Brave UX with Brendan Jarvis 🇺🇦

Jake Burghardt explores why so much research goes unused , why timing matters more than tools , and how to transform insights into real impact for teams and strategy .   ======   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Why Careers Shouldn’t Hinge on One Team 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 01:27 – Jake’s Work at Amazon and the Intersection of Ops 03:00 – Early Days: Patents, Psychology, and Consulting Work 05:46 – Becoming a Generalist Across Disciplines 08:05 – The Rise of Research, Design, and Product Ops 10:12 – Writing Stop Wasting Research and the Story Behind the Title 13:45 – Timing Research to Influence Planning Cycles 16:52 – Who Can Reduce Research Waste in Large Orgs? 21:14 – Root Causes of Research Waste: Preparation, Motivation, Integration 27:09 – The Challenge of Prioritising Insights 31:30 – What Competitors Would Pay to Know You Forgot 36:32 – Tools, Repositories, and Making Insights Stick 42:00 – Practical Ways to Promote Overlooked Insights 1:03:00 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Jake   ======   Who is Jake Burghardt?   Jake Burghardt is a veteran of the research, product, and design worlds, helping organisations close the gap between what they know and what they act on. His upcoming book, *Stop Wasting Research*, offers a new framework for turning insights into action.   ======   Find Jake Burghardt here:   LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeburghardt/ Blog → https://medium.com/integrating-research  Newsletter → https://www.integratingresearch.com/newsletter Book: Stop Wasting Research → https://www.integratingresearch.com/#book   ======   Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Ehab Bandar shares why creative freedom, curiosity, and human connection matter more than ever in design — exploring how resilience, adaptability, and gratitude shape a lasting career in UX .   ======   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Designing with First Principles in Mind 00:45 – Welcome and Introduction 02:10 – Meet Ehab Bandar 04:20 – From Architecture to Design Strategy 07:05 – Founding Big Tomorrow and Its Mission 10:40 – Learning from Corporate Clients and Early Struggles 14:00 – Why Culture Shapes Every Design Decision 17:45 – Balancing Human Needs and Business Demands 22:18 – The Role of Design in Tackling Climate Change 27:00 – Shifting From Growth at All Costs to Responsible Growth 31:42 – Why Designers Must Think Like Futurists 36:15 – Systemic Design and the Power of Long-Term Thinking 41:00 – Teaching Organizations to See the Bigger Picture 46:20 – Why Leadership Needs a Broader Design Lens 52:05 – Building Resilience in Times of Uncertainty 57:30 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Ehab   ======   Who is Ehab Bandar?   Ehab Bandar is a seasoned UX design leader and independent consultant whose career spans fintech, real estate, hospitality, and beyond .   He has: Led design teams for clients like Airbnb and Charles Schwab   Founded Bigtable, a design and innovation consulting firm   Shared insights through *The Experience Architect* newsletter   Taught graduate design courses at the Academy of Art University   ======   Find Ehab Bandar here:   LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehabbandar/ Bigtable → https://bigtable.co/ Website → https://www.ehabbandar.com/ Substack → https://ehabbandar.substack.com/   ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Chetana Deorah explores what it means to step off the career treadmill , rediscover creativity beyond metrics , and build a life rooted in connection, community, and courage —sharing why the most meaningful design often begins within .   ======   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Growing Up in a Sheltered Business Family 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 02:11 – Meet Chetana Deorah 03:24 – Opening with a Poem by Sri Aurobindo 04:30 – Leaving Silicon Valley and Returning to India 07:30 – Life and Purpose in Auroville 12:00 – Yoga as Union, Not Just Asana 13:34 – Leaving India to Resist Cultural Norms 17:38 – The Marriage Path She Refused 20:16 – Her Father’s Rebellious Influence and Strength 25:00 – Seeing India Change While Living Abroad 29:00 – Asking: “Is There Another Ladder to Climb?” 33:01 – From Busyness to Learning How to Do Nothing 42:54 – Creativity and Community Projects in Auroville 50:00 – Rethinking Money, Growth, and Human Unity 57:30 – Lessons From Silicon Valley on Bravery and Growth   ======   Who is Chetana Deorah?   