Brave UX with Brendan Jarvis 🇺🇦

Changying (Z) Zheng brings calm thinking to DesignOps — showing how clarity, storytelling, and ruthless prioritisation help design teams thrive .   ======   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Why Design Needs to Prove Its Value 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 02:30 – From Graphic Design to Design Ops Leadership 05:40 – Running a Dairy-Free Dessert Business and Learning Calm Leadership 10:00 – Leading Without Drama and Seeing Multiple Perspectives 13:00 – Design Ops as Service Design for Design Teams 16:00 – Storytelling, Outcomes, and Speaking the Language of Business 18:45 – Earning and Keeping a Seat at the Table 21:00 – Moving from Ticket Taking to Strategic Design Work 26:00 – Saying No Kindly and Introducing Office Hours 32:00 – People, Process, and Platform as Core Pillars 36:00 – Becoming the Connective Tissue Across Orgs 42:00 – Growing Into Product Ops at Cloudflare 55:00 – Communication as the Connective Tissue of Ops 1:10:00 – A Two-by-Two Framework for Career Development     ======   Who is Changying (Z) Zheng?   Changying (Z) Zheng is a Director of Product Operations at Cloudflare, where she’s scaled the operational backbone of one of the internet’s most recognisable infrastructure companies .   She has:   Started as a team of one and built thriving design and research operations   Worked in agencies, higher education, and at companies like Akamai, VMware, and Nasdaq   Founded and ran her own retail business   Delivered talks at The DevOps Conference and DesignOps Summit, shaping how people understand DesignOps in technical environments   ======   Find Changying (Z) Zheng here:   LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/changyingz/ Website → https://www.changyingart.com/   ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Jake Burghardt explores why so much research goes unused , why timing matters more than tools , and how to transform insights into real impact for teams and strategy .   ======   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Why Careers Shouldn’t Hinge on One Team 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 01:27 – Jake’s Work at Amazon and the Intersection of Ops 03:00 – Early Days: Patents, Psychology, and Consulting Work 05:46 – Becoming a Generalist Across Disciplines 08:05 – The Rise of Research, Design, and Product Ops 10:12 – Writing Stop Wasting Research and the Story Behind the Title 13:45 – Timing Research to Influence Planning Cycles 16:52 – Who Can Reduce Research Waste in Large Orgs? 21:14 – Root Causes of Research Waste: Preparation, Motivation, Integration 27:09 – The Challenge of Prioritising Insights 31:30 – What Competitors Would Pay to Know You Forgot 36:32 – Tools, Repositories, and Making Insights Stick 42:00 – Practical Ways to Promote Overlooked Insights 1:03:00 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Jake   ======   Who is Jake Burghardt?   Jake Burghardt is a veteran of the research, product, and design worlds, helping organisations close the gap between what they know and what they act on. His upcoming book, *Stop Wasting Research*, offers a new framework for turning insights into action.   ======   Find Jake Burghardt here:   LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeburghardt/ Blog → https://medium.com/integrating-research  Newsletter → https://www.integratingresearch.com/newsletter Book: Stop Wasting Research → https://www.integratingresearch.com/#book   ======   Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Ehab Bandar shares why creative freedom, curiosity, and human connection matter more than ever in design — exploring how resilience, adaptability, and gratitude shape a lasting career in UX .   ======   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Designing with First Principles in Mind 00:45 – Welcome and Introduction 02:10 – Meet Ehab Bandar 04:20 – From Architecture to Design Strategy 07:05 – Founding Big Tomorrow and Its Mission 10:40 – Learning from Corporate Clients and Early Struggles 14:00 – Why Culture Shapes Every Design Decision 17:45 – Balancing Human Needs and Business Demands 22:18 – The Role of Design in Tackling Climate Change 27:00 – Shifting From Growth at All Costs to Responsible Growth 31:42 – Why Designers Must Think Like Futurists 36:15 – Systemic Design and the Power of Long-Term Thinking 41:00 – Teaching Organizations to See the Bigger Picture 46:20 – Why Leadership Needs a Broader Design Lens 52:05 – Building Resilience in Times of Uncertainty 57:30 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Ehab   ======   Who is Ehab Bandar?   Ehab Bandar is a seasoned UX design leader and independent consultant whose career spans fintech, real estate, hospitality, and beyond .   