We were lucky to have Jacalin Ding lead us through an interactive workshop and engaging group discussion on communicating your value at SydDT #119 on Thursday night.
So many great insights and a practical session to help us craft our story that builds visibility, trust, value alignment, and career momentum – especially in interviews and first impressions.
There were three key takeaways Jac promised, and she delivered!
- Re-evaluate your life journey and identify your unique superpowers
- Learn a simple, powerful storytelling framework
- Create a clear, confident personal story you can start sharing immediately
Thanks to everyone who came along and made it such a fun night. Couldn’t make it or just want to relive it? Watch it now.
A huge thanks to Jac for generously sharing your experience and insight… and for braving the jetlag after jumping off a plane back from Europe that morning! There was so much great conversation and a buzz in the room.
Thanks to Shanna Wong who did the awesome live graphic recording this month. This initiative is a collaboration with Sh8peshifters and their Think Visual Morning Meetups community. SydDT is a friendly environment for people to practice their live graphic recording skills.
A shout out and thanks to Bex Haar for another great write-up with her reflections and key takeaways.
Kylie was the lead organiser for this one, and a massive thanks to Kate Linton from Thoughtworks, Alan Chen and Diana Ayoub from Sh8peshifters, and Dynamic4 for making it all happen.
Our next meetup is SydDT #121: State of the Design Nation with Ben Crothers & Nila Rezaei on Thursday, 13 November… brought to you by Atlassian, Sh8peshifters, and Dynamic4. Grab your ticket!
Meetup Announcement
Thursday, 9 October 2025 @ 6pm. Thoughtworks, Sydney
You’ve done the work. You’ve built great products. You’ve led teams. Now it’s time to tell your story.
You are equipped with superpowers that make you unique, yet these often get hidden behind your job title. Being able to tell your impactful story in its full glory puts you in a completely different light.
When done right, your story builds visibility, trust, value alignment, and career momentum, especially in interviews and first impressions.
Join us for a live in-person interactive workshop to reframe your unique story with Jacalin Ding.
New members are welcome! If you’re not already a member, feel free to join our community.
Key Takeaways:
- Re-evaluate your life journey and identify your unique superpowers
- Learn a simple, powerful storytelling framework
- Create a clear, confident personal story you can start sharing immediately
Live, practical, and zero fluff. Let’s make your superpowers visible.
Sign up to this event and opt-in for the following learning series on “Communication” with Jacalin Ding. This is first of three “communication” workshops designed to elevate your professional presence:
- Communicating Your Value – In person, 9 October, Sydney
- Pitch with Purpose – Virtual, Date TBC
- Your Voice is Your Brand – Virtual, Date TBC
Speakers
Jacalin Ding is a seasoned product design leader and business strategist with over 15 years of experience in building and leading design teams and products. She has collaborated with startups, enterprises, and agencies across New York, Vancouver, Tokyo, Singapore, and Sydney.
As a strategic business designer, Jacalin has worked directly with CEOs and founders, helping to raise millions in funding for their businesses. She has also successfully built a side business that generates multiple six figures in annual revenue.
Since 2018, Jacalin’s courses have empowered over 10,000 designers to connect design with business success. She has coached designers from leading companies including Google, DoorDash, LinkedIn, Visa and Atlassian.
Jac will be supported by Kylie.
Kylie is a seasoned design and product recruitment and talent specialist with years of experience helping professionals showcase their skills, experience and impact in ways that open doors.
She’s recruited for some of Australia’s most prominent organisations from Big 4 banks and government institutions to fast-moving Series A startups, giving her a unique perspective on the different landscapes, cultures, and communication styles that thrive in each.
Her career has given her a front row seat to what makes candidates stand out in competitive markets and she now shares those insights through practical frameworks.
Event Sponsors
This event is brought to you by Thoughtworks, Lanson Partners, Sh8peshifters, and Dynamic4.
We take photos and record our events for documentation and promo purposes. Just let us know if you prefer not to be featured.
