I’m an introvert.
The kind who used to stand in the corner at networking events, clutching my drink, hoping someone would start a conversation so I didn’t have to.
But here’s the thing—your career is shaped by conversations.
I learned that the hard way when I started my own business.
I had no choice but to put myself out there and talk to people. Otherwise, no clients. No income. No business.
At one event, I decided to try something different. Instead of waiting for people to talk to me, I studied how confident people networked. Then, I did what they did:
- Made eye contact.
- Asked simple, open-ended questions.
- Focused on listening instead of trying to impress.
It felt awkward at first. But then—something unexpected happened.
One night, I struck up a conversation with someone at a bar. We talked about design, career moves, and random life stuff. Nothing serious.
Turns out, that person worked at Barrows, a global retail design company. A few weeks later? I had a job offer.
All because of one conversation.
That moment taught me something that changed my entire approach to career growth:
Your skills matter, but your ability to communicate them matters more.
I see so many UX designers struggle with this:
- They have the skills, but can’t articulate them.
- They freeze in interviews because they don’t know how to talk about their work.
- They avoid networking, thinking “My work should speak for itself.”
But here’s the truth:
🚀 If you can’t communicate your value, people won’t see it.
🚀 If you don’t put yourself out there, no one will notice you.
🚀 If you don’t adapt to different audiences, your ideas won’t land.
Over time, I learned to speak the right language for the right audience:
✅ Students? I make them feel safe to learn.
✅ Hiring managers? I show how my skills solve business problems.
✅ Senior leaders? I focus on metrics, KPIs, and ROI.
If you want to grow your UX career, focus on communication.
Because great work doesn’t get you hired. Great storytelling does.
Need help refining how you present your work? Reply with “storytelling” and I’ll share my best framework for communicating UX impact.
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