Three years into my career as a UX researcher after leaving the classroom, I'm reflecting on the realities of remote work and what I miss about in-person connection. While I don't regret my career change and appreciate the freedom of working remotely, I'm experiencing unexpected challenges that have me considering a hybrid approach.

• Communication has transformed from reading a room to deciphering slack messages and emojis
• Brainstorming has lost its spontaneity, becoming scheduled rather than organic
• The isolation of remote work creates a void after years in the socially rich teaching environment
• Professional visibility requires intentional effort rather than natural presence
• The sense of belonging and community is harder to maintain in virtual environments
• Experimenting with hybrid work may provide the perfect balance of structure without suffocation
• In-person UX research sessions have reignited creative energy that was missing

I'd love to hear from fellow teachers who've transitioned to tech roles - is remote still working for you? Are you thriving in the quiet or craving connection? Would you consider hybrid work? Text me through the link under the podcast, DM me on Instagram, or send me an email with your thoughts.

Text Me! 📱I’d love to hear from you! Click here to send me a message.

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*Click the Support the Show link above to become a UXTP Premium Member and join the monthly Q & A for members only! Thanks for the love!

Resources:

• Follow us on Linkedin, Instagram, and YouTube for daily updates and tips.
• Grab your free UX transferable skills cheat sheet to get started on your transition journey to UX.
• Ready to find balance and unleash your creativity? Explore uxteacherprep.com to see how we can support you.
• Subscribe to our email list to be the first to receive updates about workshops and networking events.
• Want to be a guest on the show or know someone who’d be a great guest? Sign up here.
• Have ideas for a podcast topic you want to hear next? Email us at hello@uxeacherprep.com.
• Don’t forget to scroll down and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️review. Thanks for listening!

In today's short and sweet episode, I explore how teachers can leverage AI (artificial intelligence) tools in education to build valuable skills for transitioning to UX research and design careers. I share practical strategies for using classroom AI experiences to develop a compelling UX portfolio while still teaching.

Text Me! 📱I’d love to hear from you! Click here to send me a message.

Support the show

*Click the Support the Show link above to become a UXTP Premium Member and join the monthly Q & A for members only! Thanks for the love!

Resources:

• Follow us on Linkedin, Instagram, and YouTube for daily updates and tips.
• Grab your free UX transferable skills cheat sheet to get started on your transition journey to UX.
• Ready to find balance and unleash your creativity? Explore uxteacherprep.com to see how we can support you.
• Subscribe to our email list to be the first to receive updates about workshops and networking events.
• Want to be a guest on the show or know someone who’d be a great guest? Sign up here.
• Have ideas for a podcast topic you want to hear next? Email us at hello@uxeacherprep.com.
• Don’t forget to scroll down and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️review. Thanks for listening!

In today's episode, Sharae Gibbs, founder of She Designs and Google Interaction Designer, shares her 12-year journey in UX and her mission to empower women of color in tech through mentorship and training.

• Former Graphic Designer who pivoted to UX design at major tech companies like IBM and Google
• Created She Designs as a mentorship platform for women of color in tech
• Describes Interaction Design as understanding user journeys and touch points to help people achieve goals
• Discusses the value of having representation and community as a Black woman in tech
• Explains how the She Designs UX course evolved to be more flexible and comprehensive
• Shares tools like Otter AI, Gemini, and ChatGPT that help maintain work-life balance
• Provides perspective on how AI is changing UX, but can't replace human empathy and cultural understanding

Teachers already have core UX skills - empathy, communication, problem-solving, and experience designing for different learners. Reframe your classroom experience in UX terminology: lesson planning is experience design, supporting diverse learners is accessibility work, and curriculum adjustments are usability testing and iteration.

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Bio: Sharae Gibbs is the Founder of She Designs, and an Interaction Designer with over 12 years of experience in User Experience (UX) Design. She’s worked at companies like IBM and Google, and her goal is to empower the next generation of women of color in tech.

Contact Share at: sharae@shedesigns.org

Check out her courses at www.shedesigns.org

Use my discount code ZEEUXPREP for 15% off the course.

Text Me! 📱I’d love to hear from you! Click here to send me a message.

Support the show

*Click the Support the Show link above to become a UXTP Premium Member and join the monthly Q & A for members only! Thanks for the love!

Resources:

• Follow us on Linkedin, Instagram, and YouTube for daily updates and tips.
• Grab your free UX transferable skills cheat sheet to get started on your transition journey to UX.
• Ready to find balance and unleash your creativity? Explore uxteacherprep.com to see how we can support you.
• Subscribe to our email list to be the first to receive updates about workshops and networking events.
• Want to be a guest on the show or know someone who’d be a great guest? Sign up here.
• Have ideas for a podcast topic you want to hear next? Email us at hello@uxeacherprep.com.
• Don’t forget to scroll down and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️review. Thanks for listening!