UX Pathways

Marc Majers

How do you get into user experience? Learn from the experts how they got into UX and how you can too!

  1. MAR 28

    UX Pathways: Episode 4 Season 4 - Rachel E. Blackburn

    Discover the unique user experience path that Rachel E. Blackburn, Senior Learning & Enablement Consultant at User Testing, followed in this fourth episode of Season 4.Main points:1. UX is every interaction, not just screens 2. There is no single path into UX - diverse backgrounds are valuable3. Your past experience equals transferable skills 4. Research reduces uncertainty to learn just enough to move forward5. Small UX changes can have real-world impact6. Don’t assume and always test 7. Stop pigeonholing yourself, and you’re more than your job title8. AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity and judgment9. Great UX is rooted in empathy and understanding people10. Thoughtfulness matters, and consider emotional and edge-case scenarios11. Imposter syndrome is normal, and you’re likely more qualified than you think

    37 min

  2. MAR 21

    UX Pathways - Season 4 Episode 3: Jon Yablonski

    Discover the unique user experience path that Jon Yablonski, Senior Product Designer at Mixpanel, followed in this third episode of Season 4.In this episode, Jon Yablonski shares how understanding human behavior and psychology can help UX designers create more meaningful, effective products. He also explores how curiosity, continuous learning, and embracing AI as a partner can help designers adapt and grow in a rapidly changing field.

    19 min

  3. MAR 13

    UX Pathways - Season 4 Episode 2: Lou Rosenfeld

    Discover the unique user experience path that Lou Rosenfeld, Founder, Publisher & CEO, Rosenfeld Media, followed in this second episode of Season 4.Key Takeaways UX has always been a synthetic field, bringing together diverse disciplines to solve complex digital problems.The real challenge in UX is often creating a shared language and framework so different experts can collaborate effectively.AI will change how UX work is done, but it will likely increase the need for human-centered thinking, not eliminate it.Early-career professionals should look beyond the interface and focus on systems, services, and strategy.UX may evolve from being just a profession into a toolkit of skills used across many industries.

    26 min

  4. MAR 6

    UX Pathways - Season 4 Episode 1: Todd Bertsch

    Discover the unique user experience path that Todd Bertsch, Owner / President at Evolve Marketing Team, followed in this first episode of Season 4.In this kickoff episode of UX Pathways Season 4, join host Marc Majers as he sits down with Todd Bertsch, founder of Evolve Marketing, keynote speaker, and mental fitness coach, to discuss adapting to change in the UX and technology world. He began his career as a graphic designer, discovered usability testing, and then launched his own digital consulting firm. He believes in Steve Krug's philosophy of Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) and explains how he applies it to design. He discusses the importance of embracing change, avoiding falling for hype, and finding meaningful work that aligns with your passions. He will leave you inspired. Join this episode if you are navigating a career change and looking for insights on how to create better experiences. https://www.toddbertsch.com/

    19 min

  5. 12/20/2025

    UX Pathways Quick Takes - Goldilocks Quality

    Remember the story of Goldilocks? Does your prototype align with your user research goals? Discover why it's important to choose a level of fidelity that is not too little and not too much, but appropriate for what you’re trying to learn

    5 min

  6. 05/10/2025

    UX Pathways - Season 3 Episode 12: Branden Schossler

    Discover the unique user experience path that Branden Schossler, Co-Founder / Producer at World Crafters, followed in this twelfth episode of Season 3.In this episode of UX Pathways, Branden Schossler shares his journey from performing at kids’ birthday parties to co-founding World Crafters, a company that creates large-scale immersive events blending education and entertainment. Drawing from his background in customer experience at Hyland Software and KeyBank, Branden applies UX tools like journey mapping and persona development to design meaningful, multi-sensory guest experiences. He emphasizes the importance of balancing big-picture thinking with small, sensory details, avoiding “default” experiences, and truly understanding the end user’s perspective. Branden recommends resources such as The Power of Moments and organizations like the Customer Experience Professionals Association for those entering the field. His advice centers on combining a passion for the product with intentional experience design and ongoing professional engagement.

    14 min

  7. 05/02/2025

    UX Pathways - Season 3 Episode 11: Ana Sofia Gonzalez

    Discover the unique user experience path that Ana Sofia Gonzalez, Principal Product Designer at Microsoft, followed in this eleventh episode of Season 3.Ana Sofia Gonzalez, Principal Designer at Microsoft, leads design efforts for Copilot Studio, focusing on using AI to create intelligent agents. She shared her nontraditional journey from being a math Olympian to studying industrial and interaction design, eventually landing in UX. Starting in consulting gave her a broad skill set before moving into corporate roles, where she now focuses on enterprise design which is an area she enjoys for its complexity and measurable impact. Anna emphasized the importance of working strategically with business teams, using the tools you design, and advocating for user needs by mapping real-life scenarios. She encourages designers to embrace AI as a tool to enhance productivity and creativity, not as a threat. Her advice for those entering UX or AI is to empathize with users, experiment with tools, and dedicate time each week to continuous learning. She champions community engagement and sees UX as a way to make everyday systems better.

    19 min

  8. 04/22/2025

    UX Pathways - Season 3 Episode 10: Kate Moran

    Discover the unique user experience path that Kate Moran, Vice President, Nielsen Norman Group, followed in this tenth episode of Season 3.In this episode of UX Pathways, host Marc Majers interviews Kate Moran, Vice President of Research and Content at Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g), about the evolving UX landscape, the role of AI, and building a career in the field. Kate shares insights on NN/g’s mission to provide accessible, research-backed resources and stresses a balanced approach to AI while valuing its usefulness but cautioning against over-reliance. Reflecting on her own career path from front-end development to UX leadership, Kate highlights the value of flexibility, persistence, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. She addresses the current challenges of entering the UX field, advising newcomers to stay patient, realistic, and open to non-linear paths. Kate also underscores the importance of empathy, business understanding, and breaking down silos between roles to create meaningful user experiences. She encourages listeners to explore NN/g’s free articles, training, and weekly newsletter to stay informed and inspired.

    22 min
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About

How do you get into user experience? Learn from the experts how they got into UX and how you can too!

Information

  • Creator
    Marc Majers
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Marc Majers
  • Show Website
    UX Pathways