The UX Consultants Lounge

In this episode of the UX Consultants Lounge, host Kyle Soucy sits down with Elizabeth Creighton, the owner of Brazen, a consultancy that offers UX research and training services. Elizabeth shares great tips about scaling your UX consultancy through newsletters, online courses, and investing in deliverables. Plus, they discuss the emotional journey of having to pause your consulting practice in order to take a leave of absence and how to bounce back.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Power of Newsletters: Elizabeth discusses how starting a newsletter helped her connect with clients, maintain visibility, and generate new business. She shares practical tips on managing the workload and gaining subscribers.
• Creating Online Courses: Elizabeth explains her experience developing a user interview skills course on Maven. She provides insights on choosing a platform, balancing course creation with client work, and the impact of teaching live cohort-based courses.
• Enhancing Deliverables: Elizabeth shares her experience in hiring a presentation designer to elevate the quality of her client and course presentations. She shares the value of investing in high-quality templates to improve professionalism and efficiency.
• Managing a Leave of Absence: Elizabeth and Kyle also touch on the challenges consultants face when needing to taking breaks for personal reasons, like maternity leave, and how to bounce back afterward.

Notable Quotes:
“Starting a newsletter really helped me stay top of mind with past clients. It’s about building that direct line of communication that social media can’t always provide.”

“Investing in a professionally designed presentation template has completely changed the way I present to clients. It’s not just about looking polished; it’s about delivering more impact.”

Connect with Us:

• Host: Kyle Soucy | Usable Interface (www.usableinterface.com)
• Guest: Elizabeth Creighton | Brazen (www.brazen.io)

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Links and Resources Mentioned:

• Elizabeth’s Newsletter: https://newsletter.brazen.io/
• Elizabeth’s Maven Course (with a 15% off promo code - ‘CONSULTANTS15’): https://maven.com/brazen-ux/user-interview-skills-designers-pms
• Elizabeth’s Presentation Designer: https://marikedesigns.com/
• ConvertKit (now Kit) Email Marketing Software: https://kit.com/
• Lex Roman’s Low Energy Leads Newsletter: https://read.lowenergyleads.com/
• Company of One by Paul Jarvis: https://www.amazon.com/Company-One-Staying-Small-Business/dp/1328972356

Submit a question or story: Have a question or topic that you'd like us to cover in a future episode and/or want to share an anonymous consulting story? Submit your questions and stories.

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I can’t wait to have you back in the lounge for our next episode!

In this special introductory episode, we get to know Kyle, the host of our UX Consultant Podcast. Celebrating her 20th year in business as an independent UX research consultant, Kyle shares her journey, the motivations behind starting this podcast, and what listeners can expect in future episodes. Joined by her children, Roger and Gabriel, Kyle answers some of the most frequently asked questions about her career, offering a personal and heartfelt look into her life as a consultant.

Show Highlights:

• Introduction to Kyle (00:00:00) - Kyle introduces herself and her company, Usable Interface, and reflects on her 20-year career as an independent UX research consultant.
• Why This Podcast? (00:02:00) - Kyle discusses the reasons for starting the podcast, emphasizing the need for real talk about consulting, especially in the current economic climate.
• What to Expect (00:03:00) - An overview of the podcast's format, including interviews with other UX consultants, client appearances, listener questions, and more.
• Who is This Podcast For? (00:05:00) - Defining the target audience for the podcast: independent contractors, consultants, freelancers, and solopreneurs in the UX field.
• About Kyle and Her Consultancy (00:07:00) - Kyle answers common questions about her business, Usable Interface, with her kids, Roger and Gabriel, asking the questions.
• Kyle's Journey into UX and Consulting (00:12:00) - Kyle shares her path from working in a Fortune 500 company to becoming an independent consultant.
• The Leap into Consulting (00:20:00) - How Kyle transitioned from a corporate job to starting her own consultancy.
• Finding Work as a Consultant (00:23:00) - The importance of networking, building connections, and establishing credibility through speaking and writing.
• Challenges and Rewards (00:28:00) - The best and worst parts of consulting, according to Kyle.
• Advice for Aspiring Consultants (00:30:00) - What it takes to be a successful UX consultant, including mastering your craft, being self-motivated, and building a strong network.
• Specialization in UX (00:34:00) - Kyle discusses whether to specialize in a particular area of UX and shares her experience as a qualitative UX researcher.
• Bloopers and Wrap-Up (00:38:00) - Enjoy some funny bloopers with Kyle and her kids. Kyle wraps up the episode and teases the next episode featuring a guest interview with Karen McGrane.

Links and Resources:

• Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Kyle's UX Research consultancy, Usable Interface.
• Recommended podcast: The Deliberate Freelancer.

Submit a question or story: Have a question or topic that you'd like us to cover in a future episode and/or want to share an anonymous consulting story? Submit your questions and stories.

Don't want to miss an episode? Be sure to sign up for the podcast newsletter.
Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.
I can’t wait to have you back in the lounge for our next episode!

