Brave UX with Brendan Jarvis 🇺🇦

Brendan Jarvis - Saying Goodbye to Brave UX

After 5 years and 171 episodes, Brave UX is coming to a close.
In this final monologue, Brendan Jarvis reflects on how the podcast began, what it became, and what he learned along the way. From uncertain beginnings during a global pandemic to becoming a globally recognised platform for thoughtful, human-centred conversations—this is a farewell, but not a goodbye.
✅ Why Brave UX began  ✅ What it became  ✅ How it helped Brendan grow  ✅ What’s next
⏱️ Episode Chapters:
00:12 – Brave UX Ends00:19 – Pandemic Start01:04 – Growth & Friendships01:15 – Talks & Recognition01:45 – Memorable Moments01:59 – Thanks to Editors02:12 – Closing Chapter02:44 – What’s Next
🎧 Explore the full archive: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/brave-ux-podcast💬 Connect with Brendan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendandjarvis/

Wolfgang Bremer - Trust, Teams, and Tangible Impact

Wolfgang Bremer shares a candid look at design leadership, the weight of trust, and why real impact goes far beyond pixels 🚀 — revealing how humility and humanity shape design at scale 🌍.
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Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Learning Patience Through Fatherhood00:30 – Welcome and Introduction02:10 – Early Design Projects and Bootleg CD Covers05:30 – How Parenthood Changed His Communication and Leadership10:00 – The Importance of Explaining “Why” at Home and Work13:44 – Families, Work, and Where We Spend Our Energy19:00 – Why Trust Should Be the Default in Teams22:30 – Building Connection and Trust Through One-on-Ones28:30 – Structured vs. Unstructured Approaches to One-on-Ones36:00 – Knowing When to Lean In and When to Step Back43:00 – Leadership as Asking Better Questions46:20 – Leadership Compared to Doing the Dishes53:00 – Designing the Environment for Teams to Thrive58:00 – Overcoming Misconceptions About Design’s Role1:01:22 – Lessons From a Career in Global Design Leadership1:06:21 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Wolfgang
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Who is Wolfgang Bremer?
Wolfgang Bremer is a seasoned design leader whose career spans mobile, enterprise, and automotive design 🚗. He was recently the Vice President of Design at Elli, a Volkswagen Group brand focused on electric mobility, where he grew a cross-functional team and embedded design into business strategy.
He has:  ✅ Led global design teams at Volkswagen, SAP, and HERE Technologies  ✅ Designed early mobile experiences at Nokia  ✅ Spoken at conferences across Europe, North America, and Asia  ✅ Advocated for people-first design and building trust at scale  ✅ Believes leadership is sometimes… like doing the dishes
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Find Wolfgang Bremer here:
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgangbremer/ Website → https://bremer.co/ 
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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/@TheSpaceInBetweenPodbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/
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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/  The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Aryn Korpalski - Keeping Research Human

Aryn Korpalski reminds us that research is as much about human connection 🤝 as it is about data—and why hospitality, curiosity, and thoughtful service are the real secrets to impactful insights 🎯.
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Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Why In-Person Magic Can’t Be Replicated Virtually00:30 – Welcome and Introduction02:00 – Meet Aryn Korpalski03:06 – Musical Theatre, Sports, and Finding Confidence in Rugby10:00 – Growing Up in Denver and Becoming a Chicagoan14:42 – Curiosity, Hospitality, and the Work of Fieldwork18:20 – Complex Briefs and Protecting Participant Trust22:55 – Global Research and Partnering with Competitors27:30 – Preparing for the Next Thing: AI and Data Quality35:11 – Baking Accessibility Into Every Project40:30 – Making Research Emotionally Accessible44:01 – Beyond Insights: Community and Connection47:23 – The Power of Observation Rooms51:30 – Gathering Intentionally and Leadership Energy56:00 – Why Making “Yes” Matter Builds Trust1:09:05 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Aryn
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Who is Aryn Korpalski?
Aryn is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Services at Fieldwork, a company trusted worldwide for in-person research facilities, digital capabilities, and global recruitment services.
She has: ✅ Led Fieldwork’s corporate operations and strategic client partnerships ✅ Managed research projects across diverse industries and cultures ✅ Advocated for participant-first experiences and inclusive research practices ✅ Embraced hospitality as a guiding principle in research operations
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Find Aryn Korpalski here:
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arynkorpalski/Fieldwork → https://www.fieldwork.com/
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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/@TheSpaceInBetweenPodbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
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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/
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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/  The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Changying (Z) Zheng - Connecting Teams Through Ops

Changying (Z) Zheng brings calm thinking to DesignOps — showing how clarity, storytelling, and ruthless prioritisation help design teams thrive .
 
