Ladies Who Create - Episode 13: Maya Ealey

In this episode, hosts Liz Meyer and Jess Rosenberg sit down with the incredibly talented Maya Ealey, a prolific brand designer, illustrator, and author who has left her mark on some of the most beloved products in the tech industry (Getaround, Lyft, Asana, Square, and Yahoo - to name just a few!) Maya shares invaluable advice for aspiring creatives, insights into balancing client expectations with artistic vision, and exercises that help her hone her craft. Dive deep into the creation of her impactful book, "The Anti-Racist Vocab Guide: An Illustrated Introduction to Dismantling Anti-Blackness" and explore her thoughts on delivering powerful messages through her work.
More about Maya:
Maya Ealey is an author and multi-hyphenate creative leader based in sunny SF Bay Area specializing in art direction, brand design and illustration. Her love for color, technology, representation and nostalgia is reflected throughout her work. Maya is currently a Brand Design Lead at Yahoo where she's focused on brand evolution and expression across Yahoo's product ecosystem. Outside of her 9-5, she also maintains an independent practice as an editorial illustrator, working for a number of clients - including Harvard Business Review, The HuffPost, Independent Magazine, Rebel Girls, Apple, Eddie Bauer and Another Planet Entertainment. Her book, "The Anti-Racist Vocab Guide: An Illustrated Introduction to Dismantling Anti-Blackness" is available for purchase here.
LinkedIn: / mayaealey
Website: www.mayaealey.com/
Twitter: x.com/MayaEaley
00:47 Welcoming Maya Ealey
01:37 Maya's Early Creative Journey
04:54 Transition to Brand Design
11:01 Startup Experience and Growth
16:43 In-House vs. Freelance
26:33 Personal Branding and Identity
29:41 Creating the Anti-Racist Vocab Guide
32:31 The Long Journey of Writing a Book
36:12 Transformative Experience and Personal Growth
40:28 Creative Identity and Leadership Roles
44:18 Challenges in Brand Expression within Products
54:24 Future Dream Projects
59:24 The Impact of Creatives on the World
01:02:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts