Sitemap - 2026 - UX Mentor Diaries
They lied to us about being "well-rounded"
He sent 300 applications. The problem was never the applications.
A stranger tried to sell me in my own inbox.
The market wants its hands-on leaders back.
When I need to "pick the brain" of a busy senior person, here's how I get them to agree in 5 seconds
The exec you’re sure can’t stand you could be your loudest advocate.
Your body is lying to you before the big presentation.
Nobody gets promoted for being fast anymore. AI made sure of that.
Is your career "comfortably" unhappy?
The promotion went to the person who was about to quit...
The scorecard your manager is filling out about you (that you've never seen)
"I think I'm about to be laid off. What do I do?"
"My VP loved my work. My manager said I 'wasn't ready' for the next level"
Why your best work might not count as Director evidence
How to interview for Director-level roles if you've never been a Director before
Ceiling, Island, or Ghost: which one is you?
How to build 1:1s with the people who ACTUALLY decide your promotion
She turned a reorg into a promotion. Here's how.
The 72-Hour Reorg Playbook for Design Leaders
"How has AI made you more effective?" (the wrong answer to this question could cost you your role)
You spent the last year learning AI...but it didn't move your career an inch.
Why your VP can't repeat "task completion dropped 23%" to their boss (and what to say instead)
Your VP doesn't care about your research. They only care about what it costs them to IGNORE it.
The visibility system that takes 20 minutes a week (and doesn’t require self-promotion)
You’re being evaluated in meetings you weren’t invited to.
The ask that gets approved in the first meeting
AI didn’t take your job. It took your excuse for not being strategic.
She stayed 18 months too long. Here's the audit that would have told her.
Am I growing or just aging in my role?
The 4 sentences that got a $2.1M redesign approved in 11 minutes
Why your best presentation still lost the room
The Strategic Thinking System That Changes How Leadership Hears You → 🔒 The Second-Order Effects Map
6 learning tracks. Weekly templates. No more random reading.
"Political" UX skills that change by environment
You're Trying to Convince People Who Can't Be Convinced
Your Brain is Lying to You (and It's Costing You the Promotion)
Why Talented UX Leaders Stay Stuck
Saying "no" is your strongest career leverage (and most UXers are allergic to it)
What I’m seeing in UX leadership right now
🎁 Discount Codes for Paid Members
Why "Director" isn't a promotion
You’re Trusted with Work, But Not with Risk. Here’s Why.
You’re Introducing Yourself Wrong (And It’s Costing You Authority)
The "Pre-Alignment Intercept" (a move many experienced ICs never learn)
♟️Political Intelligence Track (5 parts)
🎓 6 Learning Tracks to Master UX Influence
Why your input keeps getting ignored (and the 2-minute fix)