He has: Led design teams for clients like Airbnb and Charles Schwab   Founded Bigtable, a design and innovation consulting firm   Shared insights through *The Experience Architect* newsletter   Taught graduate design courses at the Academy of Art University   ======   Find Ehab Bandar here:   LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehabbandar/ Bigtable → https://bigtable.co/ Website → https://www.ehabbandar.com/ Substack → https://ehabbandar.substack.com/   ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Chetana Deorah explores what it means to step off the career treadmill , rediscover creativity beyond metrics , and build a life rooted in connection, community, and courage —sharing why the most meaningful design often begins within .   ======   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Growing Up in a Sheltered Business Family 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 02:11 – Meet Chetana Deorah 03:24 – Opening with a Poem by Sri Aurobindo 04:30 – Leaving Silicon Valley and Returning to India 07:30 – Life and Purpose in Auroville 12:00 – Yoga as Union, Not Just Asana 13:34 – Leaving India to Resist Cultural Norms 17:38 – The Marriage Path She Refused 20:16 – Her Father’s Rebellious Influence and Strength 25:00 – Seeing India Change While Living Abroad 29:00 – Asking: “Is There Another Ladder to Climb?” 33:01 – From Busyness to Learning How to Do Nothing 42:54 – Creativity and Community Projects in Auroville 50:00 – Rethinking Money, Growth, and Human Unity 57:30 – Lessons From Silicon Valley on Bravery and Growth   ======   Who is Chetana Deorah?   Chetana Deorah is a seasoned design leader, educator, and community builder whose career bridges tech, creativity, and social impact .   She has: Led product design at Netflix, Scribd, Yahoo, Pivotal Labs, and Pentagram   Shaped global digital experiences for hundreds of millions of users   Founded community projects in India focused on art, sustainability, and human connection   Chosen a new path outside Silicon Valley to explore soulful, human-centered design   ======   Find Chetana Deorah here:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetanadeorah/   ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Thomas Girard brings a thoughtful lens to design, creativity, and resilience 🌍 — sharing why processes matter 🧠, and how the quiet work of reflection can shape the future of design 🚀. ====== Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Why Design’s Processes Still Matter 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 02:09 – Meet Thomas Girard 04:19 – Family Legacy, Photography, and Airports as “Non-Places” 07:33 – Cultural Similarities and Craving the Familiar 11:38 – Cities That Shaped Thomas’s Design Perspective 12:24 – Preparing for and Delivering a Two-Minute TED Talk 17:04 – Listening to Yourself While Public Speaking 19:00 – Overcoming Stage Fright and Speaking as an Introvert 21:30 – Breaking Out of the Design Echo Chamber 23:03 – The Strengths and Future of Design Education 27:00 – Pairing Design and AI Without Losing the Human Lens 33:07 – Low-Fidelity Prototyping Through Conversation 35:00 – Launching and Growing the Unique Ways Podcast 50:24 – Life or Death Typography and Teaching Students to See Type 57:30 – What Designers Must Not Lose as the Field Evolves ====== Who is Thomas Girard? Thomas Girard is a design educator, writer, and speaker whose work bridges creativity, innovation, and resilience 🌍. He has: ✅ Delivered keynotes at UXIndia and Sorbonne University   ✅ Earned multiple Emerging Scholar awards for his contributions to design   ✅ Authored the memoir Son of Greg Girard ✅ Built UNIQUEWAYS, a podcast uncovering different perspectives on success and creativity ====== Find Thomas Girard here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onthomas/ Podcast: https://uniqueways.ca ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Theresa Neil is reshaping the future of healthcare 🚀, challenging outdated systems 🧠, and championing women’s health innovation when it’s needed most 🌍 — reminding us that the stakes in design have never been higher ❤️. ====== Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Why “Move Fast and Break Things” Doesn’t Work in Healthcare 01:00 – Welcome and Introduction 02:11 – Meet Theresa Neil 03:03 – From Chef to UX Designer 05:22 – Early UX Work at Sabre and Founding Guidea 14:09 – Building a Woman-Led Company 15:43 – Becoming a Feminist Through Women’s Health Work 22:30 – Cultural Discomfort Around Menopause and Women’s Health 28:47 – Postpartum Innovation and Investor Blindness 33:00 – Research Gaps in Women’s Health Trials 37:51 – Why Female Health Remains Taboo 40:08 – Political Forces and Women’s Healthcare Access 43:18 – Spite Tracking and Patient Advocacy 50:15 – When Clients Don’t Want to Hear UX Research 58:00 – Why