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Recently, I jumped on a call with wonderful folks from User Testing and recorded a podcast.

Here’s the link if you want to know more: https://www.usertesting.com/resources/podcast/future-of-ux-research-careers

Highlights:

The profession was never really about research

Mel’s career path offers an interesting perspective on the evolution of UX research careers.

Before entering UX, she worked as an investigative journalist. Before journalism, she was an academic researcher studying human development. Across every chapter, a common thread remained.

“It was always about really understanding human behavior,” she explained.

That observation cuts to the heart of a misconception about UX research. While the profession is often defined by methods, its real purpose has always been understanding people deeply enough to help organizations make better decisions.

The methods are tools. The outcome is understanding.

Early in her UX career, Mel became fascinated by seemingly small problems that created outsized consequences. A user reaches the final stage of a food delivery purchase. They’ve chosen a restaurant. They’ve selected their meal. Their payment information is already saved. Yet somehow they abandon the transaction.

Why?

The answer might be hidden inside a single line of copy, an error message, or a moment of uncertainty.

Those details may seem insignificant. Yet they can influence whether customers complete a purchase, whether revenue materializes, and whether a business succeeds.

“Everything sort of matters,” Mel noted.

That mindset remains central to customer insights work today. Yet understanding customers is only half the challenge.

The other half is ensuring those insights influence decisions.

Why trust has become the ultimate competitive advantage

Throughout the conversation, one concept surfaced repeatedly: trust.

As organizations adopt new AI tools and workflows, many professionals are focusing on technical capabilities. Which platforms should they learn? Which certifications should they pursue? Which skills will remain valuable?

Mel believes many people are asking the wrong question.

“The thing that really matters is the ability to build and hold trust,” she said.

Trust operates at multiple levels. Customers must trust the products they use. Teams must trust one another. Leaders must trust the judgment of those making recommendations.

Unlike technical skills, trust doesn’t have a short shelf life.

A new tool may dominate headlines for six months before being replaced by a newer alternative. Trust compounds over years.

Mel described trust as an asset that professionals can build, maintain, and diversify throughout their careers. It becomes especially important when decisions involve uncertainty, which is to say, almost all meaningful decisions.

“No tool is going to give the final answer,” she said. “People will need to leverage their judgments to make decisions.”

For UX researchers, that observation has significant implications.

Research findings alone rarely change organizations. People change organizations. Research creates influence only when stakeholders trust the people presenting it.

The shift from advocate to translator

UX research has long positioned itself as the voice of the customer.

That role remains important. But according to both Mel and Amrit, advocacy alone no longer guarantees influence.

Researchers often find themselves frustrated when compelling customer insights fail to generate action. The data is sound. The findings are clear. The recommendations seem obvious.

Yet little changes.

Part of the problem, Mel argued, is that researchers sometimes become so focused on customer needs that they fail to understand the motivations of the people making decisions.

“If you cannot do that business-driven translation,” she explained, “people are going to be like, ‘Oh great, there is this user advocate.’”

Translation has become one of the most important skills in modern UX leadership.

Researchers must understand customers, but they must also understand product strategy, organizational priorities, revenue goals, and operational constraints. They need to connect customer experience improvements to outcomes executives care about.

Amrit emphasized a similar point.

“If we want that seat at the strategic table, we need to be able to speak their language,” he said.

Think of it like being an interpreter at a complex negotiation. Understanding one side perfectly isn’t enough. The value comes from helping both sides understand each other.

The future of UX research increasingly belongs to professionals who can bridge those worlds.

Entrepreneurial thinking is becoming a career superpower

One of the strongest themes from the conversation was the growing importance of initiative.

Mel shared the story of a high-performing client who had become indispensable within her organization. The reason wasn’t superior research methods or a prestigious title.

It was proactive ownership.

The researcher noticed information gaps between teams. Different departments were working hard but operating in silos. Rather than waiting for permission, she created a strategic document that connected the dots across initiatives.

Nobody requested it.

Nobody assigned it.

She simply recognized a problem and solved it.

“The entire organization cannot get their hands off of it,” Mel recalled.

This type of entrepreneurial mindset is becoming increasingly valuable across product organizations.

Traditional career advice often encourages professionals to focus on execution. Complete assignments. Deliver quality work. Meet expectations.

But thriving professionals are increasingly doing something different. They identify opportunities before they’re assigned. They solve problems before they’re formally recognized.

“The future of work is entrepreneurialism,” Mel said.

For UX research careers, that means moving beyond a service mentality. Researchers who wait for Jira tickets and research requests may find themselves limited. Researchers who proactively identify opportunities for impact create entirely different trajectories.

