“I think everyone deserves to feel that sense of clarity and ownership in their careers:” Lakshmi Manikantan on Career Growth at Lattice

Lakshmi Manikantan is a Product Design Manager at Lattice, where she has worked for over 2 years. Here, we talk to her about her journey to Product Design, the ERGs she’s a member of, how Lattice helped her grow in her career, and so much more.

How did you get started in Product Design?

I did Psychology in college and was very fascinated with the idea of changing behaviors and opinions. I started in Marketing Design when I graduated, focusing on ads, landing pages, physical collateral, etc. But I learned more about Product Design and how you could build products that change how people behave and interact with a product.

I took some online classes and started trying my hand at it with a few freelance projects. I fell in love with it and never turned back!

What drew you to Lattice?

I really like Lattice’s mission of making work meaningful, and the Lattice Grow product particularly spoke to me. I have definitely struggled with my own career growth, not knowing where I need to grow, what skills to develop, or how to develop those skills. All that resulted in me feeling frustrated that I wasn’t “going anywhere.”

Lattice Grow puts employees in the driver’s seat of their own career development, and I think everyone deserves to feel that sense of clarity and ownership in their careers. 

What’s your favorite part of working here?

The Latticians are my favorite thing about Lattice. They’re a group of humble, collaborative, smart, and kind people that make coming to work a joy.

What ERGs are you a member of?

I’m a part of Lattice Ladies, our Women’s ERG, and LOUD (Latticians Organizing for Unity and Diversity), for People of Color at Lattice.

One of my favorite rituals is “Friday Highlights” in the Lattice Ladies Slack channel, where ERG members share any highlights from their week. It’s a great way to give some gratitude, celebrate one another, and end the week on a positive note!

Favorite Lattice Slack Channel and why?

#soc-no-context — it’s a channel where members post something absurd or silly someone says in a meeting, but without any of the context. So it’s a mystery to everyone reading why someone would have said that. 

One of my favorite posts was “Puka shell necklaces meets cat teeth” by Matt P, an Engineering Manager. 

What’s something you’re passionate about outside of your job?

I love singing and making music with my partner. We don’t post it anywhere, mostly it’s just time for us to jam together and have fun. We met in high school and did a lot of musicals and stage shows together, so this is a chance for us to get back to those roots.

How do you think Lattice has helped you grow in your career?

When I started at Lattice, I was an individual contributor. I was interested in management, but also nervous to try it out.

My amazing manager Jared found opportunities for me to practice the various skills needed for management: process changes, focus on people, facilitation skills, etc. And when there was synergy, he gave me the opportunity to not only transition but to also do it in a sustainable way. I’m very grateful for the opportunity and excited to continue this new journey!

Cheez-Its or Goldfish?

Oooo I’d say neither lol ;) More of a Ritz cracker person!

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Lattice works with People teams across the globe to turn managers into leaders, employees into high-performers, and companies into the best places to work. Interested in joining our team? Check our Careers page for all open positions across a variety of departments.