional growth, this episode delivers insights with warmth, humor, and practical wisdom that you can apply to your own career journey.⁠⁠

Chapters

[00:00:00] From Capital One to Head of Design at Twilio Segment

[00:10:03] Design at Intuit, Mexico City, and Finding Your Next Role

[00:18:13] Head of Design at Segment Reaches Out & Interview Process

[00:22:48] Becoming a Manager and Handling 3 Reports

[00:25:00] Segment’s Data Platform: CDI, CDP, Audiences, Events, Tracking

[00:28:47] Segment’s Activation Rate and Making Human Solutions Digital

[00:35:24] Identifying Strengths and Letting Go of IC Work

[00:37:40] Twilio Acquires Segment & SendGrid and Co-Creating Culture

[00:45:05] How Managers Document Team Skills

[00:47:48] Side Hustles, Mi Casa, & Collaborating with Polish Design Agency

[00:50:49] Lightning Session ⚡️

Where to find Kwasi:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwasiuxd/

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I'm Sera Tajima, Climate Tech Advisor & Investor. 🤙

I talk about:

→ Product Growth Strategy (Growth, Design, AI)

→ Climate Tech

→ Venture Capital

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