Speaker Engagements
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DBUX 2022
Dallas Black UX
Dallas Black UX mission is to foster positive relationships amongst black professionals.
We hosted an event where aspiring UXers and UX professionals came to the company to learn from our various product teams and UX leaders to gain insights into how UX works within an enterprise. How they can build a UX portfolio and network with team members and fellow UXers.
I presented on how Design Thinking works within the enterprise.
SOBD 2023
State of Black Design
“Inspire > Incite > Ignite: Planning and Sustaining an Empowered Design Career”
This was a mini-conference that kicked off the 2024 State of Black Design (SOBD) conference.
I presented on "Let Design Thinking build your Competitive Advantage". A message in the benefits of diversity in the workforce and how practicing and imbuing the mindset of Design Thinking can guide companies because of DT's inclusive and collaborative approach that leads with empathy.
Not many people know about the benefits of diversity in the workplace and how practicing Design Thinking and imbuing the mindset can help individuals be more inclusive because it leads with empathy.
•Companies with a diverse workforce are stronger and more competitive because they bring together different perspectives, ideas, and approaches to problem solving.
•Organizations in the top quartile for ethnic diversity have a 36% likelihood of financial outperformance.
•Diverse companies earn 2.5X higher cash flow per employee
•Inclusive teams are over 35% more productive
•Diverse teams make better decisions 87% of the time
Key Takeaways:
•Diversity in the workplace is beneficial. So, step up and speak up in the workplace. Your input matters!
•Leverage the inclusive and collaborative benefits of Design Thinking
•Be the change you want to see and look for opportunities to make a difference
UnConference 2023
AA Tech Conference
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Connect, Share, Learn
The AA Tech [UN]Conference is focused on building the AA techie community by coming together for a full day of learning from each other and industry experts. It helps to provide the ability to disconnect from 'what might be' and aspire to 'what can be.'
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5 min Ignite Talk
"Let DT build your Competitive Advantage"
A message in the benefits of diversity in the workforce and how practicing Design Thinking and imbuing the mindset of DT can guide companies because of it's inclusive and collaborative approach that leads with empathy.
•Companies with a diverse workforce are stronger and more competitive because they bring together different perspectives, ideas, and approaches to problem solving.
•Organizations in the top quartile for ethnic diversity have a 36% likelihood of financial outperformance.
•Diverse companies earn 2.5X higher cash flow per employee
•Inclusive teams are over 35% more productive
•Diverse teams make better decisions 87% of the time
Key Takeaways:
•Lead with empathy to bridge a more inclusive environment
•Advocate for diversity in the workplace by practicing design thinking
•Get trained in Design Thinking with LUMA
It's important to understand that design thinking is not DEI but that it can be a catalyst for improving inclusive efforts.
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Design Thinking Workshop
How DT is used to build
UX Strategy
I ran a workshop with a fellow UX team member at the University of North Texas on how Design Thinking can be used to build a UX strategy. A UX strategy is a plan of actions and a set of guidelines that aims to combine business objectives, product goals, and user needs.
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The workshop consisted of three parts:
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Use LUMA methods to build a strategy
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Build an app in Figjam
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Create a readout to share
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Benefits of having a UX Strategy:​​
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Having a UX strategy ensures that user-centered insights are integrated with the business strategy and that the user experience is consistent with the brand vision.
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It's beneficial for the end user, the UX team, and the business, as it helps solve the right problems for the right people, keep the team focused on the user, and achieve a competitive edge in the market.
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Consists of vision, goals, and a plan, that foster a shared understanding of the direction toward achieving goals before designing and implementing solutions.
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Serves to intentionally guide the prioritization and execution of UX work overtime.
