Lola Akanmu is constantly balancing objectivity with heart. The trained journalist shares her experience at Pattern so far, the values that guide her work, and why learning and growth will forever remain her north star.
Tell us about your background. What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a journalist. I was born in Nigeria, then I immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager. But as a kid I remember sitting around with my family and watching the news together. The BBC is popular in Africa, so that was my standard for excellence. I especially admired Christiane Amanpour and the way she asks questions as a reporter. I wanted to ask thoughtful interview questions like her, but I didn’t know how I would get there. Fast forward to college, and I studied journalism and communication at Cal State, East Bay, and I interned at the college radio.
"It’s the small things that people remember most, and how we act or recover from challenges in those small moments stands out most of all."
How did you discover Pattern, and what’s your role today?
I spent five years working for a marketing company, and I learned a lot. Then I found my way into project coordinating. During my early agency years, I worked closely with Mike Janiak. His personality and work style always really resonated with me, so when I saw that he and Isaac had started Pattern, I knew I wanted to work with him again.
I joined the team as a project manager and am currently managing two big projects, and we have a lot more coming up soon. I love working at the intersection of creativity and project management, and that’s my role at Pattern. Ultimately, we’re responsible for making sure the creatives have what they need to do excellent work, and that our clients understand expectations, timelines, etc. I’m a people person, and I love helping people. I’m fascinated by watching the process of copy, design, and user experience blend together to deliver something that achieves a client’s goals.
What does a typical day look like for you?
In project management, no two days are the same, no two processes run the exact same way. Sometimes it feels like we’re in a lab. We test things and try things, sometimes they fail, sometimes they’re successful. But for us, the basic mainframe is there, and we’re really focused on understanding client expectations, then delivering on those.
In the span of a week, depending on where we are in the overall arc of the project, I check in with the team and revisit our goals. I ask the team, “What do we need to deliver? Is everybody feeling comfortable? Do we have questions? Every morning I Slack the team and give a high level, bulleted list of my focus that day. Then I spend my day in a mix of internal and client meetings, sending notes and follow ups, and checking in with our creatives to see how everything is tracking. I strive to be a voice of confidence to the client, and to make sure that every time we show up, we’re bringing our best and representing the Pattern brand. It’s the small things that people remember most, and how we act or recover from challenges in those small moments stands out most of all.
What’s it like to be a project manager on the Pattern team?
There’s no hierarchy at Pattern, so even as a new team member I feel like I have a voice. The team always has your back so it’s easy to take risks knowing you’ll be supported. It’s a cohesive group but I felt welcomed right away.
Johanna is my manager and the overarching project director. She was the first project manager at Pattern and she’s an amazing leader. We meet weekly to talk through any challenges that come up, and she’s always available if I need her. She brings a no stress, no fuss feeling to our work. There are times when I come to her with a challenge, but instead of getting flustered, she’s always super logical and ready to figure it out together. She’s easy to work with and encourages me to pursue my goals.
"Curiosity is such a normal part of my world. I ask a lot of questions. I’m always thirsting for knowledge and trying to figure things out."
What makes you proud to work at Pattern?
We just heard this morning that we got nominated for a Webby award. And while the accolades are nice, for me it’s the way we work that makes me proud. The way Mike functions as a leader, a designer, and a person is super inspiring. It’s a testament to his time and experience in the industry, and to his commitment to constantly improving at the craft. We got nominated because we have developed skills and pushed the limits on what’s possible in digital design for eCommerce brands.
What gets you stoked?
Going to work and knowing that I'm making a difference, and that my work has meaning. I also love being in a healthy workspace full of happy and fulfilled coworkers. Spending my days in a positive environment makes life so much better. I always aim to bring my own personal values to work, like treating coworkers and clients with dignity and respect, and then getting the same treatment in return. That gets me stoked.
Watching people do good work also helps me raise my game. I love working in a creative space and learning from different perspectives, I never take that for granted.
What’s next for you?
Right now I'm learning and growing, and growth is always my benchmark. Whenever I get to the point that I’m not growing, that’s when I reassess and make a change in my life. I’m fairly new to the Pattern team, and I feel like I’m in new soil. So now it’s time to get in the weeds, put my roots down, and see what grows out of this. I have plenty of challenges ahead, so I’m focused on putting in the time and effort, learning, growing, trying, testing things, and seeing where that leads.
Want to join Lola on our next project? We’re looking for UX designers, visual designers and project managers of all levels to join our team. If crafting award-winning digital experiences for emerging and established consumer brands is your thing, get in touch!
About Pattern
Pattern is a digital design & e-commerce agency that helps brands succeed in the experience economy. We design modern brands, eCommerce experiences, products & platforms that help founders, disruptors and visionaries find their place at the intersection of culture, community & commerce.