Influence is more human than we like to admit

Many discussions about influence focus on frameworks, stakeholder maps, and communication strategies.

While those tools matter, Mel highlighted a less comfortable reality.

Organizations are fundamentally human systems.

Competence matters. Experience matters. Expertise matters.

But people are also influenced by relationships, perceptions, trust, credibility, and connection.

“You can have all the competence in the world,” Mel observed, “if people don’t identify with you, if that trust and relationship-building part is not working out, there is going to be frustration.”

This perspective challenges a common assumption among researchers: that great work should speak for itself.

The reality is more complicated.

Great work creates potential influence. Relationships convert that potential into action.

That doesn’t mean becoming political in a negative sense. It means recognizing that organizations are collections of human beings with competing goals, incentives, and priorities.

The best researchers understand both the evidence and the people who must act on it.

Read more here: https://www.usertesting.com/resources/podcast/future-of-ux-research-careers

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A pattern I keep seeing in coaching conversations is that people rarely struggle because they lack information. Most of the time, they are carrying too many decisions, too many responsibilities, and too little space to think.

They spend their days solving problems for their teams, clients, organizations, partners, and families. Their own questions stay in the background.

That’s one of the reasons my friend and collaborator Bahar and I decided to create a small retreat in Barcelona this October.

For two days, we’ll bring together a group of senior professionals who want to step away from the day-to-day and create room for reflection, movement, meaningful conversations, creativity, and clarity.

No presentations.

No networking theatre.

No pressure to perform.

Just a small group of thoughtful people exploring what matters, what’s changing, and what’s next.

If this resonates, you’ll find all the details in the link below.

We’d love to hear from you.

Find the LUMA LINK with all the information to learn more.

With love,

Mel & Bahar

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A Conversation on Clarity

I recently had a conversation with Tatiana from Nurturing Clarity. We talked about, amongst other things, what confidence meant for us.

In our talk, I realized that many of us are trying to rebuild our careers using an old definition of confidence that no longer serves us. We think we need to be “loud” or “certain,” when what we actually need is clarity.

I am hosting a free online workshop specifically for senior UX professionals who are navigating career turbulence.

This isn’t a “how to write a resume” session. This is about the engine that drives your career: your confidence.

**In this workshop, we will: **

• Deconstruct the “Safety Net”: Understanding why your confidence took a hit (and why it’s not your fault).

• Redefine the Win: Shifting your definition of success so it’s no longer at the mercy of a hiring manager or a VP.

• The Results Roadmap: Practical steps to perform in interviews, meetings, and networking in a way that feels right.

How to sign up: Since I’m keeping this intentional and focused, I’m handling sign-ups directly.

• DM me with the word “WORKSHOP”

• Or email me “WORKSHOP” at contact@careerwithmel.com

I’ll send over more info.

Let’s stop “faking it” and start rebuilding something real.

With heart,

Mel

In July, just a few days before my birthday, I am hosting something close to my heart. Consider it a birthday gift from me to women around the world who are building careers with intention.

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Adaptive Careers in the Age of AI: Building Community and Opportunity in Times of Change

AI is reshaping roles, expectations, and career paths faster than most of us were trained for. The question is not whether change is coming. It is how we respond to it.

In this webinar, we will not talk about panic.
We will talk about positioning.

We will explore how to build professional communities that create stability and opportunity in an AI driven workplace. Not networking as transactions. But ecosystems built on shared value, learning, and support.

We will cover:

• How to build relationships that increase resilience during technological shifts
• How to adapt your career strategy as AI reshapes skills and decision making
• How to use your voice, visibility, and personal brand to stay relevant and trusted

You will leave with tools. With direction. With people in your corner.

If you are thinking long term about your career, your growth, and your impact, I would love to see you there.

Sign up link: https://www.pwnglobal.net/e/pwn-global-webinar-careers-in-the-age-of-ai

💜 Meltem

careerwithmel.com

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For years, people have come to me with the same set of questions.

They are capable. They work hard. They have built something that looks fine from the outside. And yet they feel stuck at work, restless in their careers, or unsure about what comes next.

Often the issue is not a lack of information. Most people already know enough to make a change. What they are missing is space to think, language to name what matters, and a way to move forward without blowing up their life.

This podcast came out of those conversations.

I started it because I kept seeing a gap between what people are told about careers and what they actually need when they are making decisions about work, leadership, and life.

What this podcast is here to solve:

Many career conversations focus on tactics before clarity.
Update your resume. Learn a skill. Make a plan.

But without understanding how you make decisions, what tradeoffs you are willing to accept, and what kind of life you are building around your work, those tactics fall apart.

This podcast is for people who want to think before they act.

