At DBS, I had the chance to work with Paul Cobban, the Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Data Officer.
One of the first things he told me stuck with me:
👉 “If you want leadership to take design seriously, show them the numbers.”
I had always believed in the power of good design to improve experiences. But what I learned at DBS was this:
💡 Design without data is just opinion.
So instead of just advocating for UX on “gut feel,” I started backing it up with hard numbers:
📌 Surveys → Measuring employee satisfaction before & after a design change.
📌 A/B Tests → Proving which UX solution actually worked better.
📌 Productivity Metrics → Showing how UX reduced friction and saved time.
When senior leaders saw actual time saved, revenue gained, or satisfaction increased, UX wasn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore. It became a business priority.
Co-Creation Without the Power Struggles
Another thing I learned? Stakeholder sessions are messy.
If you’ve ever facilitated a workshop with:
👔 A high-level executive
🤓 A detail-obsessed product manager
🎨 A passionate designer
… you know that ego battles can derail everything.
One trick that worked for me?
Have everyone sketch their ideas first—before sharing.
Here’s why it works:
✅ It avoids HIPPO bias (Highest Paid Person’s Opinion) taking over.
✅ Everyone’s voice gets heard—not just the loudest one.
✅ It shifts focus from who’s talking to what’s best for the project.
The result? Better collaboration. Faster decisions. More buy-in.
Lesson learned: If you want your UX work to drive change, don’t just tell. Show the numbers, structure the discussions, and make sure every voice is heard.
How do you get buy-in for UX at your company? Reply with “buy-in” and I’ll share my best UX persuasion strategies.
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