Guest: Inez Patel Episode theme: UX, inclusive design, leadership, and building communities that help women thrive in design and tech. Episode summaryIn this in-person conversation in South Africa, Hlulani sits down with UX leader Inez Patel to unpack her “accidental” path into UX, what UX really is beyond pretty screens, and how user research shapes better products. Inez also shares her leadership journey, the realities of managing people, and why inclusive design matters… plus the impact work behind She Can Do and Girls Invent Tomorrow, and her involvement with One Young World. What you’ll hear in this episodeHow Inez went from a general BA and media studies into UX through an unexpected internship opportunityThe moment she realised UX is about empathy, research, and designing for real human needsWhat a UX designer actually does day-to-day… research, wireframes, testing assumptions, and translating insights into usable experiencesThe gap between what’s taught and what industry expects, and why UX education evolves so quicklyConsulting vs freelancing vs permanent roles… what she learned from each pathThe shift into leadership… and why managing people can be harder than design workBuilding impact outside a 9-to-5… She Can Do, Girls Invent Tomorrow, and creating pathways for womenRepresentation, intersectionality, and why uncomfortable conversations are necessaryAI and UX… why human understanding is still the core skill About Inez PatelInez Patel is a UX leader and Design Director with experience across agencies, consulting, fintech, banking, and healthcare. She is also the CEO of She Can Do, a nonprofit empowering women in design and tech through training programs, mentorship, research, and community events. She is a co-director at Girls Invent Tomorrow, supporting high school girls through exposure to careers in tech and design. Inez is also part of the One Young World global leadership community. Organisations mentionedShe Can Do… nonprofit empowering women in design and techGirls Invent Tomorrow… nonprofit supporting high school girlsOne Young World… international leadership community and annual global summit Memorable moments“UX is like scientific design”… backed by research, not just aesthetics“Users don’t read”… but context always mattersLeadership is not just a title… community building is leadershipInclusive design is not optional if you truly care about impact Listener takeawayIf you’re entering UX… focus on understanding humans deeply. Tools will evolve. AI will change workflows. But empathy, communication, and inclusive thinking remain your strongest advantages. Also follow us on instagram @she_talks_tech_podcast And connect with She Talks Tech Podcast on LinkedIn for episode updates and guest highlights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