It is for listeners who want to make grounded decisions about their careers, leadership paths, and transitions. Decisions that account for work, family, health, and money at the same time.

How the podcast is structured

Each episode is designed to meet a specific listener need.

Some episodes focus on decision making. How to tell when it is time to stay, change, or let go.

Some focus on leadership and responsibility. What it means to lead people, systems, and yourself without losing direction.

Some focus on transitions. Shifts between roles, identities, seasons of life, or definitions of success.

You will not hear formulas. You will hear questions, frameworks, and real examples that help you think with more precision.

I’m committed to a simple structure:

#1 A moment from a client story

#2 The pattern I see and why it matters. The cost of ignoring the pattern.

#3 One small experiment

If you are listening, this is what I hope you get.

I hope this podcast gives you language for things you already feel but have not named.

I hope it helps you slow down at the moments that matter, especially when pressure is high and options feel limited.

And I hope it supports you in making decisions you can stand behind, not just explain.

Here’s the podcast link:

💜 Meltem

careerwithmel.com

There’s something really special about talking UX in your native language.

For me, that language is Turkish.

After years of working, leading, and coaching in English, being able to host a UX session in Turkish feels like coming home. It’s personal. It’s emotional. And honestly, it’s a little bit vulnerable in the best way.

This upcoming event is all about one thing that I see UX folks struggle with everywhere:
talking about the impact of their work.

Not the tools.
Not the process.
But the actual difference you made.

What did you do?
What happened because of it?
And why did it matter?

We’ll explore how to think strategically about your UX work and how to talk about it in a way that feels clear, confident, and real. A language you can use across your CV, portfolio, interviews, networking conversations, and even LinkedIn posts.

We’ll start with self-awareness.
Your personality.
Your strengths.
Your values.

Because impact storytelling hits differently when it actually sounds like you.

Then we’ll break down a simple formula to help you move away from vague UX statements and into concrete, memorable stories that build trust and open doors.

This session is for anyone who wants their work to be seen, understood, and valued. Especially in moments that matter.

And doing this in Turkish? That’s the part I’m most excited about. Helping fellow UX folks express their impact without translating themselves first feels like a gift.

If this resonates, I’d love to see you there.
Here’s the event link: https://d-ux.co/egitimler/mag-04-yaptigimiz-is-neden-kimsenin-umurunda-olsun

Let’s talk impact. In our own language.

💜 Meltem

careerwithmel.com

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Many people feel the urge to change.

New role. New company. New country.
Sometimes that urge is growth. Sometimes it is an escape.

Before you move fast, it can help to pause.

I am offering a free 30-minute UX Career Audit this January.
Not to tell you what to do. But to help you look at your career from a clearer angle to make 2026 the most impactful.

This is for UXers with a few years of experience who feel stuck, underused, or unsure about their next move.

During the audit, we look at four things.

#1 Your strengths and your real impact.

What you are genuinely good at and how clearly you can articulate it.

#2 What is holding you back?

Not more tools or certifications. But where your energy leaks.

#3 Your short, mid, and long-term direction.

What you want to grow into. And what you want less of.

#4 Your relationships and influence.

Inside your organization and beyond it.

Because most opportunities still come through people.

Before we meet, I ask you to reflect and answer a few questions.
No perfect answers needed.
This is a snapshot. We work with what is here.

If this feels useful, you can join.

Go to careerwithmel.com.
Fill out the Explore the Fit form. It takes about 10 seconds.
In the question about your goal, write “Free Audit”.

I will follow up with the next steps.

💜 Meltem

careerwithmel.com

There’s a quiet pattern I notice in many UXers I coach.

Many of us want to grow.
We want clarity.
We want to feel solid in our skills.

But underneath that, there may be something deeper:

What if you want someone to tell you that you’re doing a good job, so that finally, you can finally feel safe.

This belief system may show up in subtle ways:

• overthinking every design decision

• redoing research plans 10 times

• waiting for approval before taking the next step

• attaching confidence to someone else’s reaction

• feeling “off” until praise is explicitly spoken

UXers may feel this way because our work is constantly judged.

Reviewed.
Iterated on.
Selected or rejected.
Liked or ignored.

So the nervous system learns:

Safety is external. Someone else decides whether I’m okay.

The problem? That creates a dangerous dependency.

Why This Matters For Growth

You’ve probably heard the idea that people don’t want to be sold. They want to buy.
What they truly want is ownership.
A sense of agency.
A feeling that this move is mine.

The same psychology applies to your career.

If your confidence depends on someone else:
their praise, their reassurance, their approval, you will always feel like you’re being “sold” your own worth.

You will feel like your value has to be confirmed by others.
And you will wait for permission rather than choosing your path.

