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. Gla...

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...

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 jou...

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 g...

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...

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...

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...

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 y...

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. 💡 Do...

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 curios...

Feeling drained or uninspired in your UX job? You’re not alone. In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career , I’m sharing how burnout impacts your creativity — and how to reconnect with the passion and fulfillment you’ve been missing. You’ll learn how to: ✨ Recognize what burnout is really trying to tell you ✨ Reignite your creativity without quitting your job ✨ Realign your UX career with what t...

Ever walked into a keynote expecting a recap and left with your whole perspective on UX shifted? That happened to me at the Utah Front Conference when I heard Bob Baxley speak. In this episode, I break down four of Bob’s most powerful insights on UX, design leadership, and how software isn’t just functional—it moves people. From designing for emotion, to using AI thoughtfully, to making your impac...

What does it take to build a long, meaningful career in UX and stay relevant in an ever-changing industry? In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career , host Brittany Cates sits down with Jonathan Bond, a self-taught designer turned startup product lead with over 25 years of experience in UX and product design. Jonathan shares his inspiring journey from early days in design to leading product strate...

AI is everywhere right now: in products, in workflows, and in every strategy conversation. But how do you cut through the hype and actually use it in ways that make sense for both your product and your career? In this episode, I share my perspective on navigating the shift toward AI, the questions every designer should be asking, and why keeping a human-centered approach matters more than ever. 💡...

In this episode of 'Elevate Your UX Career,' Brittany Cates addresses the common frustration of UX research being ignored. Inspired by insights from the Utah Front Conference, Brittany shares actionable strategies to make your research more impactful. Key takeaways include embracing discomfort, valuing ambiguous insights, talking to unsatisfied users, presenting findings engagingly, and driving ac...

Want to future-proof your UX career and grow into a confident, strategic leader? In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career , host Brittany Cates welcomes Cori Jones, a seasoned UX designer and team leader with nearly 30 years of experience in the design industry. Cori shares timeless wisdom and fresh insight on what it really takes to build a meaningful and sustainable career in UX. From his early...

Deadlines are tight, processes are messy, and your role as a UX designer feels overlooked. Sound familiar? In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career , I share what it’s like to navigate a new team, deal with frustration, and keep your confidence when UX isn’t prioritized. Real stories, honest struggles, and a few things I’m learning along the way. Tune in and hear how to keep going without losing...

Ever feel like your product manager just doesn’t “get” UX? You’re advocating for users, pushing for research, and trying to make thoughtful design decisions… but your PM seems laser-focused on deadlines, features, and shipping fast. Frustrating, right? In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career , we’re diving into one of the biggest challenges mid-career UX designers face: working with PMs who don’...

What does it really take to lead in UX and stay creative in the process? In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career , host Brittany Cates sits down with JJ Riggs, a seasoned UX leader with an impressive background in design and brand management at companies like Purple Mattress, Divvy, and Bluehost. JJ shares her journey from graphic designer to UX leader, offering real-world insight into the chall...

Ever get asked, “What’s the ROI of UX?” Or feel like your work is seen as a “nice to have” instead of a strategic driver of business value? In this episode, I’m sharing a real moment from my product team that led to a tough but honest conversation about how companies evaluate the value of UX. We’ll talk about how to reframe UX work in business terms, how to advocate for improvements that don’t dir...

Have you been wondering what it really takes to get promoted to Senior UX Designer? In this episode, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes story of my own promotion, from the mindset shifts to the messy projects and cross-functional influence that made the biggest difference. If you’re craving more ownership, impact, and recognition in your UX career, this is for you. We’ll talk about what separates s...

If you’re a UX designer trying to grow your influence, stand out in a competitive job market, or lead through change, then this one’s for you. In this episode, I’m joined by Ben Peck, a design leader with nearly 20 years of experience. We dive into his career evolution from generalist to design leader, how he’s navigated change across startups and scaling companies, and what it takes to make an im...

Worried that AI might replace UX designers? You’re not alone—but here’s the truth: UX isn’t going away. It’s evolving. In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career , host Brittany Cates, senior UX designer and career coach, tackles the growing fear around artificial intelligence and its impact on UX jobs. She offers a refreshing, strategic perspective on how AI can augment rather than replace human-c...

Laid off? (Or afraid you might be?) Whether you’ve recently been impacted or you’re navigating the emotional fallout of seeing your teammates go, this episode of Elevate Your UX Career is here to help you process, reflect, and move forward. Join host Brittany Cates, senior UX designer and career coach, as she opens up about her own experiences with multiple rounds of layoffs. With honesty and empa...

Do you ever feel invisible on your UX team? Like your ideas aren’t taken seriously or your work goes unnoticed? You’re not alone and it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this solo episode of Elevate Your UX Career , Brittany Cates, senior product designer and career coach, breaks down three powerful mindset and communication shifts that can help mid-career UX designers go from overlooked to influe...