Elevate Your UX Career

Why Your Good Work Is Always Overlooked—and 3 Easy Ways to Start Being Seen

In this episode of 'Elevate Your UX Career,' Brittany Cates, a seasoned UX designer and career coach, addresses a common challenge many mid-career UX designers face...feeling overlooked and undervalued.
 
Brittany discusses three critical mindset and communication shifts that can transform how UX professionals are perceived within their teams. She offers practical advice on reframing the narrative around UX work, emphasizing the importance of sharing the 'why' behind design decisions, and actively participating in strategic discussions.
 
Through personal anecdotes and proven strategies, Brittany empowers designers to step into roles of greater influence and leadership. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to her newsletter for more insights and actionable tips to advance their careers.
 
00:00 Introduction: Feeling Overlooked in UX
 
01:45 Personal Story: Overcoming Being Overlooked
 
03:25 Mindset Shift 1: Reframe How You Talk About Your Work
 
05:32 Mindset Shift 2: Talk About the Process, Not Just the Pixels
 
07:41 Mindset Shift 3: Stop Waiting for Permission to Be Strategic
 
10:10 Q&A: Becoming a Strategic Partner
 
11:54 Conclusion: Keep Growing and Connecting
 
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Advocating for Your UX Career (with Mitch Clements)

Mitch Clements is a senior product design manager at nCino who shares his journey from Android developer to leading a design team that grew from 2 to 30 members. He discusses the importance of advocating for yourself and your team, building strong relationships, and continually evolving your career.
 
Mitch also offers practical advice for mid-career designers on overcoming common career blockers, leveraging community support, and developing both hard and soft skills to advance in the UX field.
 
00:00 Introduction and Importance of Advocacy
 
00:29 Meet Brittany Cates: Elevate Your UX Career
 
00:58 Introducing Mitch Clements: Strategic Vision and People First Mindset
 
02:18 Mitch's Career Journey: From Developer to Design Manager
 
06:36 The Importance of Self-Advocacy in UX Design
 
11:27 Challenges and Strategies in Scaling Design Teams
 
15:14 Navigating Career Growth and Mentorship
 
24:14 The Unique Value of UX Designers in Tech
 
33:57 Building Strong Relationships in UX Teams
 
40:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
 

Why I Started This UX Podcast (And Why You'll Want to Stick Around)

In the first episode of 'Elevate Your UX Career,' Brittany Cates, a UX designer and career coach, introduces us to her new podcast aimed at mid-career UX designers.
 
Brittany discusses the challenges designers face in gaining recognition and influence within their teams, the impact of AI on the industry, and shares personal anecdotes about navigating corporate environments.
 
The episode also outlines what listeners can expect from future episodes, including practical career strategies, guest interviews, and a listener Q&A segment.
 
Brittany emphasizes the value of empathy, ethics, and strategic thinking in UX design, encouraging designers to keep showing up with their full potential.
 
00:00 Welcome to Elevate Your UX Career
 
01:12 The Purpose Behind This Podcast
 
01:45 The Impact of AI on UX Design
 
02:52 Who This Podcast is For
 
03:56 A Personal Story of Advocacy
 
05:47 Upcoming Episodes and Topics
 
06:50 Join the Community
 
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Ready to Grow as a UX Designer? Start Here! (Trailer)

You’re a talented UX designer, but your career feels like it’s hit a ceiling.
You’re not sure what’s next, or how to get there. And frankly, you're tired of being overlooked, under-leveled, or boxed into execution mode.
This is 'Elevate Your UX Career', a podcast for mid-career designers who are ready to grow their influence, own their voice, and finally get the recognition they deserve.
I’m Brittany Cates, UX designer, career coach, and someone who knows firsthand how frustrating it can be to feel like your potential is going to waste.
In this show, we talk real talk...about the mindset, strategy, and clarity it takes to grow in this field your way. You’ll hear solo episodes packed with actionable insights, plus unfiltered conversations with designers and leaders who’ve been where you are so they can give you advice to lead your own career.
If you’re ready to stop waiting for someone to hand you a map and start building your own, hit follow. Your next chapter starts now.