But growth doesn’t happen from being chosen.
Growth happens from choosing.

Grounding Yourself: Where Real Confidence Comes From

In a session recently, I told a client:

“You can be open to feedback without relying on it for oxygen.”

Because here’s the truth:

People might like your work deeply but never say it.
They might be busy.
They might communicate differently.
They might have a conflict of interest.
They might assume you already know.
They might give neutral feedback to appear “objective.”

Silence is not a verdict.
A lack of praise is not a lack of impact.

So you need a foundation inside yourself that doesn’t collapse when external feedback shifts.

That foundation looks like:

• knowing why a decision makes sense

• trusting your own reasoning

• being curious, not defensive, when something feels off

• asking clarifying questions (“Can you share an example?”)

• observing patterns in feedback rather than chasing individual reactions

• staying steady when the room is quiet

This is what grounded designers do.
They hold their center.
They listen, but they don’t outsource their sense of worth.

Curiosity Instead of Dependence

Curiosity is the antidote to approval-seeking.

Instead of:
“Please like what I did.”

Shift to:
“I want to understand how you see this.”

It changes everything.

Examples of curiosity-driven questions:

• “What part of this direction feels strongest to you?”

• “Is there anything that doesn’t land as intended?”

• “Can you share a moment where this design would break?”

• “What constraints are influencing your feedback?”

These questions don’t come from insecurity.
They come from leadership.
From collaboration.
From grounded ownership.

And when you operate from that place, you’re no longer waiting to be chosen.
You’re choosing how to grow.

The Identity Shift That Changes Everything

Designers don’t want to be told they’re good.
They want to feel they’re good.

Not because someone praised them.
But because they know they showed up with clarity, intention, and skill.

That’s the same psychology behind why people want to buy, not be sold.

Agency.
Ownership.
Self-trust.

When your confidence comes from within, something unlocks:

You stop performing for approval.
You start choosing for alignment.

And everyone can feel the difference.
Managers.
Peers.
Stakeholders.
Clients.
You.

💜 Meltem

careerwithmel.com

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Last week today, and I hosted a webinar on a topic we care about personally and professionally: burnout in UX.

The webinar turned into a meeting call, a joyful team catch-up with laughter and care.

People did show up.
They opened up courageously.
They asked questions that weren’t theoretical, but deeply felt.
They encouraged us to keep going.

It felt less like a standard webinar and more like a podcast you stumble into, part laughter, part seriousness, part “wait, we need to pause here,” part “oh wow, I didn’t know anyone else felt that way.”

And then something beautiful happened. Javier received an illustration from one of the participants, Esin Isik, a day after the event.

A participant sketched the entire conversation by hand

One of the participants, Esin Isik, created a hand-drawn visual summary of the session: full of small characters, handwritten notes, bold ideas, and little bits of humor tucked between the heavier topics.

With Esin’s permission, I’m sharing the illustration here.

It captures so much of what we discussed:

• What burnout actually looks like (not just the classic “I’m tired”).

• Why UX work is vulnerable to it: hint: it’s less about workload and more about emotional demands, layoffs, job instability, and being “driven by care.”

• The tricky role of managers and seniors who are expected to hold everyone else together.

• The messy space where neurodivergence intersects with performance expectations.

• And most importantly: How to recognize burnout in ourselves before it takes over.

Seeing this sketchnote touched me.

It wasn’t just delightful, or creative, or well done. It was evidence of something I’ve been feeling for a while:

People are ready to have honest, nuanced conversations about wellbeing in UX.

Not performative resilience.
Not “take a vacation.”
Not “try yoga.”

Actual, grounded conversations about the emotional cost of caring, the friction of ambiguity, the pressure cooker of layoffs, and the desire to do meaningful work without burning out in the process.

So… what’s next?

The feedback from this session didn’t tell us, “nice event.”
It told us, “Please don’t stop here.”

Javier and I are continuing to meet to figure out the next chapter.

We’re brainstorming, dreaming, questioning, and trying to understand what would actually serve this community.

A few ideas are floating around. We don’t know yet, and that’s the exciting part.

💜 Meltem

careerwithmel.com

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When I left my full-time job almost two years ago, I did it because somewhere inside, I felt the urge to do it.

I love UX. The people. The challenge of working in a bigger organization .

And when I looked around for alternatives, for models of what independence looked like, what I saw were people talking about “scaling,” “funnels,” and “founder mindsets.”

It all sounded so loud.
So masculine.
So… not me.

So I started small.
Tiny, even.

A few coaching conversations.
A few frameworks that grew organically out of real humans, real stories, real reflection.

And slowly, Career with Mel became what it is today: something rooted in curiosity, not hustle.

