About

The longer story.

How I got here

I started in graphic design but quickly moved toward product — I liked solving problems more than polishing pixels.

Since then, I've spent 17 years leading design at startups and growth-stage companies. I've scaled teams, built systems, and shipped products across platforms.

I also code. I've shipped production features in React and Next.js, which means I prototype fast, speak engineering fluently, and understand the constraints my team is working with.

I care about craft. Not in a precious way — in a "the details compound" way. Small choices add up to products that feel right.

Mahdi Farra

17+
Years Experience: 5
Countries: 1→6
Team Scaled: 25
Person Org Led

Where I've lived

Amman, Jordan
Until 2013
Dubai, UAE
2013-2014
Rotterdam, Netherlands
2014-2016
Boston, MA
2016-2018
Bay Area, CA
2018-Present

What's on rotation

Podcasts & books

All podcasts All books

Outside of work

Piano, guitar, photography, sketching, and hunting for the best restaurants in the Bay Area.

Mahdi Farra playing electric guitar — Playing guitar

A few sketches from my iPad — iPad sketches

Mahdi Farra's photo from Venice, Italy trip — Venice, Italy

Mahdi enjoying pizza with salami and pesto at a restaurant — Fav Pizza in Redwood City

Travelers at Schiphol Airport arriving to the Netherlands — First time in Amsterdam

View of Pacifica neighborhood from Mori Point hiking trail — Mori Point, Pacifica

Rocky coastline with waves crashing at Mori Point — Mori Point coastline

Dutch bike by a pond with fountain in Rotterdam park — My bike in Rotterdam

Bikes on a bridge over Amsterdam canal with traditional houses — Amsterdam canal

Iced latte in a mason jar on desk with keyboard and monitor — Iced latte at desk

Latte with tulip art in speckled mug on espresso machine — Homemade latte art

Lobster roll with fries and butter sauce — Lobster rolls = life

Vintage Macintosh SE on modern desk with mechanical keyboard — Macintosh SE

MacBook Pro at cafe with latte, remote working — Remote work at cafe

Scheveningen beach boardwalk with people and beach clubs — Scheveningen Beach

Mahdi Farra playing electric guitar — Playing guitar

A few sketches from my iPad — iPad sketches

Mahdi Farra's photo from Venice, Italy trip — Venice, Italy

Mahdi enjoying pizza with salami and pesto at a restaurant — Fav Pizza in Redwood City

Travelers at Schiphol Airport arriving to the Netherlands — First time in Amsterdam

View of Pacifica neighborhood from Mori Point hiking trail — Mori Point, Pacifica

Rocky coastline with waves crashing at Mori Point — Mori Point coastline

Dutch bike by a pond with fountain in Rotterdam park — My bike in Rotterdam

Bikes on a bridge over Amsterdam canal with traditional houses — Amsterdam canal

Iced latte in a mason jar on desk with keyboard and monitor — Iced latte at desk

Latte with tulip art in speckled mug on espresso machine — Homemade latte art

Lobster roll with fries and butter sauce — Lobster rolls = life

Vintage Macintosh SE on modern desk with mechanical keyboard — Macintosh SE

MacBook Pro at cafe with latte, remote working — Remote work at cafe

Scheveningen beach boardwalk with people and beach clubs — Scheveningen Beach

Mahdi Farra playing electric guitar — Playing guitar

A few sketches from my iPad — iPad sketches

Mahdi Farra's photo from Venice, Italy trip — Venice, Italy

Mahdi enjoying pizza with salami and pesto at a restaurant — Fav Pizza in Redwood City

Travelers at Schiphol Airport arriving to the Netherlands — First time in Amsterdam

View of Pacifica neighborhood from Mori Point hiking trail — Mori Point, Pacifica

Rocky coastline with waves crashing at Mori Point — Mori Point coastline

Dutch bike by a pond with fountain in Rotterdam park — My bike in Rotterdam

Bikes on a bridge over Amsterdam canal with traditional houses — Amsterdam canal

Iced latte in a mason jar on desk with keyboard and monitor — Iced latte at desk

Latte with tulip art in speckled mug on espresso machine — Homemade latte art

Lobster roll with fries and butter sauce — Lobster rolls = life

Vintage Macintosh SE on modern desk with mechanical keyboard — Macintosh SE

MacBook Pro at cafe with latte, remote working — Remote work at cafe

Scheveningen beach boardwalk with people and beach clubs — Scheveningen Beach