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 the New Homes & Media design team 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.

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 work, you'll find me hiking National Parks on the Central Coast with my two kids, kayaking on Sydney Harbour, experimenting with new propagation techniques in my garden, or travelling with the family. As long as I can get 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

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Talks

Presenter at Friends of Figma Sydney with “The box was never yours” keynote, an honest talk about identity, leadership, and growing beyond professional moulds.

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Podcasts