I’m Amanda Maykot. Thanks for stopping by.

I’m a design leader with 18+ years of experience shaping digital products across Australia, Brazil, and Europe. Today, I lead design at REA Group, where I focus on building empowered teams, elevating design’s impact in the business, and creating products that truly make a difference in people’s lives.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked across startups, scale-ups, and global organisations, helping businesses move from early-stage ideas to mature, scalable solutions. My strength lies in connecting design strategy with business outcomes: defining visions, building cross-functional alignment, and enabling designers to thrive in their craft and careers.

A large group of diverse people posing for a photo in a conference room, with some sitting and others standing, and a large screen with video call participants in the background.
A woman with medium-length brown hair wearing a colorful sweater with green, pink, and blue. She is smiling and sitting in an indoor setting with a brick wall and some plants in the background.

Journey

I believe great design leadership is about more than outcomes on a screen—it’s about nurturing teams, creating clarity in complexity, and ensuring design has a strong voice at the decision-making table. I take pride in building inclusive, collaborative environments where creativity, functionality, and accountability can coexist.

Some highlights of my journey so far:

➸ Leading design for one of Australia’s most influential digital brands, REA Group.

➸ Guiding cross-functional teams to launch award-winning products like Athena Home Loans, Freely and more.

➸ Mentoring female founders and small businesses in regional Australia to scale their impact through ‘Inspiring Rare Birds’

➸ Driving initiatives in sustainability, social impact, and innovation—areas I care deeply about.

Outside of work, you’ll find me exploring parks around the Central Coast with my two kids, kayaking on Sydney Harbour, experimenting with new propagation techniques in my garden, or travelling (always requesting the window seat).

If you’d like to talk about design leadership, social impact, or shaping high-performing teams, I’d love to connect.

Download my resume

Highlights

Publications

Book cover titled 'Women in Leadership' with the subtitle '100 Stories packed with honest and direct advice. Shared struggles and fresh perspectives.'

Featured in Women in Leadership
Top 10 best-selling business books in Australia 2023

BUY BOOK

Community

Logo and title slide for 'designtalks' event, with the subtitle 'Bringing together designers and industry leaders,' organized by REA Group, on a blue background.

Created and lead REA Design Chats, a bimonthly public-facing design event that connects REA with global industry leaders

CHECK EVENTS

Podcasts

Black and white headshot of Amanda Maykot, Product Design Manager at REA Group, with a background featuring small square photos and a podcast logo.

Interviewed by Newy Tech People podcast, with Ellen Bennett.

WATCH

Awards

Cannes Lions logo with black text and an orange lion illustration

Silver and Bronze, Cannes Lions Awards
Gold and Silver, El Ojo de Iberoamerica
Silver Pencil, One Show Design
and others

SEE MORE

Clients

Collection of logos from various organizations and brands, including REA Group, Freely, Coca-Cola, Athena, Zipp, NSW Government, and others.

Don’t be shy,
say hi!

I’m open to advising and mentoring opportunities. Feel free to contact me or connect on Linked In