Hi, I’m Prarthana—though most people call me Praaa, but I much prefer Prarthana or PJ.
Over the years, I’ve gone by titles like fearless wingleader, vision commander, remover of obstacles, and tracker of outcomes. I’ve led with clarity, stumbled with humility, and kept showing up. Whether solo or as part of a leadership team, I focus on designing high-impact products, building joyful, high-performing teams, and making the invisible visible.
This blog, Unlikely Path, is where I share reflections from that journey—design leadership, the systems beneath our systems, career pivots, and the personal values that keep me grounded. It’s a place to explore what we often skip over: the messy middle, the quiet wins, the hard decisions, and the moments that change everything.
Recently, I wrapped up a multi-year chapter leading design at Atlassian—guiding platforms like Atlassian Home, global admin experiences, and foundational design systems across products. Before that, I helped shape experiences at companies like Shopify, SoundCloud, Microsoft, and Artefact. Now, I’m in a moment of reflection, transition, and intentional creation—writing more, advising others, and preparing for what’s next.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how I lead, and what drives me. At the heart of my leadership operating system are three values that guide my choices and actions:
- Adventure – leaning into change and discomfort, even when the path isn’t clear
- Health – prioritizing both mental and physical wellbeing, for myself and the people I lead
- Optimism – believing we can build better systems, better teams, and better futures—together
I write the way I think: a little raw, sometimes messy, often optimistic. You’ll find posts about design craft, strategy, leadership, hard lessons, and the patterns that shape how we work. I don’t write for algorithms—I write for people like me and maybe you.
Outside of work, I share life with my partner and our four boys. They’re loud, funny, and full of heart—our home is chaotic and deeply alive. We’ve lived across countries, chased adventure, and built something strong along the way.
Thanks for being here. Whether you’re reading for insight, solidarity, or just curiosity, I hope something here resonates. And if not, thanks for stopping by anyway.