Chetana Deorah is a seasoned design leader, educator, and community builder whose career bridges tech, creativity, and social impact .   She has: Led product design at Netflix, Scribd, Yahoo, Pivotal Labs, and Pentagram   Shaped global digital experiences for hundreds of millions of users   Founded community projects in India focused on art, sustainability, and human connection   Chosen a new path outside Silicon Valley to explore soulful, human-centered design   ======   Find Chetana Deorah here:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetanadeorah/   ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Thomas Girard brings a thoughtful lens to design, creativity, and resilience 🌍 — sharing why processes matter 🧠, and how the quiet work of reflection can shape the future of design 🚀. ====== Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Why Design’s Processes Still Matter 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 02:09 – Meet Thomas Girard 04:19 – Family Legacy, Photography, and Airports as “Non-Places” 07:33 – Cultural Similarities and Craving the Familiar 11:38 – Cities That Shaped Thomas’s Design Perspective 12:24 – Preparing for and Delivering a Two-Minute TED Talk 17:04 – Listening to Yourself While Public Speaking 19:00 – Overcoming Stage Fright and Speaking as an Introvert 21:30 – Breaking Out of the Design Echo Chamber 23:03 – The Strengths and Future of Design Education 27:00 – Pairing Design and AI Without Losing the Human Lens 33:07 – Low-Fidelity Prototyping Through Conversation 35:00 – Launching and Growing the Unique Ways Podcast 50:24 – Life or Death Typography and Teaching Students to See Type 57:30 – What Designers Must Not Lose as the Field Evolves ====== Who is Thomas Girard? Thomas Girard is a design educator, writer, and speaker whose work bridges creativity, innovation, and resilience 🌍. He has: ✅ Delivered keynotes at UXIndia and Sorbonne University   ✅ Earned multiple Emerging Scholar awards for his contributions to design   ✅ Authored the memoir Son of Greg Girard ✅ Built UNIQUEWAYS, a podcast uncovering different perspectives on success and creativity ====== Find Thomas Girard here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onthomas/ Podcast: https://uniqueways.ca ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Theresa Neil is reshaping the future of healthcare 🚀, challenging outdated systems 🧠, and championing women’s health innovation when it’s needed most 🌍 — reminding us that the stakes in design have never been higher ❤️. ====== Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Why “Move Fast and Break Things” Doesn’t Work in Healthcare 01:00 – Welcome and Introduction 02:11 – Meet Theresa Neil 03:03 – From Chef to UX Designer 05:22 – Early UX Work at Sabre and Founding Guidea 14:09 – Building a Woman-Led Company 15:43 – Becoming a Feminist Through Women’s Health Work 22:30 – Cultural Discomfort Around Menopause and Women’s Health 28:47 – Postpartum Innovation and Investor Blindness 33:00 – Research Gaps in Women’s Health Trials 37:51 – Why Female Health Remains Taboo 40:08 – Political Forces and Women’s Healthcare Access 43:18 – Spite Tracking and Patient Advocacy 50:15 – When Clients Don’t Want to Hear UX Research 58:00 – Why Healthcare Still Isn’t Patient-Centric ====== Who is Theresa Neil? Theresa Neil is the Founder of Guidea, an award-winning, women-owned and led product design firm specialising in medtech and digital health innovation 🚀. She has: Led UX for companies like Roche, Johnson & Johnson, and Cigna   Designed digital health solutions impacting over a billion users worldwide   Launched Femovate, a femtech incubator supporting 28 product launches and 14 clinical trials   Helped startups secure over $100 million in funding   Advocated globally for inclusive design and women's health innovation ====== Find Theresa Neil here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresaneil/ Website: https://www.guidea.co/   Femovate: https://www.femovate.com/ ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Jennifer Speciale helps leaders rewrite the rules of career growth 🚀, redefine executive presence 🧠, and build unapologetic clarity in an uncertain market 🌍—sharing why designing your career is the ultimate act of leadership 🎯. ====== Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Why Candidates Should See Themselves as the Prize 00:43 – Welcome and Introduction 01:15 – Meet Jennifer Speciale 03:15 – Life in Florence and Sicilian Roots 10:30 – Myth, Beauty, and Strong Women in History 16:05 – From Corporate Leadership to Coaching Executives 19:23 – Helping Design Leaders Define Success 25:18 – Finding Options After Layoffs 29:00 – Reframing LinkedIn as a Marketing Tool 32:05 – What Recruiters Really Look for on LinkedIn 36:05 – Why Job Descriptions Are Intentionally Vague 42:32 – The Danger of a Bad Interview on Your Record 45:39 – Building Relationships Through Outreach 50:05 – Turning Interviews into Conversations 56:47 – Believing You Are the Prize ====== Who is Jennifer Speciale? Jennifer Speciale is the Founder and Executive Leadership Coach at Speciale Executive Leadership, helping ambitious leaders transition into executive roles and unlock new opportunities 🚀. She has: Led executive recruiting for design at Amazon   Built a global Experience Design team at McKinsey   Helped leaders at Google, Amazon, and McKinsey land executive roles   Coached over 100 leaders into executive positions, delivering over half a million dollars in salary growth in 2024 ✨ Through her proven frameworks, she’s changing the way leaders navigate executive transitions. ====== Find Jennifer Speciale here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferspeciale/   Website: https://www.jenniferspeciale.com ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard? 🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Dave Hoffer shares why design demands empathy 🧠, courage 🛡️, and long-term thinking 🌱—and how amplifying others can transform leadership in uncertain times 🚀. He explores design’s shifting role in business, the disruptive rise of AI, and why resilience and critique will shape the future of design. ====== Episode Chapters 00:00 – Why Empathy Matters in Design 01:02 – Introducing Dave Hoffer 03:17 – Amplifying Others Over Self 05:00 – Layoffs, Resilience, and Mission-Driven Work 12:12 – Hope and Long-Term Thinking in Design 14:20 – Courage, Critique, and Speaking Truth to Power 17:24 – Design Under Pressure and the AI Disruption 22:20 – Why Designers Must Experiment With AI Tools 31:30 – Lessons from Kasparov on Humans + Machines 33:00 – Spectral Thinking and Understanding People on a Spectrum 37:11 – The Hard Cost of Empathy in Design 42:05 – Why Executives Need Firsthand Empathy 50:30 – Empathy, Judgment, and Learning from Outliers 58:13 – Physical Labor and Shifts in Perspective 1:04:00 – Think Like a Gardener, Not an Architect ====== Who is Dave Hoffer? Dave Hoffer is a seasoned design leader and strategist whose career spans product design, digital innovation, and design transformation 🌎. He has: Led design teams at Frog Design, PwC, and McKinsey & Company Grown McKinsey’s global design practice from a handful of designers to hundreds 📈 Brought design strategy into the heart of business and policy change Advised mission-driven organisations like Safe Kids AI 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Advocated for amplifying others and championing empathy and critique as foundations for impactful leadership ✨ Today, Dave advises organisations as an independent consultant, helping them embed human-centered design practices into strategy and transformation initiatives. ====== Find Dave Hoffer here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-hoffer/ Website: https://www.mpqd.com/ ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard? 🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Josephine Wong challenges us to design with intention, build cultures that care, and recognise the quiet power of everyday interactions to create truly meaningful work. ====== Episode chapters 00:00 – Curiosity, Systems Thinking, and Adding Value 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 01:13 – Meet Josephine (Jo) Wong 03:27 – Starting in Advertising and Early Career Lessons 05:44 – Multicultural Roots and Open-Mindedness in Research 09:00 – Studying in Melbourne and Founding Apogee 13:00 – Building a Life and Business Partnership With Dan 14:12 – Interest in Political and Economic Systems 18:29 – Why Intention Matters in Research Conversations 22:00 – Inspiration From Deng Xiaoping and China’s Transformation 27:58 – East Meets West: Finding Common Ground in Hong Kong 33:54 – Make Meaningful Work and Creating Culture Through Interactions 39:15 – Sparkle Studio: Teaching Kids Human Skills 50:54 – A Second Book in the Works and Who It’s For 56:33 – The Contribution Question and Closing