Today is my buddy Liz’s last day at mat (mclane advanced technologies). Liz’s tenure at mat was as much a result of me helping another designer begin a career as it was a strategic move on my part to start a healthy design practice. Liz was an invaluable member of my team and continued to be a strong contributor after I moved on earlier this year.

In spite of Liz appointing me as her mentor, Liz actually taught me a thing or two. The most important is to stay grounded: when solving a problem or pursuing an idea, keep an eye towards the concrete and stay pragmatic (or risk losing support from your team members). Most importantly, Liz gives me the opportunity to try new ideas and teach concepts in a way that makes these things more real and practical for my work. Through teaching, I learn.

Good luck in your new endeavor, Liz Dykes. “Stay hungry. Stay foolish”—Steve Jobs