Healthcare Still Isn’t Patient-Centric ====== Who is Theresa Neil? Theresa Neil is the Founder of Guidea, an award-winning, women-owned and led product design firm specialising in medtech and digital health innovation 🚀. She has: Led UX for companies like Roche, Johnson & Johnson, and Cigna   Designed digital health solutions impacting over a billion users worldwide   Launched Femovate, a femtech incubator supporting 28 product launches and 14 clinical trials   Helped startups secure over $100 million in funding   Advocated globally for inclusive design and women's health innovation ====== Find Theresa Neil here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresaneil/ Website: https://www.guidea.co/   Femovate: https://www.femovate.com/ ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Jennifer Speciale helps leaders rewrite the rules of career growth 🚀, redefine executive presence 🧠, and build unapologetic clarity in an uncertain market 🌍—sharing why designing your career is the ultimate act of leadership 🎯. ====== Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Why Candidates Should See Themselves as the Prize 00:43 – Welcome and Introduction 01:15 – Meet Jennifer Speciale 03:15 – Life in Florence and Sicilian Roots 10:30 – Myth, Beauty, and Strong Women in History 16:05 – From Corporate Leadership to Coaching Executives 19:23 – Helping Design Leaders Define Success 25:18 – Finding Options After Layoffs 29:00 – Reframing LinkedIn as a Marketing Tool 32:05 – What Recruiters Really Look for on LinkedIn 36:05 – Why Job Descriptions Are Intentionally Vague 42:32 – The Danger of a Bad Interview on Your Record 45:39 – Building Relationships Through Outreach 50:05 – Turning Interviews into Conversations 56:47 – Believing You Are the Prize ====== Who is Jennifer Speciale? Jennifer Speciale is the Founder and Executive Leadership Coach at Speciale Executive Leadership, helping ambitious leaders transition into executive roles and unlock new opportunities 🚀. She has: Led executive recruiting for design at Amazon   Built a global Experience Design team at McKinsey   Helped leaders at Google, Amazon, and McKinsey land executive roles   Coached over 100 leaders into executive positions, delivering over half a million dollars in salary growth in 2024 ✨ Through her proven frameworks, she’s changing the way leaders navigate executive transitions. ====== Find Jennifer Speciale here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferspeciale/   Website: https://www.jenniferspeciale.com ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard? 🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Dave Hoffer shares why design demands empathy 🧠, courage 🛡️, and long-term thinking 🌱—and how amplifying others can transform leadership in uncertain times 🚀. He explores design’s shifting role in business, the disruptive rise of AI, and why resilience and critique will shape the future of design. ====== Episode Chapters 00:00 – Why Empathy Matters in Design 01:02 – Introducing Dave Hoffer 03:17 – Amplifying Others Over Self 05:00 – Layoffs, Resilience, and Mission-Driven Work 12:12 – Hope and Long-Term Thinking in Design 14:20 – Courage, Critique, and Speaking Truth to Power 17:24 – Design Under Pressure and the AI Disruption 22:20 – Why Designers Must Experiment With AI Tools 31:30 – Lessons from Kasparov on Humans + Machines 33:00 – Spectral Thinking and Understanding People on a Spectrum 37:11 – The Hard Cost of Empathy in Design 42:05 – Why Executives Need Firsthand Empathy 50:30 – Empathy, Judgment, and Learning from Outliers 58:13 – Physical Labor and Shifts in Perspective 1:04:00 – Think Like a Gardener, Not an Architect ====== Who is Dave Hoffer? Dave Hoffer is a seasoned design leader and strategist whose career spans product design, digital innovation, and design transformation 🌎. He has: Led design teams at Frog Design, PwC, and McKinsey & Company Grown McKinsey’s global design practice from a handful of designers to hundreds 📈 Brought design strategy into the heart of business and policy change Advised mission-driven organisations like Safe Kids AI 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Advocated for amplifying others and championing empathy and critique as foundations for impactful leadership ✨ Today, Dave advises organisations as an independent consultant, helping them embed human-centered design practices into strategy and transformation initiatives. ====== Find Dave Hoffer here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-hoffer/ Website: https://www.mpqd.com/ ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard? 🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Josephine Wong challenges us to design with intention, build cultures that care, and recognise the quiet power of everyday interactions to create truly