Design Diplomacy: Crafting Better Products Through Strategic Relationships with ÌníOlúwa Abíódún

How can UX designers transform their roles from creative executors to strategic partners?

In this episode, I sit down with ÌníOlúwa Abíódún, a principal product designer working in growth at Gen Digital. With a fascinating background that includes law, fashion design, and UX, Ini brings a unique perspective to the conversation about how designers can become more business-savvy and influential within their organizations.

We dig into the concept of “learning the business” and what that really means for UX designers. Ini shares insights on developing business empathy, understanding company goals, and building strong relationships with stakeholders across different departments. We explore the power of 1:1s, the importance of getting over our egos as designers, and strategies for influencing without authority.

Whether you’re a junior designer looking to make your mark or an industry veteran aiming to increase your impact, this episode is packed with actionable advice and thought-provoking ideas. Don’t miss out!

Helpful Links:
• Connect with ÌníOlúwa on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to the Growth Design Podcast

ÌníOlúwa Abíódún
Principal Product Designer @ Gen | Host, Growth Design Podcast

About Neil

ÌníOlúwa, a lawyer turned designer from Nigeria, is a Principal Product Designer, working in Growth at Gen Digital, a leading global cybersecurity company. There, she crafts delightful product experiences to turn users into loyal, paying customers. Before that, she led growth design at a fintech. She has collaborated with startups, scale-ups, and corporations across various sectors, including e-commerce, HR tech, and B2B SaaS.
She is dedicated to mentoring designers through platforms like For Creative Girls and ADPList. She shares her knowledge globally as a guest teacher at Azari Women in Tech 2023, a TEDx speaker in Nigeria, and a guest lecturer at the STADIO School of Design in South Africa. Outside of her day-to-day, she co-hosts the Growth Design podcast, interviewing design leaders from Adobe, Miro, Zoe, and ClearLeft, among others.
A 2024 Coho Fellow in Design Leadership and a Mandela Washington Fellow, ÌníOlúwa lives in London with her husband and their daughter. 

Connect with ÌníOlúwa on LinkedIn

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