PeerSide Chats

In this captivating podcast episode, we accompany Dr. Marsja Stearnes, a senior UX researcher at US Bank with a PhD in Clinical Psychology, on her remarkable journey from navigating the corporate world to founding a non-profit organization called UXR Lab. Marsja shares her personal and professional UX journey, and the inception of a non-profit aimed at supporting UX researchers and small businesses alike. Her narrative is a testament to the power of determination and innovation in carving out paths for positive change. We invite you to listen to Marsja's inspiring story and let it ignite your imagination and creativity. Give it a listen.

Pauline Lai shares her incredible journey through the dynamic realms of web development, design, startups, agencies, and now teaching. Gain insights from her wealth of experience spanning decades, as she unravels the evolving landscape of these industries and offers invaluable lessons learned along the way. Discover the pivotal moments, challenges conquered, and the pearls of wisdom that have shaped her remarkable career trajectory. We hope she sparks your creativity and inspires your own path. Give it a listen.

Being in the UX space, we feel the pressures from our work, from meeting client expectations, churning out designs, or having to perform miracles for last-minute changes. Jutta Jerlich, an entrepreneurial mentor and a lecturer at Vienna University of Technology, helps us take a step back and truly appreciate the craft. Jutta stresses the importance of just being and captures the art of creativity through the power of peer collaboration. We hope she sparks your creativity and inspires your own path. Give it a listen.

Humanizing the job search feels impossible. Eric Sullano is a executive recruiter with a diverse background, from Product Management to Software Development, and he provides practical tips on how to make your dreams a reality. Come visualize your future with us by exploring different frameworks, from thinking backward from the endpoint of your career path to applying the double diamond to your career. We hope he sparks your creativity and inspires your own path. Give it a listen.

Jess Gardner is a storyteller and communication coach that unveils the power of storytelling. Whether its communicating a portfolio or presenting to client, we need to keep the audience in mind to have an impact. Let's stand out and get noticed. And remember, don't be afraid to ask for help. We are here for you. We hope she sparks your creativity, and inspires your own path. Give it a listen.

Larry Marine is a veteran UX Researcher with over 30 years of experience, and started before the term "UX" even existed. He had the unique opportunity to work with legends like Don Norman in the early days, and even collaborated with Debi Levitt, "The Mary Poppins of CX/UX". We also get a sneak peak about his new book "Disruptive Research" to explore how to drive revolutionary innovations through research and design. We hope he sparks your creativity, and inspires your own path. Give it a listen.If you want to learn more, check out his book:https://www.amazon.com/Disruptive-Research-Discover-Revolutionary-Innovations/dp/1734097701

Ying Chen started her journey with a double degree in English and Literature. Through her travels, she observed different cultures, worked at a branding consulting startup, and hustled to make the right connections to land a job as an Associate User Researcher in the gaming industry. Ying reminds us it is essential always to be learning throughout the UX journey, and we hope her story inspires your path.Give it a listen

This episode with Susana is very close to our hearts.Susana Roque Nunes made a career transition from a long-time healthcare professional to become a UX designer. Times were tough, and a decisive moment led her to embark on a journey to establish herself in UX. Just like many of us, she had to overcome self-doubts and insecurities, and the outcome was incredible. The secret to that success? She shared with us that it’s about not losing faith and staying focused on the process.Give it a listen

Everyone's UX journey is different. Steve Stremsterfer shares his story about how he broke into UX. From his years in graphic design, learning to code, and trying different boot camps; Steve tried it all. Listen in as he reveals his UX journey and the essential skills and tips he learned.We hope his story resonates with you and inspires your path as we continue on our UX journey.

Catherine shares her story about how she broke into UX. From her PhD program in Anthropology to the UXR Labs, we hope her story resonates with you and inspires your path as we continue on our UX journey.