Mentorship in Product Design
In our latest video series, we are pulling back the curtain on what a real mentorship dynamic looks like here at Zalando. We sat down with Saige McNeal, a Junior Product Designer, and Xen Szymczak, a Principal Product Designer, to discuss the reality of their professional relationship.
From battling perfectionism to navigating career pivots, their conversations reveal that growth is rarely a straight line.
2 min
09 December 2025
Stop hiding your rough work.
We often think mentorship is just about learning new skills, but sometimes it’s about unlearning old habits.
The biggest lesson learned so far? Vulnerability improves collaboration.
Waiting until a design is "perfect" before showing it to stakeholders usually backfires. Bringing rough options early sparks the right conversations sooner.
Growth is not linear.
Imposter syndrome is real - especially when you’re pivoting careers.
Saige went from being a teacher to a Junior Product Designer. That transition requires not just hard skills, but the confidence to speak up for your needs in a new environment.
The beautiful part of mentorship? It flows both ways. As Xen points out, explaining concepts to a mentee reminds mentors just how much expert knowledge they've actually accumulated.
Key takeaway: Speak up for your needs. Your unique background is a feature, not a bug.
How do you celebrate the wins?
In the grind of a long project, it’s easy to forget the progress you’re making.
For Saige, celebrating wins means showing gratitude to the people who helped her get there. For Xen, it’s about acknowledging the micro-steps, not just the final launch.
If you wait for the "big milestone" to be happy, you’ll spend most of your career waiting.
Should everyone find a mentor?
You might expect the answer to be a resounding "Yes." But Saige and Xen have a more nuanced take: It has to be intentional.
Mentorship isn't a box to tick. It’s a relationship built on trust and shared vision. If you show up just for the sake of "having a mentor," neither side wins.
Before you ask someone to mentor you, ask yourself: What is the specific vision I want to achieve?