The space between full-time and freedom

The messy middle between being employed and being independent is emotional terrain.
It’s not just a career move. It’s an identity shift.

You’re letting go of external validation.
You’re rebuilding confidence from the inside.
You’re learning to be seen differently, and to see yourself differently.

That’s the part we don’t talk about enough.

Why this conversation matters

That’s why I’m experimenting with a free, one hour session: “Not a Tech Bro, Still a Founder.”
Not as a startup playbook.
But as a conversation about identity, courage, and clarity.

Because for many of us, entrepreneurship isn’t about ambition. It’s about integrity.
It’s about wanting our work to match our values, our energy, and our season of life.

And yes, it’s about learning to hold uncertainty without losing ourselves.

The invitation

If you’ve been thinking about building something of your own, this conversation is for you.

We’ll explore what it means to transition from full-time work to independence without burning out or pretending to be someone you’re not.

It’s not a polished blueprint.
It’s an hour of reflection, stories, and shared honesty.

If that resonates, you can join us through the link below.
No AI note-takers. No recordings. Just humans figuring it out together.

🧡

Here’s the sign up link.

💜 Meltem

careerwithmel.com

Why we’re hosting a live, human conversation about burnout in UX, and why you might want to join us.

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Happy Monday!

After an inspiring week at the World Usability Congress, and I are ready to bring our research on UX burnout to a wider circle.

We’re hosting a live session on Tuesday, November 12th at 7:30pm CET, and we’d love for you to join us.

This isn’t another “fix your burnout in 5 steps” talk.

It’s a real conversations grounded in data, stories, and the lived experiences of folks from around the world who participated in our interviews and survey (link). Many of you reading this might even have contributed to it 🙏.

Why join us?

Because burnout in UX isn’t just about workload.
It’s about meaning, support, and the quiet ways we lose both.

We’ll be sharing:
💬 What we discovered about the hidden drivers of burnout, especially for managers and senior UXers
💬 Why prevention and recovery are two very different toolkits
💬 What helps people stay grounded in a field that never stops changing

But most importantly: we’ll hold space for an open, human conversation.

We won’t be recording our talk

This will be a live-only session to keep things candid and psychologically safe, especially for when we get your questions..

Participate, listen, reflect. Just show up as you are.

Sign up link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/burnout-in-ux-with-meltem-naz-kaso-and-javier-bargas-avila-tickets-1848966381219

I love to hold this space with you.

💜 Meltem

careerwithmel.com

Have you felt as though you’re at crossroads in your UX career?

Maybe you’ve experienced burnout.

Or you’re concerned upon seeing how AI is changing our ways of working.

It could also be more subtle. Maybe you have a “Wait… what am I even doing anymore?” feeling.

I know it well — I’ve been there.

And after coaching 75+ UXers with whom I’ve done 1 to 1 coaching, I’ve realized that standing at the crossroads is the entry point to growth. It’s a sign that you’re ready for your next layer of clarity.

That’s where the CARE Framework was born. Not in theory because it’s fancy. But in conversation, reflection, and real human messiness.

It’s a way to come back to yourself through four pillars:

Clarity

Alignment

Resilience, and

Expression.

Let’s walk through them not as steps, but as prompts for reflection.

You might even want to pause and jot some answers down.

1. Clarity: From Chaos to Calm

Clarity isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about making enough space to hear them.

When you’ve been sprinting from project to project, or sending endless applications, your brain can sound like 30 Slack channels at once.

So the first move? Turn the noise down.

Ask yourself:

• What’s actually draining me right now? And what quietly gives me energy back?

• What do I keep saying “yes” to that I’m secretly tired of?

• What part of my work do I miss when it’s gone?

Clarity can hide behind small truths you’ve been avoiding.

2. Alignment: From Forcing to Choosing

Once you have a bit of clarity, you start noticing where things feel off.

Maybe you’ve been trying to “fit” into roles that look good on paper but feel hollow.
Maybe you’ve been staying in a company that matches your résumé but not your values.

Ask yourself:

• What parts of my current work feel like I’m forcing something?

• If I stopped trying to “be impressive,” what would I actually want to be doing?

• Which opportunities have I said yes to just because I was afraid to say no?

Alignment is the art of making your choices match who you’ve become, not who you used to be. It’s also about exploring where things “click” because they’re meant to be, not because you’re forcing yourself really hard.

3. Resilience: From Spiraling to Steady

UX careers can be unpredictable: layoffs, reorgs and shifting titles can make it hard to know what to aim for.

It’s easy to spiral especially when your worth feels tied to the next opportunity.

Resilience isn’t “toughing it out.”
It’s building enough emotional scaffolding to stay steady when things wobble.

