Episode #5
Different by Design | The Power of NOT Fitting In ft. Milka Broukhim
What if never fitting in became your greatest creative advantage? In this episode of The Developing Life Podcast , Heather Crank sits down with multidisciplinary creative leader, educator, and designer Milka Broukhim for a powerful conversation about identity, resilience, experimentation, burnout, AI—and what it really takes to stay creative in a world that constantly asks us to produce more. Born in Iran, Milka's life changed during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, when she left her home as a young teenager and eventually rebuilt her life in the United States. Learning to navigate a new language, culture, and sense of belonging would later shape something unexpected: an ability to embrace uncertainty rather than fear it. That mindset became a defining force throughout her creative career. Milka went on to study at UCLA and ArtCenter College of Design, explore interactive multimedia before UX/UI had a name, teach and mentor generations of designers, and eventually join Snap during a pivotal period in the company's growth. But this conversation goes far beyond an impressive career. Milka and Heather explore why some of our best ideas emerge when we stop chasing perfection , why psychological safety matters for creative teams, and how experimentation gives us permission to discover solutions we couldn't have planned in advance. They also confront something many creatives know intimately: burnout . After experiencing it herself, Milka began thinking differently about what creative people actually need to thrive. Innovation isn't simply about producing more. It's about protecting curiosity, creating room for experimentation, and building environments where people aren't afraid to make mistakes. And then there's AI. Milka embraces its possibilities while raising an important question for today's creators: As AI becomes more capable, how do we make sure we don't surrender the human intuition that makes our work meaningful? In this episode, you'll hear about: Leaving Iran and rebuilding a life in America Turning uncertainty into a creative advantage Designing interactive experiences before UX/UI had a name Why mistakes and experimentation are essential to creativity Teaching, mentorship, and psychological safety Milka's journey from educator to creative leader at Snap Working inside the intensity of a rapidly growing technology company Creative burnout and rediscovering curiosity Why sometimes 75% really is enough to ship AI, human intuition, and the future of creativity Why making with our hands still matters Whether you're a designer, creative director, educator, entrepreneur, innovator, or simply someone trying to find your place in a changing world , this conversation is a reminder that the parts of your story that make you different may also be the source of your greatest creative strength. Maybe the goal was never to fit the mold. Connect with and support Milka https://www.linkedin.com/in/milkabroukhim/ https://www.milka.design/ Suggest topics, guests, show your love or tell us how we can improve! Support the show LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPING TEAM AND CONTINUE THE CREATIVE CONVERSATION LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/groups/14310677/ WEBSITE: thedevelopinglife.com/ FOLLOW TEAM MEMBERS Heather Crank | crahmanti.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/heather-crank-crahmanti/ Tru Adams | truatart.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/tru-adams/ Davron Bowman | thedevelopinglife.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/davron-bowman/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #Design #Creativity #Technology #AIinDesign #HumanConnection #CreativeBusiness #HumanStories #Podcast
