Naveen Rajadhyaksha

What I'm Doing Now

Last updated November 2026

1. I'm a lead product designer at Lyra Health. I own design for registration, accounts, and health plan integrations. In 2026, I led two new offerings for our centers of excellence. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Neuropsych Testing will launch in 2027. In short, I spend my days making employer-provided mental healthcare easier to access.
2. I've also worked as a designer at Navan, USAA, ConsenSys, and IBM. For seven years, I co-ran a strategy consulting company. We worked with clients like Microsoft, The World Bank, The Nature Conservancy, Mars, and Ancestry.
3. Lately, I've been learning local SEO and Google Business Pages. I use it to help small businesses get more customers online. Here's a list of clients I've built and kept up websites for:
   • Backstrom Acupuncture, a holistic wellness clinic in Ravenswood, Chicago
   • Chicago Rebuild Collective, a historic Chicago home remodeling company
   • Chicago Rentals, a busy real estate rentals company serving Chicago's most popular neighborhoods
   • Chicago Therapy Corner, a pediatric therapy office in Avondale, Chicago
   • CrestlineUSA, a land-buying service with a focus on 0% financing
   • Edelweiss Autowerks, a Porsche repair shop in Madison, WI
   • Jordan Speech-Language Therapy, a Chicago clinic focused on communication and feeding therapy
   • Leblon Fitness Club, a boutique gym in River North, Chicago
   • Vianna Brothers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a premier jiu-jitsu academy in Bucktown, Chicago
   • Wishbone Property Management, a short-term rental property manager in Michigan City, IN
   For my clients, I've boosted leads by almost 700%. I've taken sites from a few hundred visitors a year to thousands a month.
4. I live in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood. I love walking around Chicago's Northside and finding new places to eat and drink. As the winter months become a reality, I've been really into smash burgers. Two of my favorites are at Maplewood Tavern (their $20 Wednesday deal is amazing), and I recently found South Loop Market too!
5. I'm active in the design community. Early in my career, people were generous with their time, and I try to do the same for younger designers. While I want to share what I've learned, I most enjoy listening to what they're hoping to achieve. Right now, more than ever, I think it's important to encourage young people to become designers. It's a career that considers others instead of oneself. I recently got the opportunity to give three guest lectures to the senior class at my old university. I focused on how to build connections and relationships with the professional design community while you're still in school. I also shared some strategies for breaking down what a company might be looking for in a designer. You can view the slides here.
6. In fall 2025, we bought a second property in Michigan City, Indiana, to turn into a short-term rental. We just finished our first high season. Our biggest lesson: study the market to find your niche. We designed and furnished the space with young families in mind. Guests love the small touches, like a high chair, a pack-n-play, a white noise machine, and outdoor games. As winter comes, we're shifting our focus to medium-term rentals, and I've found this video very helpful.
7. I'm deepening my knowledge of real estate financing. Most people buy a house and treat it like a savings account, hoping it appreciates someday. I've learned that real estate investing takes more financial know-how. I've been reading about how to use HELOCs to grow a real estate portfolio. Two resources I've found helpful: The Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast and in-person meetups. Our goal is to use these strategies to buy a third property next year.