“I got laid off weeks before my first child was born… and I was so happy.”

Most people panic when they lose a job.

Jordan Diatlo built a business.

Just weeks before becoming a dad, Jordan was laid off. Instead of spiraling, he used it as fuel to start Leadoff Studio — now one of New York’s go-to design consultancies for health & wellness brands.

In this episode of Why Design, Jordan shares how he went from rejected by corporate to building a values-driven studio that’s helped startups like Roman and Dame become category leaders.

Don’t just listen. Go beyond the podcast. Join the Why Design community → teamkodu.com/events

What You’ll Learn 👇

🔥 Why getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to him

🏗️ The 5 values that drive every hire, project, and partnership at Leadoff

🎯 How “niching down” created bigger opportunities

📑 The portfolio formula that makes designers stand out

👨‍👩‍👧 Why time > money when balancing family and business

Memorable Quotes

💬 “I got laid off with a kid on the way, and I was so happy.”

💬 “Somebody else’s win should feel as important to you as your own.”

💬 “Design isn’t just about objects, it’s communication.”

Resources & Links

🌍 Connect with Jordan Diatlo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordandiatlo/

🏢 Explore Leadoff Studio: https://leadoffstudio.com/

🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube → http://www.youtube.com/@whydesignpod

📸 Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whydesignxkodu/

🎵 TikTok: @_whydesign

👥 Join the Why Design community → teamkodu.com/events

🔗 Follow Chris Whyte on LinkedIn

🎧 Listen to Why Design on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Amazon Music → www.whydesign.club

👉 Keep the conversation going! Join the Why Design community and go beyond the podcast → teamkodu.com/events

📲 Subscribe to Why Design on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube so you never miss an episode.

👥 If this resonated, share it with a friend or colleague who’s rethinking their career path.

⚡ About Kodu

Why Design is produced by Kodu, a recruitment partner to ambitious hardware brands, design consultancies, and product start-ups. We help founders and teams hire top talent across industrial design, mechanical engineering, and product leadership. Learn more → teamkodu.com