Last month, Shelly joined an inspiring lineup of creatives on the AAPIDA panel, Designing Forward. Moderated by Lynn Juang and joined by Rhobin DelaCruz, Ming Thompson, and Jeremy Levitt, the entrepreneurs reflected on the lessons they’ve learned throughout their careers.
The conversation went beyond just design. It touched on leadership, culture, and what it really means to build something of your own. This month marks nine years of Hyphen, a milestone rooted in reflection and forward momentum. Anniversaries allow us to put things into perspective. They remind us that entrepreneurship is about having a vision, staying resilient, and being able to adapt.
If you’ve been toying with the idea of going out on your own but carry around a notebook full of questions (and maybe a little hesitation), consider this your sign. In the spirit of our anniversary, we’ve rounded up the standout insights from these incredible panelists:
Ming Thompson, Atelier Cho Thompson, on Work-Life Layering
As a mom and business owner, Ming shared that the idea of a perfectly balanced work-life split has always felt unrealistic. Instead, she reframed it as work-life integration, understanding that work and life naturally overlap. With the pandemic, however, the overlap became too integrated.
Now, Ming champions a more intentional approach she calls work-life layering. It acknowledges that both work and life exist, just not simultaneously. “Work doesn’t stop at 5 pm, and life doesn’t stop at 9 am,” she explained, “But when I’m doing something, I’m only doing that one thing.”
Jeremy Levitt, Parts & Labor Design, on Setting the Tone
Jeremy spoke about two critical shifts that come with building your own business: reputation and tone. When you’re the founder, everything carries more weight, “it’s your name on the door now.” Beyond the quality of the work itself, Jeremy emphasized the importance of the internal culture you create. The tone you set becomes the tone of the company. He’s intentional about fostering an environment where his team knows their voices matter (you were hired for a reason!). Ideas are encouraged, curiosity is celebrated, and mistakes aren’t feared.
Shelly Lynch-Sparks, Hyphen & Co., on Tapping into Your Community
In the rush of starting a business, and then sustaining growth, it’s easy to get swept up in the constant motion of work. Shelly explained the importance of taking the time to check in with the people around you: “I’m an inquisitive person, I always want to know what other people are doing.”
She reminded us that while it can feel intimidating (or even uncomfortable) to reach out to your network, those connections are often the ones that will support you the most. Too often, people let fear or pride stand in the way, but genuine curiosity can lead to meaningful conversations, shared insight, and real uplift when you need it the most.
Rhobin DelaCruz, Rhobin DelaCruz Designs, on Knowing Your Strengths
Rhobin emphasized the power of truly knowing your strengths and recognizing when to take a step back. “The moment of admitting ‘I don’t know everything’ is when everything changed.”
He spoke about the grace it takes to pause, reflect, and reconnect with your why. That willingness to step back is a reset that brings clarity, strengthens decision-making, and ultimately supports a healthier mindset and more resilient business.
Whether you’re just beginning to imagine what your own business could look like, or you’re already deep in the day-to-day, these insights are a reminder that no one has it all figured out. Thank you to these panelists for their honesty, and to AAPIDA for creating a space where conversations can happen openly. Growth comes from curiosity, community, and giving yourself the permission to evolve.
Taking questions,
From the Corner Chaise