Ask yourself:

• How do I take care of myself when work gets uncertain?

• What boundaries do I need to protect my energy?

• When I face rejection, how long does it take me to recover. And what helps me shorten that time?

Resilience isn’t a shield. It’s a rhythm one where rest and reflection are part of the design. That way, you can anticipate some negativity instead of being overwhelmed by it. Rejections and hardships along the way as part of your trajectory to success.

4. Expression: From Hiding to Visible

This one is my favorite, and the hardest for many UXers.

So many of us are incredible at designing experiences for users but may forget to design visibility for ourselves.

Expression is about showing up fully. in your voice, in your work, and in how you tell your story. It’s about making your thought process visible so that you can organically attract the right opportunities for yourself.

Ask yourself:

• What part of my professional self am I hiding because I think it’s “too much”?

• What would I say on LinkedIn if I wasn’t afraid of being judged?

• How can I share my work in a way that feels authentic, not performative?

Visibility isn’t self-promotion. It’s about enabling others to figure out how and if they can collaborate with you. Expression is about adding value to your colleague and collaborators’ lives and work experiences.

Why CARE Still Matters

The truth is, you don’t “graduate” from CARE.
It’s not a linear path; it’s a loop.
Every time you feel stuck or off-course, you can return to these four questions:

Where am I unclear?
Where am I misaligned?
Where am I overextended?
Where am I hiding?

That’s the beauty of this work. It evolves with you.

Does CARE speak to you? If so, let’s meet.

Join Me Live: The CARE Framework in Action

If this piece resonated with you, I’d love to invite you to go deeper.

I’m hosting a free 1-hour live webinar just for senior UXers, where I’ll walk you through CARE in a much more hands-on way with reflection prompts, real client stories, and space to ask questions.

Because I want to keep it interactive, I’ll be curating small groups for each session.

📅 When: Tuesday, 28th October
🕒 Choose your slot:

• 11am–12pm CET

• 1pm–2pm CET

• 3pm–4pm CET

• 9pm–10pm CET

💻 Where: Online (link shared after registration)
📝 Sign up here (link)

I love to hold this space with you.

💜 Meltem

careerwithmel.com

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Some days it feels like everything clicks: you show up at work, you show up at home, and there’s even time for yourself. Other days, guilt creeps in. Maybe it’s about missing time with your kids, not being as available at work, or simply feeling like you should be doing more everywhere.

Here’s the truth I’ve discovered both in my own journey as a working parent and through my coaching clients across the globe:

👉 Guilt isn’t just something to “get rid of.”
It’s often a signal. A nudge pointing toward:

• Parts of yourself that need more care and compassion

• A vision or value that’s not being met

• An opportunity to accept and embrace a new version of your identity

That’s why my dear friend and fellow coach, Tatiana Vlahovic, and I are hosting a hands-on, one-time workshop for working parents: From Guilt to Growth.

This workshop is about creating space to reflect, connect, and realign. Together, we’ll explore:

✨ How guilt can transform into a signal for growth and alignment
✨ What parts of your past identity you want to carry forward
✨ How to manage your energy and create a vision that honors both your career and your parenthood

Who this is for

We’re creating this space for knowledge workers—people balancing demanding careers and raising kids, whether full-time or part-time.

It’s open to all genders, all parenting roles, and all backgrounds.

If you’ve ever felt the push and pull between being present at home and ambitious at work, this is for you.

What you’ll gain

• Clarity on how your identity as a parent and professional can fit together, instead of feeling in conflict.

• Tools for managing your energy when time feels limited.

• Connection with peers who get the realities of this journey and may even become part of your future support system.

Workshop details

🗓 Date/Time: November 2025 (exact timing will be set with participants)
📍 Location: Zoom
⏱ Duration: 2 hours
💲 Investment: $100 USD (all currencies accepted, no extra fees)

We’re intentionally keeping this group small—around 5 participants—to make it an intimate, high-value experience.

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Interested?

If this resonates, fill out our interest form: https://forms.gle/MkhbCNEo5hX1LA2N8

Once we confirm participants, we’ll set the date and send details.

This isn’t about doing it all perfectly. It’s about finding more alignment, more pride, and more peace in the middle of parenthood and career.

We’d love to hold this space with you.

💜 Meltem

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#uxcareer

#careercoaching

👋🏼 I’m Mel, a UX Career Coach based in beautiful Barcelona.

If this post speaks to you, head over to careerwithmel.com

Click Explore the Fit — let’s see what we can build together.

Today, UXers deliver value in product teams that rely increasingly on AI.

Sure thing, within minutes, AI can generate wireframes, propose usability test plans, even suggest research insights. And it can do it for free.

