The Designer News
MENTOR TASK MANAGEMENT: PLEAD ING FOR SOLUTION AFTER INCREASED CASELOAD
Since Pathrise's inception in 2018, mentors have relied on a mix of tools—Asana, Google Docs, Google Calendar—to manage their daily tasks. Yet, the workload continued to grow, leaving mentors overwhelmed and without a streamlined solution.
As part of the team spearheading this initiative, I helped design the first-ever internal Task Management System (TMS). This new platform empowers Career Mentors to efficiently track and complete their asynchronous tasks, transforming how they manage their workload.
In just five years, Pathrise grew from two individuals in a bedroom helping friends secure jobs to helping over 2,000 people land careers in tech. By 2022, the platform had helped more than 500 students achieve an average salary increase of 50%.
As the number of students in the program grew, mentors faced an increasing workload, leading to diminishing work efficiency. More tasks went overdue, and supervisors found themselves stuck in unproductive cycles.
Critical time-sensitive tasks were frequently overlooked. The Platform app had become a chaotic, disorganized space.
The goal of this project was to streamline the process for mentors, enabling them to efficiently manage tasks while also allowing task assignments to be quickly adjusted. We aimed to build a robust foundation that could adapt to the fast-paced changes in the business and accommodate the growing number of students.
Our primary objectives were to (1) Simplify task management for mentors, providing an overview of all required tasks. (2) Offer managers valuable statistics on mentor performance. (3) Allow new tasks to be easily assigned to all mentors at once.
I was responsible for leading the design of the task management tool over a span of nine months, working closely with three product managers, three engineers, and a co-founder. The app was launched in two months, with a few rounds of iterations.
To better understand the challenges faced by both mentors and managers, we interviewed five individuals from each group, representing a range of performance levels.
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Career Connect: Pathrise launches PLG product after receiving $10 million in funds
For an eternity, the job application process has remained unchanged. Send hundreds of applications and hope they don’t vanish into the void. Pathrise flipped the script—helping people apply 3x faster and land jobs with 2x the compensation. But success has its quirks. In 5 years, Pathrise
had tripled its students, but the app was struggling to keep up. It became the tech equivalent of an overstuffed filing cabinet—slow, clunky, and unable to adapt to the growing demands of the modern job hunt. Tasked with redesigning the outreach experience, I joined the team to make recruiter outreach not just better but smarter, faster, and dare I say, enjoyable. In just five years, Pathrise grew from two friends helping peers land jobs in their bedroom to a powerhouse that helped over 2,000 individuals secure careers in tech. By 2022, Pathrise supported more than 500 students, achieving an average
Read Full Article: Career Connect
Product designer, Hilary, and her weekend hobbies
Atitlan, Guatemala - Nestled within the stunning landscape of Lake Atitlan are several villages offering picturesque Airbnb accommodations, catering to travelers in search of personal renewal. Among these lodgings is a two-story modern loft that boasts breathtaking views and complimentary water activities. However, one visitor opted to forgo stand-up paddle boarding due to concerns over water quality. Instead, she chose a kayak as her means of exploration. Unbeknownst to her, the intense sun would leave a lasting tan, marking her experience at the iconic lake. The tranquil waters and surrounding mountains provided a perfect backdrop for her leisurely adventure. The surrounding landscape presented itself, which was nothing short of breathtaking and truly awe-inspiring. The climber paused briefly in their ascent, allowing their eyes to wander across the sprawling vistas of lush, verdant hills and the shimmering
Read Full Article: Meet the Product Designer
The Rebrand: Pathrise’s first company rebrand fails after budget cuts reduce marketing spend
Pathrise’s original brand was crafted by its founders to embody a young, hip, and bubbly personality. Think bubble gum meets Silicon Valley—fresh and full of promise. While this approach resonated during the company’s early days, the hiccups of startup life led to a less-than-glamorous reputation. Negative reviews began to pile up, and the once-vibrant identity found itself rebranded by internet sleuths as “scammy” across platforms like Reddit, Quora, and Trustpilot.