meaningful work. ====== Episode chapters 00:00 – Curiosity, Systems Thinking, and Adding Value 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 01:13 – Meet Josephine (Jo) Wong 03:27 – Starting in Advertising and Early Career Lessons 05:44 – Multicultural Roots and Open-Mindedness in Research 09:00 – Studying in Melbourne and Founding Apogee 13:00 – Building a Life and Business Partnership With Dan 14:12 – Interest in Political and Economic Systems 18:29 – Why Intention Matters in Research Conversations 22:00 – Inspiration From Deng Xiaoping and China’s Transformation 27:58 – East Meets West: Finding Common Ground in Hong Kong 33:54 – Make Meaningful Work and Creating Culture Through Interactions 39:15 – Sparkle Studio: Teaching Kids Human Skills 50:54 – A Second Book in the Works and Who It’s For 56:33 – The Contribution Question and Closing Reflections ====== Who is Josephine Wong? Josephine Wong is a co-founder and principal at Apogee, a pioneering user experience consultancy founded in 1998 with a vision to bring human-centred design to Hong Kong and the wider region. Over the past 25 years, Apogee has played a significant role in advancing UX across Asia. She’s also the co-founder of Make Meaningful Work, a studio and learning platform helping people unlock their potential by focusing on meaningful work in environments where they can learn, improve, and thrive together. If that wasn’t enough, Jo is also the co-founder of UX Hong Kong, an annual learning event that brings together passionate practitioners from across product and service design to explore and celebrate exceptional experience creation. A committed and influential contributor to our field, Jo has shared her expertise on global platforms including Beat Camp, We Can Do Better, the Reorient podcast, and UXpod. Her work is deeply informed by her multicultural upbringing and global perspective, allowing her to bridge cultural nuance and inspire designers and researchers around the world. ====== Find Josephine here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephine-wong-6801922/ X: https://x.com/igiwong Apogee: https://www.apogeehk.com/ Make Meaningful Work: https://www.makemeaningfulwork.com/ UX Hong Kong: https://uxhongkong.com/ ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn TikTok Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website

Roberta Dombrowski invites us to rethink success, tune into our intuition, and lead with intention —sharing how mindfulness, healing, and self-compassion can transform the way we work and live. ====== Episode chapters 00:00 – Defining Success on Your Own Terms 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 01:17 – Meet Roberta Dombrowski 04:25 – Growing Up as a Transracial Adoptee 09:04 – Reading Other Adoptees’ Stories and Finding Comfort 13:42 – Owning Her Story and Entering a Healing Phase 14:30 – A Restless Career Journey in Learning, Research, and Coaching 20:00 – An Anxiety Injury and Learning to Slow Down 23:00 – Family Influences, Perception, and Letting Go of Control 26:18 – Founding Learn Mindfully and Levelling the Playing Field 31:00 – Coaching as Gardening: Planting Seeds and Managing Weeds 36:30 – Helping Clients Face Their Inner Critic and Emotions 42:30 – Challenges Researchers Face: Stress, Layoffs, and Recognition 50:30 – Work, Burnout, and the Shadow Side of Empathy 57:30 – Intuition, Listening to the Body, and Trusting Your Gut 1:10:30 – Closing Reflections: Curiosity, Fun, and Reconnecting With Joy ====== Who is Roberta Dombrowski? Roberta Dombrowski is a certified leadership coach and experience strategist, dedicated to transforming the way people live, learn, and work. She is the founder of Learn Mindfully, a coaching and training company she launched in 2022. Since then, Roberta has supported hundreds of leaders from companies such as Adobe, Instacart, ServiceNow, Zapier, and Zoom. Previously, Roberta was a Research Partner at Maze, where she helped clients maximize the platform’s potential. Before that, she was VP of User Research at User Interviews, where she built and scaled the research function while tackling the meta-challenge of researching researchers. Roberta is also the author of Consciously Crafting Your Career Path, a self-reflection and career planning workbook designed to help people shape fulfilling and intentional careers. Her insights have been featured on podcasts like Lead the People and BLOC, and at events such as Rosenfeld Media’s Advancing Research conference. ====== Find Roberta here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertadombrowski/ Company website: https://learnmindfully.co/ Personal website: https://robertalearns.com/  ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn TikTok Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website

