Tell us about yourself, Aditi
I grew up Aurangabad in India. My family are all creative in their own way. My dad and brother are both engineers and are always inventing ways to repurpose materials. Mum is a writer and a poet with degrees in law & psychology. She also works with an NGO to offer counselling to underprivileged kids. And my grandma was a brilliant cook – she never needed to follow a recipe.
I’ve always been very goal focused and I knew in grade 9 that I wanted to pursue a career in design. I wanted a career where I could express my creativity but also achieve my goals. There weren’t a lot of design colleges in India at the time, and with only around 200 admission spots each year, so it was competitive to get in. I spent my Year 11 & 12 preparing for the exams and putting my best foot forward. I was very fortunate to be accepted into design school.
I really enjoyed design school – it was unbelievable I get to build a career doing something I love! After I graduated, I worked in India for a couple of years before moving to Melbourne to peruse a master’s at RMIT.
What’s your role?
I collaborate with the Research and Engineering teams to create intuitive designs, grounded in research.
Why did you become a product designer?
Product design offers more than pure graphic design, it involves more complex problem solving. I felt there would be a ceiling to my learning if I stayed as a graphic designer for my whole career, so I was looking for my next big challenge.
Why Rely?
As a creative problem solver, I was excited to have the opportunity to build a new software platform from scratch and gain a real sense of achievement from getting things done.
Also, Rely is an ethical company and product, so I feel a sense of purpose because my work ultimately helps create better workplaces. That’s massive.
What makes Rely different?
Working for a B. Corp is important for me. I want to work for a company that has impact – Rely as a product makes a difference and we give back through Pledge 1% and the Alannah and Madeleine Foundation.
I also work with a great team. We have open and productive conversations about work and people take feedback at face value so I feel confident to speak up without having to navigate the complexity of office politics.
What would say to someone considering a job at Rely?
I would say “go for it”! Rely employs great people who care about your wellbeing, make sure your job is interesting and they value your contribution. It goes deeper than a watercooler conversation, they’re genuinely interested in knowing about you as a person.
