Ardhra Sivasankaran

Cohort 22, MCDM, Microsoft

Where in the world is this workspace located?

This is a picture of me working out of the Allen Library. The UW libraries have almost been like a second home to me. I found inspiration in the shared spaces of Odegaard, and plenty of incredible stories in the quiet corners of Suzzallo .

What is the story of one object in this photo that is meaningful for you and why? 

The bookshelves. Before moving to the United States to pursue my master’s degree, a scene I often visualized was of spending time in a library. Stories and books have always been integral to me; I grew up with a lot of books that my mom got me. Thanks to the UW’s regal libraries, I found a sense of home amongst the bookshelves.

What did you create in this space?

I created a lot of my master’s projects in the libraries, including several versions of my portfolios and resumes. A dear friend of mine once even steamed us some sweet baos in Odegaard for a mid-work snack, haha.

• Check out some of Ardhra’s student work on her multimedia travelogue, as well as one of her essays, Walking in Wonderment.

How did your Comm Lead experience influence what you’re working on today?

I’m currently working as a content designer for security UX at Microsoft, and Comm Lead definitely influenced my growth and increased my chances toward entering this field. Comm Lead exposed me to the various aspects of communications, content strategy, marketing and UX, alongside several people skills, such as showing up as a leader at all levels, giving me the broad perspective I came to the UW for.

The instructors proactively introduced emergent technologies — such as AI — into our classes to make them an addition, as opposed to thinking of any of it as a replacement for our skills. The department also keeps updating classes to keep up with the times.

I particularly loved the course called Persuading Ethical UX Design, taught by senior affiliate instructor David Evans, who works for Microsoft as a director of research. There’s so much AI technology coming out — as UX designers, do we know how to push for the right decisions for the people using our products? Do we know how to deal with people’s data appropriately, especially in a sector like health care? And if we end up on work teams where ethics are not being prioritized, how do we deal with it? These are some of the big questions this class tries to answer.

Another favorite of mine was instructor Rob Salkowitz’s Comics and Transmedia Storytelling. I think everyone should take classes that are creative and inspiring, beyond being something that directly aligns with professional pathways. I found the learning particularly enriching, as well as in Professional Longform Writing with instructor Anita Crofts.

Beyond the classroom experiences, I also had the fortune of coming across a strong community in Comm Lead, especially a supportive network of kind and helpful instructors and alumni. At the UW, I dove into experiences that I can now say have helped me fulfill some of my longtime curiosities and dreams.

What is one of the best pieces of career advice you’ve ever gotten?

I’m someone with a blend of interesting backgrounds, which I’m grateful for, but have been challenging to navigate. I have a tech background and wanted to formally educate myself in communications and branding, but along the way, I developed an increasing attraction toward building products and contributing to product decisions. I’ve spent countless hours worrying about how I can make myself useful in this world of fixed roles, titles and degrees.

As for advice, I once asked a friend, “What if I never find something I love?” He said, “If you can’t find it, you create it.”

So I did. And I hope to continue creating my path. 😊

Thanks to Ardhra for this conversation! Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity. Interviews conducted by David Hirning, January 2025. Photo credit: Srihari Rajashekar. Find Ardhra on LinkedIn.