Links and Resources:

• Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Kyle's UX Research consultancy, Usable Interface.

Submit a question or story: Have a question or topic that you'd like us to cover in a future episode and/or want to share an anonymous consulting story? Submit your questions and stories.

Don't want to miss an episode? Be sure to sign up for the podcast newsletter.
Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.
I can’t wait to have you back in the lounge for our next episode!

In this episode, host Kyle Soucy is joined by Karen McGrane, a renowned UX consultant, to dive deep into the intricacies of UX consulting, running a consulting business, and adapting to industry changes. Karen shares her extensive experience, from starting and running multiple consulting firms to managing business downturns and shifting industry norms.

Karen’s wealth of experience and candid reflections make this a must-listen for anyone in the UX consulting community!

Key Points Discussed:

• Introduction to Autogram: Karen discusses her current consultancy, Autogram, which she started during the pandemic with Jeff Eaton, focusing on content strategy and management.
  
• Navigating Business Losses: Karen opens up about a tough period in 2011 when she lost significant business and had to make tough decisions regarding staff and the future direction of her company. The conversation delves into changes within the consulting industry, particularly how expectations around office spaces and employment structures have evolved post-pandemic.
  
• The Impact of 2023 on Consulting: Karen reflects on the challenges faced by consultants in 2023, noting it as one of the toughest years, and discusses strategies for resilience and adaptation.
  
• Partnerships and Collaborations: Insights into forming effective partnerships in consulting, as exemplified by her seamless collaboration with Jeff Eaton and the transparent profit-sharing models they implement.
  
• Marketing in a New Era: The decline of traditional marketing channels like conferences and Twitter has prompted Karen to explore new ways of promoting her services and connecting with potential clients.

View the episode chapter links for the full list of topics that were discussed.

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Connect with Us:

• Host: Kyle Soucy | Usable Interface
• Guest: Karen McGrane | Autogram

Links and Resources Mentioned:

• Karen's Talks: Check out her insightful talks at: https://karenmcgrane.com
• Books by Karen: "Content Strategy for Mobile" and "Going Responsive"
• Recommended Subreddit that Karen co-moderates: r/UXDesign
• Book by Ethan Marcotte: “You Deserve a Tech Union”
• Recommended Podcast: 2Bobs
• Recommended Book: The Business of Expertise by David C. Baker

Submit a question or story: Have a question or topic that you'd like us to cover in a future episode and/or want to share an anonymous consulting story? Submit your questions and stories.

Don't want to miss an episode? Be sure to sign up for the podcast newsletter.
Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.
I can’t wait to have you back in the lounge for our next episode!

In this episode of the UX Consultants Lounge, host Kyle Soucy sits down with Becca Kennedy, the owner of Kennason, a UX consultancy that combines design research and content design services. With over 15 years in the industry and nearly a decade of running her own consultancy, Becca shares her insights and experiences in the world of UX consulting.

What You’ll Learn:

• Becca’s Transition from Academia to UX Consulting: Becca discusses her journey from earning a PhD in Human Factors Psychology to becoming a successful UX consultant. She delves into how her academic background shaped her approach to user experience and how she transitioned from academia to the consulting world.
  
• Finding and Retaining Clients: Becca shares her early experiences in finding her first clients through local networking and discusses the importance of building relationships within the community. She also talks about her innovative “Let’s Fix It” workshops, designed to give new clients a taste of her services with actionable takeaways.
  
• The Importance of Saying No: Becca and Kyle explore the critical importance of knowing when to turn down work. Becca provides tips on how to evaluate potential projects and maintain a balance between business growth and personal well-being.
  
• Subcontracting Insights: They discuss the benefits and challenges of subcontracting through larger design firms, offering advice on how to balance direct client work with subcontracting projects.
  
• Disability Insurance for the Self-Employed: Becca provides valuable advice on the often-overlooked topic of disability insurance for freelancers and consultants, emphasizing the importance of financial planning and security.
  

Submit Your Stories and Questions: Do you have a topic or question you’d like us to explore in a future episode? Perhaps there's an anonymous consulting story you want to share? Click here to submit your story or question on our podcast website.

Connect with Us:

• Host: Kyle Soucy | Usable Interface
• Guest: Becca Kennedy | Kennason

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Links and Resources Mentioned:

• Becca’s Article: When to Say No to Freelance Projects
• Becca’s Newsletter: Interrobang: Questions and Exclamations on Design
• Recommended Book: “Design is a Job by Mike Monteiro”
• Recommended Resource for Disability Insurance: Freelancer’s Union
• Gamer music (Kyle’s fav): Syberia Soundtrack

Submit a question or story: Have a question or topic that you'd like us to cover in a future episode and/or want to share an anonymous consulting story? Submit your questions and stories.

Don't want to miss an episode? Be sure to sign up for the podcast newsletter.
Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.
I can’t wait to have you back in the lounge for our next episode!