Yet, here is what I keep noticing.

The most critical parts of UX work are not the ones that AI can take over. They are the moments where colleagues spark curiosity in each other, where teams align on why something matters, and where stakeholders start to genuinely care about what is being built together. And that’s still deeply human.

The part of UX that no model can automate is the part that’s relational and that’s how it builds momentum.

A few weeks ago, I gave a two-day training for the HP team at Nacar. The focus was on giving designers research skills to enable them to run unmoderated testing.

And in the back of my head, I was also thinking about how AI can assist us with anything related to unmoderated testing:

Some early examples include:

🧿 Drafting task instructions
🧿 Sorting large batches of responses
🧿 Generating variations of copy or prompts to explore

Used well, AI can clear the space for us to think and design with more focus. It can accelerate our work.

But AI does not replace the real thinking.

It does not know the hidden context behind your team goals. It does not feel the excitement in the room when a new insight clicks.

The uniquely human part of UX today is building shared purpose. It is asking together the right questions. It is turning a designer, researcher, engineer and product manager from individuals into collaborators who understand not just what they are testing, but why it matters.

When we are at our best as UXers today, we are:

🧿 Framing the right research questions that unlock decisions
🧿 Spotting bias and context that AI might miss
🧿 Engaging stakeholders so insights actually lead to change
🧿 Creating energy and buy-in across the team

These are the moments that AI cannot replicate because they require trust, personal relationships and care, curiosity, and human connection.

What’s the takeaway?

AI will keep evolving. And no one (even in the big tech) knows where exactly things will go. I’m skeptical about its environmental impact and its impact on us when we exclusively rely on it as it can reduce our critical thinking competencies.

But even then, I’m in no denial: AI can be an amazing accelerator for parts of our work. As we speak, I’m collaborating on our UX Burnout Study, leveraging AddMaple’s AI features to connect insights across qualitative and quantitative methods.

Still, the future of UX is not about who prompts AI better.

It is about who can prompt humans.

🧿 Who can ask the questions that create alignment and clarity.
🧿 Who can generate energy in a room full of stakeholders.
🧿 Who can turn insights into action because people feel invested in the outcome.

That is the skill that keeps UX human. That is the skill that will always set you apart in your CV, portfolio, interviews and networking engagements.

So next time you run a test or share insights, remember: the spark comes from humans, not prompts. Keep UX human.

=========

#uxcareer

#careercoaching

👋🏼 I’m Mel, a UX Career Coach based in beautiful Barcelona.

If this post speaks to you, head over to careerwithmel.com

Click Explore the Fit — let’s see what we can build together.

Subscribe now

There's something Kim Witten, PhD and I value the most in what we’re building with our initiative (we call it UXit Strategy):

➡️ Real conversations.
➡️ Space to share stories.
➡️ Moments when someone says, “I thought I was the only one.”

We’re gathering as UXers navigating change — whether that means pivoting within UX, stepping out of it, or still figuring out what’s next.

No scripts, no slides.

These chats are free, casual, and off the record. We’ll keep them small so we can actually connect.

🚀 Sign up to the newsletter for the meetup details and more: https://uxitstrategy.com/

Transitions can be hard. But don’t have to do it alone.

=========

#uxcareer

#careercoaching

👋🏼 I’m Mel, a UX Career Coach based in beautiful Barcelona.

If this post speaks to you, head over to careerwithmel.com

Click Explore the Fit — let’s see what we can build together.

Subscribe now

Being a parent while building a career is fulfilling, but it can also be exhausting, disorienting, and lonely.

What happens when:

🔵 Your energy is gone, but the calendar isn’t?
🔵 Your priorities have shifted, and the career you built no longer aligns with your life?
🔵 You're proud to be a parent, but unsure of how or whether to discuss this part of your identity at work?

Tatiana Vlahovic, MS, CPCC, ACC and I are co-hosting a special, invite-only session for working parents navigating energy management, career transitions, and identity transformation—especially those who want to lead with intentionality and proactively avoid burnout.

We’re keeping it small, cozy, and real. We’re aiming for a group of 10.
Here are some details:

➡️ DATE? Thursday, July 10
➡️ TIME SLOT? 9–10 AM ET / 3–4 PM CET
➡️ WHERE? Virtual
➡️ FREE EVENT

If this resonates with you—or someone in your network—fill out the form (link) to request an invite.

Let’s build careers that actually work for this season of life.

=========

#uxcareer

#careercoaching

👋🏼 I’m Mel, a UX Career Coach based in beautiful Barcelona.

If this post speaks to you, head over to careerwithmel.com

Click Explore the Fit — let’s see what we can build together.

