Leyla Jafarli
EMERGE - Class 09
I am a creative professional originally from Azerbaijan, living in Dublin, Ireland.
I would describe myself as curious by nature, which is reflected in both my personal and professional lives. Over the years, my curiosities revolved around video editing, acting, design, event planning, writing, singing, playing guitar, entrepreneurship, dancing, debating, and more. I haven't been successful in everything I was curious about, but I tried all of them, and some of them stuck with me for a long time.
I started my higher education with a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. During my studies, my huge interest in TED led me to organise two university TEDx events, with the help and commitment of 50+ amazing staff and volunteers. Meanwhile, I started my career as a graphic designer working in digital agencies and eventually transitioned into user experience design, where I found more passion. Throughout the past years in Dublin, I have pursued a master’s degree in Cyberpsychology and I’m working as a product designer in the software industry, where I’m designing products to make people’s jobs easier.
Being a design leader and advocating for human happiness has been quite a rewarding craft. In the world of complexity, I truly believe that everyone deserves pleasant digital experiences that give them peace of mind. On a more humorous note, I'm not sure if it's my people-pleasing personality that led me to my current job, or if it's my job that caused a professional deformation.