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. I recently launched the Chicago Public School Explorer. It helps families understand the schools around them and decide which one is the best fit for their child. I built the first version with AI tools, and it came together fast. But it looked and felt like every other AI-made app. That taught me a big lesson. AI can write the code, but it can't tell you what people need. Clear design and product thinking turned it from something generic into something people can actually use. In its first week, over 2,000 people visited the site.
4. 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.
5. 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!
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.