Gloria Osardu urges researchers to slow down, understand the business, and partner with intention—sharing why empathy, alignment, and asking the right questions are the foundation for research that matters. Highlights include: 05:02 – How did your parents shape your worldview and curiosity? 15:22 – Why is success as a research leader about facilitating others? 24:26 – What does “understanding the business” really mean? 30:43 – What does “skin in the game” mean for stakeholders? 45:24 – How has embracing slowness changed your approach to leadership? === Who is Gloria Osardu? Gloria is a Senior Director and Global Head of UX Research, Brand, and Consumer Insights at Yahoo!, where she leads initiatives to deepen Yahoo’s understanding of consumer behaviour, aligning the company’s brand, product, and marketing strategies with these insights. Before joining Yahoo!, Gloria was Senior Director and Head of UX Research and Insights at Gusto, where she built and led Gusto’s Global Product Experience Research Team, overseeing both research and research operations professionals. She has also held senior research roles at Amazon Web Services, where she led UX Research Operations and Programs, and at Capital One, where she headed UX Research for their Enterprise AI and ML Platforms. With extensive commercial experience in customer insights and analytics, Gloria also brings an impressive academic background, holding a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, a Master of Science in Applied Health Informatics, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. A committed contributor to our field, Gloria is a long-standing mentor with the Computing Research Association and has been featured in User Weekly, as well as on podcasts like Black Stories and Saving UX. === Find Gloria here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaosardu/ ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn TikTok Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website

Esther Ahn reflects on the twists and turns of her creative journey, shares how critique can unlock better design without breaking spirits, and reveals why embracing the oops is essential for building resilient teams and products. Highlights include: 12:13 – How do you make sense of your career’s twists and turns? 28:52 – What does a healthy culture of critique look like? 35:24 – What works best when presenting design work to executives? 42:19 – Where is the most tension between business goals and user needs? 01:06:36 – How is the children’s book Beautiful Oops! relevant to your career? === Who is Esther Ahn? Esther is the Director of User Experience for YouTube TV and Primetime Channels on YouTube—a role in which she brings deep expertise in human-centered design and research to enhance the viewing experience across platforms and at scale. Throughout her career, Esther has pioneered new participatory design methods and conducted global research across the US, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Before YouTube, she was Director of Digital Health UX at Stanford Health Care and a Creative Director at the world-renowned innovation firm Frog Design. She’s also worked at two other giants of design—IDEO and Smart Design—where she shaped experiences through multidisciplinary practice. Esther holds a BA in Architecture from UC Berkeley and a Master’s in Interaction Design from Carnegie Mellon University. === Find Esther here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherahn/ ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn TikTok Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website

Meryl Evans shares why accessibility is everyone’s responsibility, how captions can create connection—not just convenience—and why progress over perfection is the mindset that drives lasting inclusion. Highlights include: 11:30 – How did publishing your first video in 2018 change everything? 20:28 – Why progress over perfection is essential in accessibility 29:06 – How do you carry the responsibility of being an advocate? 49:34 – What does it take to build a culture of accessibility? 59:15 – Why equitable design matters for dignity and inclusion ====== Who is Meryl Evans? Meryl is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), a sought-after speaker, trainer, and accessibility marketing consultant who has spent over two decades championing inclusive digital experiences. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top 12 Voices for Accessibility Advocacy, Meryl’s work has been recognised by organisations such as the North Texas Disability Chamber and featured in The Wall Street Journal, MarketingProfs, and The Dallas Morning News. She’s the author of The Brilliant Outlook Pocketbook and co-author of Adapting to Web Standards: CSS and Ajax for Big Sites, and her speaking credits include TEDx, SXSW, and the American Marketing Association. Beyond her consulting and speaking, Meryl is a passionate volunteer, contributing to the W3C’s Immersive Captions community group and XR Access, helping ensure emerging technologies are accessible to everyone. === Find Meryl here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meryl/ Website: https://meryl.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/merylkevans/videos  X: https://x.com/merylkevans ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn TikTok Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website

