Shaping a "confident" voice as a Product Designer in a fast-paced environment

Has anyone ever told you to "speak up"? Or maybe you've gotten feedback like: "trust yourself more," or "you can be more confident—you know what you're talking about"? That used to be me. In my early years as a Product Designer, I transitioned from a small startup still chasing product–market fit to a growing scale-up. That shift didn’t just challenge my craft—it pushed me to find, and eventually trust, my voice as a designer and teammate. This is a reflection on how I built that voice, what helped me grow more confident, and what might help you if you’re on a similar path.

The quiet beginnings

I grew up shy and diligent—the quiet kid with good grades, the "smart cousin" in the family, but definitely not the social butterfly. I’d get nervous just talking to new people. Thankfully, I had outgoing friends who pulled me out of my shell. But that quiet nature stayed with me. Over time, it evolved into traits like “reserved,” “agreeable,” and “introverted”—which eventually followed me into the workplace.

As a junior designer, I defaulted to thinking others knew more than I did. I called it my “sponge” phase: “Let me learn everything before I say anything.” And honestly, at first, that mindset served me well.

This approach helped me build good instincts. I was soaking in best practices, watching how senior designers made decisions, and gradually forming my own taste. But here’s the twist: even as my skills grew, my confidence didn’t. I stayed quiet even when I had something valuable to add. I undervalued my work, waited for validation, and avoided conflict. This pattern eventually surfaced in 1:1s:

"Maria, you should trust yourself more."
"Maria, your work is solid—own it."

I knew I needed to work on this, but I didn’t know how. I asked one of my leads: “How do I become confident?” Their answer stuck with me:

“The key to confidence is knowledge and practice. Speak from experience. Even a small question can break false confidence—that’s where knowledge steps in. When applied with experience, it becomes trust in yourself.”

At the time, I didn’t feel confident enough to act on that advice. But something changed—not suddenly, but gradually. I stopped trying to be confident and just focused on getting better. Over time, I started showing up differently. Looking back, here’s how I’d describe the layers of that journey.

The three layers of building confidence

1. Absorb first: let curiosity lead
This was my learning phase—the one where I quietly watched, asked questions, and tried to connect the dots. I didn’t realize it then, but this foundation of knowledge and observation would become the core of my confidence later on. What felt like passivity was actually preparation.

2. Notice your growth: from learner to contributor
At some point, things shifted. People began asking me for input. I found myself explaining ideas I once struggled with. I wasn’t just absorbing anymore—I was contributing. The problem? I hadn’t caught up to my own growth. Others saw my value before I did. I was still waiting for permission to speak, long after I’d earned it.

3. Own your voice: show up intentionally
Eventually, I stopped waiting. I realized I didn’t need to speak the loudest—I just needed to speak with intention, clarity, and curiosity. Confidence became less about certainty and more about contribution. I still asked questions, but now I asked them to move work forward—not just to catch up.

What helped me (and might help you)

If you're in your own “sponge” phase or just trying to feel more solid in your voice, here are a few things that helped me:

• Learn by watching. Study people who do it well. What language do they use? How do they present themselves and their work?

• Practice without pressure. Speak up in safe rooms: small critiques, 1:1s, async comments.

• Track your growth. Record yourself. Revisit old projects. Notice what you’d do differently now. That’s progress.

• Ask for feedback—early and often. Not just on what you did, but how you showed up.

• Don’t wait to be “ready.” Try, reflect, try again. That’s how confidence happens.

One last takeaway

Confidence isn’t a loud voice, or a outgoing personality trait. It’s a byproduct of doing the work, learning from it, and showing up again the next day—just a little more grounded than you were before.

If you’re still in the early stages, keep going. Confidence isn’t a switch you flip. It’s something that quietly builds while you’re busy learning, caring, and growing.

One day you’ll look back and realize: you’re not waiting to be confident anymore. You’re just being yourself—and that’s enough.