Subscribe now

Friends,

I recently had the chance to chat with Andy Polaine on his podcast Power of Ten. We had one of those rare conversations that felt honest and energizing—like stepping outside your own head for a while and seeing your path with a bit more clarity.

We talked about what it really means to grow a UX career—not just climbing a ladder, but figuring out who you are in your work. We touched on a lot of themes I see often in coaching sessions:

• Why so many UX professionals feel stuck, even when they’re “successful” on paper

• How business understanding and communication aren’t extras—they're part of what makes design impactful

• The moment you start seeing your own story as something you can actually shape

It was also a moment of reflection for me. I shared a bit about my own shift—from working in UX research to becoming a career coach—and what I’ve learned about the invisible weight a lot of people carry in their careers. Especially those of us who care deeply about doing meaningful work, but sometimes need help cutting through the noise.

If any of that resonates with you, I’d love for you to give it a listen:

Thanks to Andy for creating space for a real conversation.

And as always, if you’re navigating your own career questions, you’re not alone. I work with people one-on-one who want to reconnect with what matters in their work—and move forward with a bit more clarity and calm. You can find out more about that here, or just reply to this email if you want to talk.

Take care,
Meltem

=========

#uxcareer

#careercoaching

👋🏼 I’m Mel, a UX Career Coach based in beautiful Barcelona.

If this post speaks to you, head over to careerwithmel.com

Click Explore the Fit — let’s see what we can build together.

Friends,

When I started Career with Mel, I treated it as a proof of concept. Frugality was a core value. I wanted to see how far I could go with nothing but a laptop, a solid Wi-Fi connection, and the skills and experience I’d built over the years.

A year later:

✅ 60+ paying clients
✅ Hundreds of attendees in UX career events
✅ Countless conversations that changed lives — including mine

Now that I know this business is not just feasible, but deeply meaningful, I’m here to invest.

This website (and the upcoming 1-minute masterclass-style trailer) is a reflection of that commitment.

careerwithmel.com brings together:

#1 Detailed coaching program info
#2 FAQs and free resources (podcast recordings, articles, and more)
#3 A simple interest form for clients and collaborators to explore working with me

Big thanks to the incredible women who made the website happen and shared their talent, experience, and knowledge with me — Bahar, Julia, Alicia, and Kim.

And heartfelt gratitude to Adina, Stela, Kax, Rebecca, and dear friends and family who offered feedback, encouragement, and so much kindness. Love you all.

Here’s to what’s next. 💛

=========

#uxcareer

#careercoaching

👋🏼 I’m Mel, a UX Career Coach based in beautiful Barcelona.

If this post speaks to you, head over to careerwithmel.com.

Click Explore the Fit — let’s see what we can build together.

Subscribe now

Hi friends,

On Thursday, and I are hosting a free, private Meet & Greet for UX professionals navigating (or considering) a career shift.

We’ll be talking:

→ career transitions
→ pivots out of UX
→ what thoughtful, seasonal support could look like in our Summer Coaching Sprint

✨ This is a live session — limited spots, no recordings, and real conversations. We’re keeping it small so folks can connect meaningfully.

If you're curious, come say hi — we’d love to meet you.
👉 Book your spot here: https://tidycal.com/insight/meet-and-greet

P.S. Kim’s flying in from the UK to join me in Barcelona on Wednesday. This week is all about community, care, chocolate, and coaching in the sun.

Warmly,
Mel

=========

#uxcareer
#careercoaching

👋🏼 I’m Mel, a UX Career Coach based in beautiful Barcelona.
Here’s how I can help:
💬 Free insights — Follow me here and on LinkedIn
🎯 Coaching — One-off strategy calls, flexible monthly plans, or 3–6 month commitments with discounts

Subscribe now

and I are offering something is short, focused, and affordable.

Before September rolls in, we want to meet you right where you are in your career transition from UX.

We’re testing a coaching sprint — happening between end of May and end of June — for folks navigating their next steps beyond UX.

Here’s what’s inside:
✅ A 1:1 coaching session to ground your goals
✅ A 90-min group workshop to explore and take action together
✅ A follow-up 1:1 to move you forward

We’re keeping it tight, tailored, and powerful so you can build real momentum before your summer break.

How does that sit with you?
Would this help you leap?
Sound like what you’ve been looking for?

We want to hear from you.

Let’s make your next chapter happen.

Link: https://leavingux.kit.com/

=========

#uxcareer
#careercoaching

👋🏼 I’m Mel, a UX Career Coach based in beautiful Barcelona.
Here’s how I can help:
💬 Free insights — Follow me here and on LinkedIn
🎯 Coaching — One-off strategy calls, flexible monthly plans, or 3–6 month commitments (with discounts)