#64 I joined Andy Polaine’s podcast—here’s what we talked about

Why good UX isn’t enough—and what really helps your career grow

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

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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

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