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Episode Chapters:
 
00:00 – Why Design Needs to Prove Its Value00:30 – Welcome and Introduction02:30 – From Graphic Design to Design Ops Leadership05:40 – Running a Dairy-Free Dessert Business and Learning Calm Leadership10:00 – Leading Without Drama and Seeing Multiple Perspectives13:00 – Design Ops as Service Design for Design Teams16:00 – Storytelling, Outcomes, and Speaking the Language of Business18:45 – Earning and Keeping a Seat at the Table21:00 – Moving from Ticket Taking to Strategic Design Work26:00 – Saying No Kindly and Introducing Office Hours32:00 – People, Process, and Platform as Core Pillars36:00 – Becoming the Connective Tissue Across Orgs42:00 – Growing Into Product Ops at Cloudflare55:00 – Communication as the Connective Tissue of Ops1:10:00 – A Two-by-Two Framework for Career Development  
 
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Who is Changying (Z) Zheng?
 
Changying (Z) Zheng is a Director of Product Operations at Cloudflare, where she’s scaled the operational backbone of one of the internet’s most recognisable infrastructure companies .
 
She has:  
Started as a team of one and built thriving design and research operations  
Worked in agencies, higher education, and at companies like Akamai, VMware, and Nasdaq  
Founded and ran her own retail business  
Delivered talks at The DevOps Conference and DesignOps Summit, shaping how people understand DesignOps in technical environments
 
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Find Changying (Z) Zheng here:
 
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/changyingz/
Website → https://www.changyingart.com/
 
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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/@TheSpaceInBetweenPodbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
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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/
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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/  The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Jake Burghardt - Stop Wasting Research

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 .
 
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Episode Chapters:
 
00:00 – Why Careers Shouldn’t Hinge on One Team00:30 – Welcome and Introduction01:27 – Jake’s Work at Amazon and the Intersection of Ops03:00 – Early Days: Patents, Psychology, and Consulting Work05:46 – Becoming a Generalist Across Disciplines08:05 – The Rise of Research, Design, and Product Ops10:12 – Writing Stop Wasting Research and the Story Behind the Title13:45 – Timing Research to Influence Planning Cycles16:52 – Who Can Reduce Research Waste in Large Orgs?21:14 – Root Causes of Research Waste: Preparation, Motivation, Integration27:09 – The Challenge of Prioritising Insights31:30 – What Competitors Would Pay to Know You Forgot36:32 – Tools, Repositories, and Making Insights Stick42:00 – Practical Ways to Promote Overlooked Insights1:03:00 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Jake
 
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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.
 
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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
 
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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/@TheSpaceInBetweenPodbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
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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/
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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/  The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Ehab Bandar - Designing a Life of Creative Freedom

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 .
 
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Episode Chapters:
 
00:00 – Designing with First Principles in Mind00:45 – Welcome and Introduction02:10 – Meet Ehab Bandar04:20 – From Architecture to Design Strategy07:05 – Founding Big Tomorrow and Its Mission10:40 – Learning from Corporate Clients and Early Struggles14:00 – Why Culture Shapes Every Design Decision17:45 – Balancing Human Needs and Business Demands22:18 – The Role of Design in Tackling Climate Change27:00 – Shifting From Growth at All Costs to Responsible Growth31:42 – Why Designers Must Think Like Futurists36:15 – Systemic Design and the Power of Long-Term Thinking41:00 – Teaching Organizations to See the Bigger Picture46:20 – Why Leadership Needs a Broader Design Lens52:05 – Building Resilience in Times of Uncertainty57:30 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Ehab
 
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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
 
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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/
 
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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/@TheSpaceInBetweenPodbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
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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/
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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/  The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Chetana Deorah - From Silicon Valley to Soulful Design

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 .
 
