I often get asked how to build better working relationships—how to collaborate more effectively, communicate better, and create stronger teams. There are countless things I could talk about, from soft skills to leadership techniques. But if I had to choose just one, the thing that stands out more than anything else is captured perfectly in this quote:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou

In the world of design and development, we often obsess over technical skills—clean code, pixel-perfect layouts, optimized performance. But the further I go in my career, the more I realize that while those things are important, they’re not what truly set people apart. Emotional intelligence, the ability to connect, support, and uplift others, is what really matters.

I’ve worked with countless developers and designers over the years, some of them absolute wizards in their craft. But when I think about the people who have made the biggest impact on me, I don’t remember their GitHub commits or Figma files—I remember how they made me feel.

One person stands out above the rest: a manager I had many years ago, Tony. Tony was sharp, experienced, and great at his job, his technical skill was always amazing but what made him exceptional was how deeply he cared. It was obvious that my success mattered to him just as much—if not more—than his own. He taught me a ton, but more than anything, he made me feel valued, like I was capable of doing anything. That feeling changed how I saw myself, and it shaped the way I wanted to lead and mentor others.

In a digital world where we communicate through screens and collaborate across time zones, it’s easy to lose sight of the human side of our work. Metrics, deadlines, and efficiency take center stage, and somewhere along the way, we forget that behind every interface and every line of code, there’s a person.

And now, with AI stepping into the mix, technical skills are becoming even less of a differentiator. The tools are getting better—AI can generate code, design interfaces, and optimize workflows at a pace we never imagined. But the one thing it can’t do is form real, meaningful connections. That will always be our job.

So here’s my challenge to you: How do you want people to feel after working with you? Inspired? Encouraged? Respected? The real impact you leave won’t be in the code you write or the designs you ship—it’ll be in the way you made the people around you feel. That’s what lasts.