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. Gladys shares her inspiring journey from visual designer to UX research leader, revealing how empathy, storytelling, and cultural awareness have shaped her approach to human-centered design.

You’ll learn:
✅ How to build cultural awareness into your UX research and design process
✅ Why trust and psychological safety are essential for team success
✅ How to create immersive research presentations that drive action
✅ The evolving role of UX research in the age of AI
✅ What mid-level UX professionals can do right now to grow their influence and impact

If you’re ready to become a more thoughtful, culturally aware, and strategic UX professional, this episode will show you how to elevate both your craft and your leadership.

💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list

🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates

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 your feet.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The timeless UX skills that never go out of style

• How to work with AI instead of feeling threatened by it

• Why business understanding is your secret weapon

• How to make your value visible inside and outside your company

• The tiny actions that compound into massive career growth

By the end, you’re going to walk away with clarity, confidence, and a plan for becoming the kind of designer who’s impossible to overlook — no matter how fast things change.

💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list

🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates

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 journey from Design Director to Career Coach, revealing how to overcome career stagnation, create a clear career strategy, and stand out in a competitive UX job market.

You’ll learn:

- How to align your career goals with your personal values

- The right way to use industry language on your résumé

- Why AI is transforming UX job searches — and how to adapt

- Practical networking strategies to grow your influence and opportunities

If you’re a mid-career UX designer ready to gain clarity, confidence, and momentum, this episode will give you the roadmap you need.

💡 Don’t forget to subscribe to Brittany’s newsletter for more career tools, personal stories, and UX leadership insights: brittanycatesco.systeme.io/ux-email-list

🧐 Want to make your UX portfolio stand out? Sign up for a personalized review here: https://topmate.io/brittany_cates