Reflections ====== Who is Josephine Wong? Josephine Wong is a co-founder and principal at Apogee, a pioneering user experience consultancy founded in 1998 with a vision to bring human-centred design to Hong Kong and the wider region. Over the past 25 years, Apogee has played a significant role in advancing UX across Asia. She’s also the co-founder of Make Meaningful Work, a studio and learning platform helping people unlock their potential by focusing on meaningful work in environments where they can learn, improve, and thrive together. If that wasn’t enough, Jo is also the co-founder of UX Hong Kong, an annual learning event that brings together passionate practitioners from across product and service design to explore and celebrate exceptional experience creation. A committed and influential contributor to our field, Jo has shared her expertise on global platforms including Beat Camp, We Can Do Better, the Reorient podcast, and UXpod. Her work is deeply informed by her multicultural upbringing and global perspective, allowing her to bridge cultural nuance and inspire designers and researchers around the world. ====== Find Josephine here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephine-wong-6801922/ X: https://x.com/igiwong Apogee: https://www.apogeehk.com/ Make Meaningful Work: https://www.makemeaningfulwork.com/ UX Hong Kong: https://uxhongkong.com/ ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn TikTok Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website

Roberta Dombrowski invites us to rethink success, tune into our intuition, and lead with intention —sharing how mindfulness, healing, and self-compassion can transform the way we work and live. ====== Episode chapters 00:00 – Defining Success on Your Own Terms 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 01:17 – Meet Roberta Dombrowski 04:25 – Growing Up as a Transracial Adoptee 09:04 – Reading Other Adoptees’ Stories and Finding Comfort 13:42 – Owning Her Story and Entering a Healing Phase 14:30 – A Restless Career Journey in Learning, Research, and Coaching 20:00 – An Anxiety Injury and Learning to Slow Down 23:00 – Family Influences, Perception, and Letting Go of Control 26:18 – Founding Learn Mindfully and Levelling the Playing Field 31:00 – Coaching as Gardening: Planting Seeds and Managing Weeds 36:30 – Helping Clients Face Their Inner Critic and Emotions 42:30 – Challenges Researchers Face: Stress, Layoffs, and Recognition 50:30 – Work, Burnout, and the Shadow Side of Empathy 57:30 – Intuition, Listening to the Body, and Trusting Your Gut 1:10:30 – Closing Reflections: Curiosity, Fun, and Reconnecting With Joy ====== Who is Roberta Dombrowski? Roberta Dombrowski is a certified leadership coach and experience strategist, dedicated to transforming the way people live, learn, and work. She is the founder of Learn Mindfully, a coaching and training company she launched in 2022. Since then, Roberta has supported hundreds of leaders from companies such as Adobe, Instacart, ServiceNow, Zapier, and Zoom. Previously, Roberta was a Research Partner at Maze, where she helped clients maximize the platform’s potential. Before that, she was VP of User Research at User Interviews, where she built and scaled the research function while tackling the meta-challenge of researching researchers. Roberta is also the author of Consciously Crafting Your Career Path, a self-reflection and career planning workbook designed to help people shape fulfilling and intentional careers. Her insights have been featured on podcasts like Lead the People and BLOC, and at events such as Rosenfeld Media’s Advancing Research conference. ====== Find Roberta here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertadombrowski/ Company website: https://learnmindfully.co/ Personal website: https://robertalearns.com/  ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn TikTok Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website

Gloria Osardu, Senior Director and Global Head of UX Research at Yahoo, emphasizes the power of slowing down in research to foster meaningful insights. She shares how her journey from Ghana shapes her empathetic approach to leadership and the importance of perspective in technology adoption. The discussion dives into aligning research with business goals and the significance of asking the right questions. By promoting collaboration and understanding stakeholder dynamics, Gloria highlights how these elements can drive impactful change in organizations.