Elevate Your UX Career

What separates a good UX designer from a truly impactful one? It’s not just your wireframes or research methods. It’s your ability to understand people on a deeper, cultural level. In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career, host Brittany Cates sits down with Gladys Rosa Mendoza, a senior experience researcher and strategist whose career has spanned powerhouse brands like Meta and Inner World. Gladys shares her inspiring journey from visual designer to UX research leader, revealing how empathy, storytelling, and cultural awareness have shaped her approach to human-centered design. You’ll learn: ✅ How to build cultural awareness into your UX research and design process ✅ Why trust and psychological safety are essential for team success ✅ How to create immersive research presentations that drive action ✅ The evolving role of UX research in the age of AI ✅ What mid-level UX professionals can do right now to grow their influence and impact If you’re ready to become a more thoughtful, culturally aware, and strategic UX professional, this episode will show you how to elevate both your craft and your leadership. 💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list 🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates

If you’ve been feeling the pressure to “keep up” in a field that moves faster than ever, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. We’re breaking down what actually keeps you relevant as a mid-career UX designer — and spoiler: it’s not mastering every new tool, trend, or AI feature that drops. It’s learning how to stay adaptable, strategic, and visible… even when the industry shifts under your feet. In this episode, you’ll learn: The timeless UX skills that never go out of style How to work with AI instead of feeling threatened by it Why business understanding is your secret weapon How to make your value visible inside and outside your company The tiny actions that compound into massive career growth By the end, you’re going to walk away with clarity, confidence, and a plan for becoming the kind of designer who’s impossible to overlook — no matter how fast things change. 💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list 🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates

Many designers hit a point where growth feels out of reach. But what if the key isn’t working harder… it’s finding alignment? In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career, host Brittany Cates sits down with Steven Steiner, a seasoned UX designer and career coach based in San Francisco, to talk about how to build a UX career that fits your life, not just your résumé. Steven shares lessons from his journey from Design Director to Career Coach, revealing how to overcome career stagnation, create a clear career strategy, and stand out in a competitive UX job market. You’ll learn: - How to align your career goals with your personal values - The right way to use industry language on your résumé - Why AI is transforming UX job searches — and how to adapt - Practical networking strategies to grow your influence and opportunities If you’re a mid-career UX designer ready to gain clarity, confidence, and momentum, this episode will give you the roadmap you need. 💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list 🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates

This week, as we head into Thanksgiving, we’re hitting pause on the chaos, the burnout, and the career frustrations, and focusing on gratitude in UX. Even in a challenging job market, with tight deadlines, difficult stakeholders, and moments when it feels like your work goes unnoticed, there’s still so much to appreciate about being a UX designer. In this episode, you’ll discover: 🍂 How to find gratitude in the work you get to do 🍂 Why even the hard growth moments are worth appreciating 🍂 The power of community and connection with other designers By the end of this episode, you’ll have a fresh perspective and a simple challenge to reflect on what’s meaningful in your career—and how practicing gratitude can actually boost your confidence, resilience, and impact as a UX designer. 🎧 Tune in, take a deep breath, and let yourself feel grateful for the work you do and the difference you make. 💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list 🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates

You’ve probably spent a ton of time sharpening your UX skills, like mastering Figma, running usability tests, refining your design process. But here’s the truth: the skills that will really move your career forward aren’t always the ones in your portfolio. In this episode, we’re talking about the soft skills every UX designer needs but that no one’s really talking about. These are the skills that help you communicate your ideas with confidence, build trust with your team, and handle the emotional ups and downs that come with the job. You’ll learn: ✨ Why empathy for your teammates is just as important as empathy for your users ✨ How to communicate your design decisions so people actually listen ✨ How to manage your energy and emotions so you don’t burn out By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away knowing exactly which skill to start strengthening and how to apply it right away to elevate your influence and impact as a designer. 🎧 Tune in and get ready to show up as the kind of designer people love to work with. 💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list 🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates

Are you tired of doing great UX work that no one seems to notice? In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career, host Brittany Cates breaks down how to shift from “pixel pusher” to strategic partner. You’ll learn how to make your UX work visible, communicate your value clearly, and earn a seat at the strategy table. Tune in to discover: How to simplify your UX presentations so stakeholders actually understand your impact The secret to linking design insights to business goals and metrics Why sharing your work early (even when it’s messy) builds trust and visibility A practical weekly challenge to start growing your influence right now If you’re ready to be seen as more than the UI designer, and start shaping decisions, not just designing screens, this episode is for you. 💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list 🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates

What happens when a top teacher turns her curiosity for human behavior into a career in UX research? In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career, host Brittany Cates sits down with Heidi Austin, a Lead UX Researcher at SeatGeek and former Massachusetts Teacher of the Year nominee, to explore how her teaching background shaped her strategic approach to UX research and product design. Heidi shares her inspiring journey from the classroom to tech, revealing how empathy, data, and a deep understanding of human behavior drive meaningful innovation. She also dives into: - How she built and scaled the UX research function at SeatGeek - What strategic UX planning looks like for growing research teams - The power of mixed methods research in influencing product direction - How AI is transforming the future of UX research If you’re a UX researcher, designer, or UX leader ready to take a more strategic, research-first approach to your work, this episode is packed with insights on how to connect human understanding with business impact. 💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list 🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates

Want to take your UX career to the next level and be seen as a strategic, influential designer? In this episode, we dive into how mid-career UX designers can build influence, lead with strategy, and make their work unforgettable. Learn why storytelling is the key to communicating your design decisions clearly, and discover how connecting your work to business goals can elevate your impact across your team and organization. I share actionable tips for presenting your work with clarity and confidence, plus a practical challenge to help you immediately apply storytelling and strategic thinking to your next project. If you’re ready to think strategically, influence decisions, and grow your UX career, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. 💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list 🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates

Feeling pressure to keep up with every new UX tool or AI trend? In today's episode, we focus on why the future of UX belongs to designers who think strategically...not just those who master tools. Learn how to strengthen your UX strategy, connect design decisions to business goals, and showcase your thinking in your portfolio so you can grow your influence and stand out as a senior designer. 💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list 🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates

There's one skill every UX designer needs to level up their career...are you using it? In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career, Brittany Cates sits down with Erin Ziebart, a UX producer who knows how to turn curiosity into career growth. Erin shares her journey from Christian ministry to UX design, including her work at Atomic Health, Blink Path, and freelancing for startups. Discover how curiosity (the one skill you need to grow in UX) can help you: - Identify user pain points and design better experiences - Collaborate effectively with clients and cross-functional teams - Navigate challenges in UX projects - Stay ahead of emerging trends like AI in design Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your UX career to the next level, Erin’s insights will inspire you to ask more questions, explore opportunities, and continuously learn.  💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list 🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates