uxleadership

Welcome to Episode 3 of Season 2 of UX Leadership By Design. In this episode, Mark speaks with Mollie Cox, Director of Product Design at Fleet.io and Adjunct Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mollie shares her career journey and the connection between her early career, playing hopscotch, teaching, and leadership style. She emphasizes the value of teaching practical skills. Mollie also discusses the concept of radical softness, using our emotions as a strength and not a weakness. She also explains how she carves out time for growth and mentorship within her design team, aligning individual goals with organizational goals. Mollie's commitment to designer growth is evident in her approach to leadership and mentorship. All leaders can learn a tremendous amount from Mollie's leadership style and ethos "Grow my people".


Takeaways

• Teaching practical skills is important in design education to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.
• Radical softness in leadership involves being open, authentic, and transparent, while empowering team members.
• Aligning individual goals with organizational goals helps create a sense of purpose and growth within the team.
• Carving out time for growth and mentorship is crucial for talent retention and development.

Topics covered

• Radical Softness in Leadership - Discusses the concept of using emotions as strengths in leadership and management.
• Design Team Growth and Mentorship - Covers strategies for personal and professional development within design teams.
• Aligning Goals with Organizational Objectives - Explores how individual aspirations can support broader company goals.
• Teaching Practical Skills in Design - Highlights the importance of practical education in bridging the gap between theory and application.
• Emotional Intelligence in Design - Addresses the role of emotional awareness in design leadership and teamwork.
• Career Development in Product Design - Provides insights into navigating career paths and advancement in the design field.
• Challenges in Design Education - Discusses the obstacles and rewards of teaching and learning design.
• Empowerment through Transparent Leadership - Examines how openness and authenticity foster team empowerment.
• Applying Classroom Learnings to Professional Work - Shares examples of translating academic concepts into workplace solutions.
• Retention and Talent Development - Looks at the importance of nurturing talent for long-term retention and team success.

Links

• Mollie on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molliecox/
• Mollie mentoring on ADList https://adplist.org/mentors/mollie-cox
  
  
  

Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com


Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

The title says it all -- we cover a ton in Season 2, Episode 2 of UX Leadership By Design, as Mark Baldino talks with Shan Shen, a Principal UX designer at Custom Ink. Shan shares her background in design and her transition to a leadership role as they discuss the challenges designers face in a remote work environment and the importance of creating support systems. Shan shares tips for designers and leaders in navigating difficult situations and emphasizes the need for designers to understand the language of business and focus on delivering value. We'll say it again -- value is the love language of business.

Takeaways

• Transitioning from a designer to a leadership role takes time and involves understanding one's unique design skills and how they can create impactful experiences.
• Creating a support system and fostering open communication is crucial for designers, especially in a remote work environment.
• Designers and leaders should focus on listening, empathy, and understanding to navigate difficult situations and support team members.
• Designers need to embrace the language of business and communicate in terms of value to have a strategic impact in organizations.

Topics Covered:

• Transition from Designer to Leader
• Challenges of Remote Work in Design
• Integrating Business Strategy with Design
• The Role of Empathy in Design
• Strategic Decision Making in Design
• Balancing Self-Care and Professional Growth
• Influences of Design Thinking on Business
• Speaking the Language of Business
• Leadership Skills in the Design Industry
• Creating Value through Design

Links:

• Shan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanshen1/
• Shan on ADPList - https://adplist.org/mentors/shan-shen

Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com


Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

Welcome to Season 2 of UX Leadership by Design. In this episode, we talk to Bryn McCoy, a seasoned UX design leader, who shares her journey from a maker in tech to a design leader. Bryn emphasizes the importance of collaboration between product and design teams, addressing challenges in the tech industry, and the need for innovation in times of uncertainty. Bryn also highlights the significance of maintaining creativity and motivation within teams and stresses the importance of personal and cultural growth. The episode covers various topics including the transition from making to leading, collaboration strategies, and maintaining team motivation amidst challenges, ending with recommendations for further resources.

Takeaways

• Collaboration between product and design teams is crucial for successful projects.
• Innovation is necessary, even in challenging times, and can involve retooling existing infrastructure.
• Leaders should prioritize personal and cultural growth to maintain creativity and motivation within teams.
• Taking time for self-care and giving oneself grace is essential for effective leadership.
• Cultivating vision and voice is key to inspiring and leading teams in innovative endeavors.