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Episode Chapters:
 
00:00 – Growing Up in a Sheltered Business Family00:30 – Welcome and Introduction02:11 – Meet Chetana Deorah03:24 – Opening with a Poem by Sri Aurobindo04:30 – Leaving Silicon Valley and Returning to India07:30 – Life and Purpose in Auroville12:00 – Yoga as Union, Not Just Asana13:34 – Leaving India to Resist Cultural Norms17:38 – The Marriage Path She Refused20:16 – Her Father’s Rebellious Influence and Strength25:00 – Seeing India Change While Living Abroad29:00 – Asking: “Is There Another Ladder to Climb?”33:01 – From Busyness to Learning How to Do Nothing42:54 – Creativity and Community Projects in Auroville50:00 – Rethinking Money, Growth, and Human Unity57:30 – Lessons From Silicon Valley on Bravery and Growth
 
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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
 
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Find Chetana Deorah here:
 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetanadeorah/
 
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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/@TheSpaceInBetweenPodbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
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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/
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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/  The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Thomas Girard – Finding Creativity in Unexpected Places

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 🚀.
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Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Why Design’s Processes Still Matter00:30 – Welcome and Introduction02:09 – Meet Thomas Girard04:19 – Family Legacy, Photography, and Airports as “Non-Places”07:33 – Cultural Similarities and Craving the Familiar11:38 – Cities That Shaped Thomas’s Design Perspective12:24 – Preparing for and Delivering a Two-Minute TED Talk17:04 – Listening to Yourself While Public Speaking19:00 – Overcoming Stage Fright and Speaking as an Introvert21:30 – Breaking Out of the Design Echo Chamber23:03 – The Strengths and Future of Design Education27:00 – Pairing Design and AI Without Losing the Human Lens33:07 – Low-Fidelity Prototyping Through Conversation35:00 – Launching and Growing the Unique Ways Podcast50:24 – Life or Death Typography and Teaching Students to See Type57:30 – What Designers Must Not Lose as the Field Evolves
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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
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Find Thomas Girard here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onthomas/Podcast: https://uniqueways.ca
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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/@TheSpaceInBetweenPodbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
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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/
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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/  The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Theresa Neil – Designing Healthcare That Actually Cares

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 ❤️.
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Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Why “Move Fast and Break Things” Doesn’t Work in Healthcare01:00 – Welcome and Introduction02:11 – Meet Theresa Neil03:03 – From Chef to UX Designer05:22 – Early UX Work at Sabre and Founding Guidea14:09 – Building a Woman-Led Company15:43 – Becoming a Feminist Through Women’s Health Work22:30 – Cultural Discomfort Around Menopause and Women’s Health28:47 – Postpartum Innovation and Investor Blindness33:00 – Research Gaps in Women’s Health Trials37:51 – Why Female Health Remains Taboo40:08 – Political Forces and Women’s Healthcare Access43:18 – Spite Tracking and Patient Advocacy50:15 – When Clients Don’t Want to Hear UX Research58:00 – Why Healthcare Still Isn’t Patient-Centric
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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
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Find Theresa Neil here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresaneil/Website: https://www.guidea.co/  Femovate: https://www.femovate.com/
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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/@TheSpaceInBetweenPodbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
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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/
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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/  The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Jennifer Speciale – Designing the Career You Actually Want

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 🎯.
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Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Why Candidates Should See Themselves as the Prize00:43 – Welcome and Introduction01:15 – Meet Jennifer Speciale03:15 – Life in Florence and Sicilian Roots10:30 – Myth, Beauty, and Strong Women in History16:05 – From Corporate Leadership to Coaching Executives19:23 – Helping Design Leaders Define Success25:18 – Finding Options After Layoffs29:00 – Reframing LinkedIn as a Marketing Tool32:05 – What Recruiters Really Look for on LinkedIn36:05 – Why Job Descriptions Are Intentionally Vague42:32 – The Danger of a Bad Interview on Your Record45:39 – Building Relationships Through Outreach50:05 – Turning Interviews into Conversations56:47 – Believing You Are the Prize
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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.
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Find Jennifer Speciale here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferspeciale/  Website: https://www.jenniferspeciale.com
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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/