Tammy Everts unpacks why web performance is a fundamental UX issue, how slow websites affect user perceptions and business outcomes, and why designers need to take ownership of performance alongside developers. Highlights include: 02:14 - How did you come to own uber.com? 15:27 - What does performance have to do with UX? 28:54 - How do you identify the best executive champion for performance? 35:24 - Is measuring the business impact of performance as easy as it sounds? 46:37 - Why aren’t designers more involved in performance? ====== Who is Tammy Everts? Tammy is the Chief Experience Officer at SpeedCurve—a platform that enables organisations to unlock the full potential of their web performance. In her role, Tammy champions the connection between site speed, user experience, and business success, working closely with customers to deepen their understanding of how people use with their websites. Tammy's career journey also includes senior UX roles at Soasta and Radware, and over two decades of pioneering research involving EEG headsets, facial action coding, and advanced machine learning. She is the author of “Time is Money: The Business Value of Web Performance” and a sought-after speaker, having shared her expertise at prominent events like Chrome Dev Summit, Smashing Conference, and Beyond Tellerand. Tammy also co-chairs the annual performance.now() conference in Amsterdam and co-curates WPO Stats, a valuable resource of web performance case studies. Find Tammy here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammyeverts/ Website: https://tammyeverts.wordpress.com/ Mastodon: https://webperf.social/@tammy X: https://x.com/tameverts ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn TikTok Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website

In this episode of Brave UX, host Brendan Jarvis interviews designer, author, and educator Carla Diana, a leader in human-centered product design and technology. Carla is the D Designer-in-Residence and Head of Program at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and works part-time as the Design Advisor at Diligent Robotics. Join Carla and Brendan as they explore the future of smart technologies, including Carla’s work on humanizing healthcare robots and her project "Mobility Town," which reimagines public transportation in Detroit. Carla also discusses the challenges of designing relatable robots, societal misconceptions about AI, and the ethical implications of technology. The conversation delves into the roles of designers in shaping how people interact with technology innovations like autonomous systems and social robots, urging a thoughtful consideration of technology’s impact on society.   Highlights include: 00:00 - Getting to Know Carla Diana 05:31 - The Importance of Critical Engagement 12:01 -  Mobility Town: Reimagining Transportation in Detroit 18:01 - The Social Aspects of Public Transport 24:01 - The Narrative Around Robots 30:01 - Designing Relatable Robots 36:01 - Ethical Implications of Design 42:01 - The Role of AI in Robotics 48:01 - Autonomous Vehicles and Society's Responsibility 55:01 - Reflections on Design Education and Technology Who is Carla Diana Carla Diana is a highly influential designer, author, and educator known for her work at the intersection of technology and human-centered product design. She is the founder and designer-in-residence of the Interaction Design Programme at Cranbrook Academy of Art, where she leads an innovative exploration into smart objects, immersive environments, and intelligent systems. Carla also serves as a design advisor at Diligent Robotics, shaping healthcare robots to assist workers better.  Her extensive experience includes roles at Smart Design and Frog Design, where she worked on diverse products, from robots to connected home appliances. Carla authored "Leo, The Maker Prince," the first children’s book about 3D printing, and "My Robot Gets Me," which focused on intuitive design for intelligent technologies. She’s a frequent speaker at prominent events like TEDx SXSW, and her writing has been featured in Fast Company, The New York Times, and Popular Science. Find Carla Diana Here Carla Diana on LinkedIn Cranbrook Academy of Art Website Diligent Robotics Website Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website  