Topics Covered

1. UX Design Team Collaboration
2. Innovation and Creative Design
3. Challenges & Growth in UX Leadership
4. Motivating Creative Design Teams
5. Resilience in Design Leadership
6. Synergy with Product Leadership
7. Strategies for UX Leadership
8. Cultural Dynamics in UX

Links:

• Bryn McCoy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brynmccoy/
• https://brynmccoy.com/
• Mineral -Professional Coaching & Training: https://madebymineral.com/Professional
• Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence--The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice by Daniel Dr. Siegel: https://www.amazon.com/Aware-Practice-Presence-Groundbreaking-Meditation/dp/1101993049
  
  

Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com


Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

In this episode, we explore design leadership and entrepreneurship with Cameron Ridenour, Chief Design Officer of CoNote. Cameron brings listeners into the process of novel product design - highlighting the intricate journey of aligning user requirements with a company's strategic goals. Mark and Cameron discuss transitioning from a traditional design roles to a co-founders and product leaders.

This is a great episode for UX Design leaders who are interested in strategies for harmonizing often conflicting aspects of product development. Through practical, real-world examples, listeners gain an understanding of how to maintain a clear and consistent product design direction, even when faced with varying user feedback or short-term opportunities from stakeholders.

TOPICS:
1. Non-Traditional Paths to Design Leadership
2. The Evolution of UX Research Tools
3. Balancing User-Centric Design with Commercial Viability
4. The Role of UX in Product Development at Startups
5. Managing Technical Debt in UX Design
6. User-Centered Design Across Different Mediums
7. Building a Cohesive Design Team
8. UX Leadership and Positive Team Culture
9. AI in UX: Enhancing Research and Synthesis
10. Tools and Strategies for Effective Research Synthesis


LINKS:
Cameron Ridenour on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/voltronfutura/
CoNote: www.conote.ai
Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug : https://sensible.com/dont-make-me-think/
Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com
Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com


Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

In this UX Leadership by Design podcast episode, host Mark Baldino of Fuzzy Math talks with Alfred Kahn, an experienced design leader and author. They discusses navigating complex problem spaces, infusing consumer-grade UX principles into enterprise design, and strategies for collaborative success between the "tripod" - design, product, and engineering. This episode is a valuable resource for UX Design leaders looking to better understand how to shift design's role within an organization, emphasizing metrics, research, and effective communication, and aligning teams with strategic objectives.

Topics:

• Creating Collaborative Environments
• Evolving Role of Design
• Building Successful UX Teams
• Building Alliances
• Effective Design Leadership
• Usability Testing as a Gateway to Enhance User-Centric Design
• Design Metrics and Value
• Evolving Role of Design in Organizations

Links:
Alfred on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredkahn

Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com


Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

Welcome to the "UX Leadership by Design" podcast, hosted by Mark Baldino, Co-Founder of Fuzzy Math. In Episode 6, we have the pleasure of featuring Santiago Viteri, the Associate Director of UX and Digital Accessibility Standards of the UX Center of Excellence at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Join us as Santiago shares his inspiring journey of helping shape a UX Center of Excellence within a large organization, emphasizing the significance of credibility and problem-solving through a user-focused approach. Discover the pivotal role he sees for digital accessibility and the "shift left" mentality in creating inclusive and user-friendly designs right from the start. Don't miss this insightful conversation on UX, accessibility, and the art of design with a science-driven mindset. Gain valuable insights for building successful UX teams and fostering a culture of innovation.

Topics:

• Design Thinking for Healthcare
• Agile Approach for Digital Accessibility
• Product Development & UX Strategy
• Measuring UX Impact
• Accessibility Compliance
• Digital Accessibility
• Shift Left Mentality
• Inclusive Design
• Building Successful UX Teams

Links:

• Santiago on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santiagoviteri/
• IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) credential: https://www.accessibilityassociation.org/s/certified-professional
• Google HEART framework:  https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/google-s-heart-framework-for-measuring-ux
• System Usability Scale (SUS): https://www.usability.gov/how-to-and-tools/methods/system-usability-scale.html

Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com


Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/