Katie Dill is the VP and Head of Design at Lyft. She was the former Director of Experience Design at AirBnB. Graduating with a degree in History, Katie stumbled into design – specifically, industrial design – after realising her love for inventing little things around the house. She considers her experience at AirBnB and Lyft as something that helps develop communities through leveraging hospitality and customer experience.
Which three books would you recommend?
How to Win Friends & Influence PeopleDale Carnegie
This book is very powerful; sharing lessons useful in life and work. This book helped me better see things from others' points of view and recognize the importance of honoring individuals and their primary concerns. While the book is quite old, the lessons are timeless. I've read it three times and it's made me a better wife, teammate, and leader.
FountainheadAyn Rand
Makers of all types would love this! Ayn Rand's philosophy is controversial, but this book is loved by (almost) all. It's a story of integrity, passion, dedication, and accomplishment. Many of us struggle with wanting approval from others. This book talks about the importance of sticking to your beliefs and honoring your individualism. It's truly inspiring and has helped me grow in my profession of design where one must have the confidence to break from the status quo and drive for innovation.
Leonardo Da VinciWalter Isaacson
Issacson does an amazing job humanizing this incredible historical figure. Da Vinci was a genius and accomplished so much, but he also had his struggles. What powered him and made him so successful was his unrelenting curiosity and growth mindset. Reading this you can't help but imagine with a little bit more curiousty and growth mindset, maybe we can all be a little bit more like Da Vinci :-)
Whose reading list are you most curious about?
Writers!! They know what works! As for the subject matter... I too often read books about what I do: design and leadership. I want to read more about areas I know less about, from people that are quite different from me. In particular, I am interested in history and am eager to hear the stories of social justice leaders.