In this episode of Brave UX, Brendan welcomes Kelly Goto, CEO and Founder of gotoresearch and gotomedia. Kelly is a trailblazer in web and UX design with nearly 25 years of experience. She shares her inspiring journey as a fourth-generation Japanese American and discusses her work with major brands like Netflix and Samsung. They delve into the importance of emotional connection in product design, the impact of technology on attention spans, and the evolving methodologies in research, especially in light of generative AI. Kelly also reflects on cultural lessons and the significance of continuous learning in design. Don't miss this insightful conversation packed with valuable perspectives on UX and the intersection of culture and innovation!   Highlights include: 00:00 - Introduction 05:30 - Cultural Identity and Heritage 12:00 - Emotional Connection in Product Design 18:45 - Generational Technology Use in Design 25:15 - Insights from Japanese Culture 31:30 - The Role of Generative AI in Research 37:50 - Evolving Client Attitudes Towards Research 43:10 - Continuous Learning in Design 49:00 - Diverse Perspectives in UX 55:30 - Closing Thoughts and Engagement   Who is Kelly Goto Kelly is passionate about helping organizations truly understand and empathize with their customers so they can deliver products and services that are genuinely meaningful. After over 20 years on the digital frontier, Kelly knows user experience (UX) better than most. As a design ethnographer, she focuses on uncovering how people integrate products and services into their daily lives — what those experiences mean to people and how to shape that meaning better. Kelly heads up gotoresearch, the global leader in research-driven strategy and solutions for digital products and connected experiences. The gotoresearch team dives deep into the customer’s world, translating unspoken wants and needs into UX realities. This enables clients such as Samsung, Hyundai, Sony, Target, Verizon, and Pearson Education to relate with customers in new and innovative ways. Her book, Web Redesign 2.0: Workflow That Works, is an industry classic translated into 22 languages. Find Kelly Goto Here Kelly Goto on LinkedIn Gotoresearch Website Gotomedia Website Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn

In this episode of Brave UX, Brendan welcomes Lawton Pybus, Principal and Co-Founder of Drill Bit Labs. Join them as they dive into the evolving landscape of UX amidst recent tech layoffs. Lawton shares insights from his extensive research on UX job markets and discusses the importance of valuing UX in organizations. With a blend of personal anecdotes—including a ‘fun’ story about a venomous snake—this conversation highlights key trends, challenges, and the potential role of AI in UX. Listeners will find valuable advice for navigating their careers and fostering resilience in the UX field. Don’t miss this insightful and entertaining discussion!   Highlights include: 00:00 - Introduction 02:15 - Job Market Analysis 05:45 - Real-Time Tracking of UX Roles 10:30 - Lawton’s Personal Journey 15:00 - Impact of Recent Layoffs in UX 20:40 - The Demand for UX Skills 25:15 - The PAIR Framework and AI in UX 30:00 - Ethical AI Use in UX Research 35:10 - The Importance of Independent Thought 40:00 - Closing Thoughts Who is Lawton Pybus Lawton is a Principal and Co-founder of Drill Bit Labs. With a background in human factors, he has prior experience leading UX research teams at UserTesting, UserZoom, and MeasuringU and executing research on teams at Charles Schwab and Cabela's. He is the author of many insightful blog posts and regularly speaks at industry conferences like UXPA.   Find Lawton Here Lawton Pybus on LinkedIn Drill Bit Labs Website Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website

Brendan Jarvis delivers an inspiring talk at Design Outlook 2024. He outlines how self-reflection, clarity, and courage can help designers navigate uncertainty and shape a meaningful future. Highlights include: 02:07 - Observations on the current state of design and the rise of AI. 06:00 - Story 1: A dystopian AI scenario. 12:55 - Story 2: Lessons from Miyamoto Musashi. 20:57 - Story 3: A personal story of resilience and gratitude. 