Elevate Your UX Career
The podcast for mid-career UX designers who are ready to stop hiding their brilliance and start owning their impact. In this podcast, we bring you real stories from real designers sharing honest conversations about the messy, meaningful work of growing a career you’re proud of.
Episodes
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 impact visible in strategic conversation...
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 strategy at a fast-paced startup, offering...
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 actionable outcomes. Tune in to learn...
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 career to leading teams and mentor...
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 yourself.
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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’t fully understand UX. I’ll share ...
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 challenges and opportunities of navigatin...
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 directly tie to revenue (but still mat...
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 senior UX designers from mid-level r...
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 impact be...
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-centered design.
You’ll learn how to ...
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 empathy, Brittany walks you through th...
Ready to grow as a UX designer and step into leadership?
In this episode of Elevate Your UX Career, Brittany Cates sits down with Mitch Clements, Senior Product Design Manager at nCino, to explore what it really takes to level up in the UX field. Mitch shares his inspiring journey from Android developer to leading a thriving design team—growing from just 2 to over 30 designers.
Whether you're aiming for a promotion, managing grow...
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 influential. If you’re ready to be seen a...
Feeling stuck in your UX career? Or are you ready for more influence, clarity, and confidence?
Welcome to the very first episode of Elevate Your UX Career with host Brittany Cates, senior UX designer and career coach for mid-career professionals who are ready to grow.
In this kickoff episode, Brittany shares the why behind this podcast: to create a real, honest space for UX designers who want to go beyond the surface of their car...
Feeling stuck in your UX career? Ready to break through that ceiling and finally get the recognition you deserve?
Elevate Your UX Career is the podcast for mid-career UX designers who want to grow their influence, own their voice, and level up on their own terms.
I’m Brittany Cates, a UX designer, career coach, and your guide on this journey. I know what it’s like to feel overlooked, stuck in execution mode, or boxed into roles tha...
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