26:58 - Reflections on adversity and meaning. ====== Who is Brendan Jarvis? Brendan Jarvis is the managing founder of The Space InBetween, New Zealand’s first world-class UX research and innovation lab. At The Space InBetween, Brendan helps enterprise leaders navigate complexity and achieve internal alignment through a human-centred approach to research and innovation. Brendan is also the host of Brave UX, an internationally acclaimed podcast that dives deep into the minds of global leaders in UX research, design, and product management. With over 150 episodes and listeners in more than 50 countries, Brave UX has been described as “courageously insightful,” “thought-provoking,” and a must-listen for anyone passionate about improving user experiences. In addition to his work with The Space InBetween and Brave UX, Brendan is a sought-after speaker and thought leader. His thought-provoking talks challenge designers and product leaders to reflect, adapt, and embrace the opportunities presented by change, including the rise of AI. Brendan’s mission is to foster a deeper understanding of the human side of design and to inspire a future that is both innovative and impactful. Find Brendan here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/ X: https://x.com/brendanjarvis ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website

Felix Lee shares how ADPList is democratising mentorship, the lessons he’s learned from failure and resilience, and why clarity beats cleverness in design. Highlights include: 03:58 - What parallels can you draw between your athletic career and leading ADPList? 09:42 - What is the fear you most often contend with as a young founder? 13:57 - What is the broader vision for ADPList beyond design? 15:19 - Why is it important for ADPList to be seen as a community rather than just a platform? 32:28 - How do you know if you are solving the right problem at ADPList? ====== Who is Felix Lee? Felix is the co-founder and CEO of ADPList, a global mentorship platform connecting expert designers, technologists, and professionals across more than 150 countries. With over 27,000 mentors, ADPList has made possible an incredible 100 million minutes of mentorship annually. In just three years, Felix has raised $1.3 million in capital, built a community of 120,000 LinkedIn followers, and launched the world’s largest 24-hour design super-conference. Beyond design, ADPList has expanded to include product management and engineering, reflecting its mission as a human transformation company. Felix’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. As a young founder, his resilience has been shaped by early entrepreneurial setbacks and a drive to democratise mentorship. Featured in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia List and Tatler Asia’s Gen-T List, Felix continues to inspire a global community with his clear and ambitious leadership style. Find Felix here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felixleezd/ Website: https://adplist.org/ ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website

In the second part of their conversation on Brave UX, Brendan furthers his conversation with Tamara Adlin, President of Adlin Inc. Tamara shares her journey of overcoming challenges like sexism and ageism in the tech space, advocating for user-centered design amidst a disconnect with Web 3 teams. They discuss the misconceptions around venture capital and the need to balance data-driven decisions and intuitive design. Plus, Tamara offers valuable job-seeking advice through her involvement with the "Never Search Alone" initiative, emphasizing a user-centric approach. Tune in for insights on innovation, adaptability, and creating meaningful connections in today’s fast-paced tech landscape! Highlights include: 00:00 - Introduction to Web 3 and Blockchain 03:15 - Tamara’s Reluctance to Engage with Web 3 08:00 - The 18-Month Confidence Knock 12:45 - Disconnect Between UX and Web 3 Mindsets 19:30 - Misconceptions About Funding and Success 24:00 - The Balance of Data and Intuition in Innovation 30:15 - Involvement with the "Never Search Alone" Initiative 35:50 - Crafting an Effective Elevator Pitch   Who is Tamara Adlin Tamara Adlin is a seasoned UX consultant with over 25 years of experience helping companies create better products. A former UX leader at Amazon, Tamara has worked with top tech enterprises, specializing in startups and Web3 projects for the past 20 years. She co-authored The Persona Lifecycle books and developed the "Executive Alignment in Five Conversations" framework, which helps teams refocus on user needs and improve product outcomes. With expertise in product strategy, UX diagnostics, and leadership alignment, Tamara’s approach drives rapid improvements and long-term success for companies navigating disruptive technologies like blockchain and AI. "I like to use the metaphor of a 'tornado' to describe the chaos that ensues when executive opinions change rapidly. One moment, you’re moving forward, and the next, everything is flipped upside down. It’s crucial to understand those stakeholder assumptions upfront rather than letting the storm dictate the direction of your project." Tamara Adlin Find Tamara Here Tamara Adlin on LinkedIn Adlin Inc Website   Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website