Episodes

Emerson Taymor has worn many hats: designer, founder, investor, and entrepreneur exploring the intersection of design, product, and AI. In this episode, Emerson reflects on his path from scrappy freelance gigs in high school to co-founding the agency Philosophy, which grew into a 50-person consultancy before being acquired. He shares honest lessons from the trenches, including the grind of building momentum, the sting of layoffs, and the challenge of keeping quality high as you scale. Emerson al...

In this episode, we go ringside with Andy Vitale - yes, literally. From professional wrestler to powerhouse design leader, Andy’s career path is anything but predictable. He shares how his early days in the ring taught him lessons in storytelling, empathy, and reading an audience—skills that now fuel his human-centered approach to design. We explore Andy’s journey through big-name companies like Office Depot, Rocket, and Truist, and unpack his perspective on mentorship, measuring design's impact...

Michelle Parsons, Chief Product Officer at Lex and former product leader at Kayak, Spotify, Netflix and Hinge, joins That Pivotal Moment of Change for a wide-ranging conversation on product, leadership and personal growth. She shares the story behind Lex’s bold pivot from a dating app to a thriving LGBTQ+ community platform—and what it really took to make that shift stick. From spotting early user signals to staying grounded in brand values, Michelle unpacks the decision-making behind a major p...

In this episode, Seth Carpien - Chief Growth Officer at Tricon Infotech - shares how “unintentional mentors” helped shape his career from finance to sales to product leadership. He reflects on the moment a colleague challenged his thinking and sparked a complete mindset shift - one that led him to embrace failure, stay humble, and treat his career like a product: something to test, learn from, and constantly improve. We talk about navigating career pivots, leading remote teams, building culture...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change, I sit down with design and operations leader Jose Coronado to talk about the moments that shaped his approach to leadership, growth, and building high-impact teams. Jose shares why he said yes to building a design operations practice from scratch - despite never having done it before, and how that risk became a defining moment in his career. We explore the importance of hiring for culture add instead of culture fit, the power of reinvention even ...

In this live episode recorded at UXDX NYC , Prayag Narula - cofounder and CEO of HeyMarvin - joins That Pivotal Moment of Change to share how a career rooted in research led to an unexpected but impactful journey through entrepreneurship. From building a demand generation startup without any sales background to founding Marvin, an AI-powered research repository that helps teams analyze and activate insights, Prayag reflects on the lessons, pivots, and hard truths that shaped his path. He open...

What does it take to build a personal brand that opens doors—and still feels authentic? In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change , Lorraine K. Lee shares her journey from editorial leader at LinkedIn and Prezi to keynote speaker, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and author of Unforgettable Presence . We talk about navigating pivotal moments like layoffs, embracing the power of introversion, and making the leap from middle management to senior leadership. Lorraine offers powerful frame...

In this episode, Roger Rohatgi shares the remarkable journey that led him from designing rave flyers and producing an award-winning film to becoming Chief AI Officer at Chai. Roger opens up about how building an app to help children with autism sparked his entry into the AI space, and how he’s stayed grounded in empathy and purpose while leading design at scale for companies like BP, Objective Edge, Ministry Brands, and more. He talks about launching the first social television network in the U....

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change , Kevin Hawkins shares a thoughtful look at his evolution from building products to building high-performing teams. Reflecting on experiences that span from fintech startups to global travel platforms, Kevin opens up about what it really takes to scale teams—from 6 to over 100—and the mindset shifts that come with it. One of the most compelling ideas in this conversation is Kevin’s use of stakeholder personas —a concept that applies product t...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change , I sit down with Tim Gilligan, whose career has taken him from immersive theater productions in New York to the world of design operations at Capital One. Tim’s story challenges the idea of linear career paths and explores how each chapter—no matter how unexpected—can become a powerful building block. We talk about the transition from stagecraft to systems thinking, the importance of resilience as a resource rather than a mindset, and the value...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change , we sit down with Matt Walsh — Founder & CEO of Greenstone and a veteran behind some of the most iconic digital agency work of the last two decades. Matt takes us back to where it all began: sitting at his desk on day one of his UX career, staring at a blank screen, unsure of what to do next — until he simply drew a rectangle and took the first step. From that moment forward, Matt shares the pivotal decisions that shaped his career — from play...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change , I sit down with Philip VanDusen , a creative visionary whose career journey is a testament to the power of reinvention. From his early days as a fine artist selling prints at street fairs to leading global design teams at Old Navy and PepsiCo, Philip shares how unexpected opportunities—and even setbacks—shaped his path. We explore why careers are more like webs than ladders, the importance of personal branding as a career safeguard, and how ...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change , Uta Knablein, a seasoned product and design executive, shares the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership journey—from driving UX innovation at Nickelodeon to leading large-scale product strategies at JPMorgan Chase and iHeartMedia. She dives into the ripple effect of leadership, the power of continuous learning, and why adaptability is crucial in today’s fast-evolving industries. Uta also discusses breaking down silos, navigating uncertain...

n this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change, Kip Voytek shares how his career—starting in political consulting and speechwriting—evolved into game design, UX, data strategy, and digital business transformation, all driven by two essential skills: lifelong learning and curiosity. Kip reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his journey, from leading roles at cutting-edge agencies and working on iconic accounts like Nike to tackling complex digital strategy challenges with the World Bank. H...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change, Sophia Prater, CEO & Founder of Rewired and Chief Evangelist for Object-Oriented UX (OOUX), shares how a pivotal challenge designing CNN’s 2012 election results platform led her to develop a structured approach to UX that simplifies complexity. She discusses the power of self-trust, the importance of seeing the big picture in product design, and why failure is often a hidden opportunity. Sophia also dives into lessons learned from launching a glo...

Peter Merholz has never followed a conventional path—and that’s exactly what has made him one of the most influential voices in UX and design leadership. In this episode, Peter shares his journey with rare self-awareness, opening up about both the pivotal moments and the missteps that shaped his career. One of his biggest career shifts came when he realized there was a massive gap in resources for design leaders. That realization led to Org Design for Design Orgs, a book that has since become t...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change , Valerie Madden shares her journey as a creative leader in entertainment marketing, from launching iconic TV shows at NBC and Amazon to navigating unexpected career pivots and embracing the transformative power of AI in creative industries. Val opens up about overcoming challenges as a woman, and someone with dyslexia in a traditionally male-dominated industry, highlighting the importance of resilience, adaptability, and authenticity in career ...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change , host Ryan Leffel sits down with Felix Lee, co-founder of ADPList, a platform that has transformed mentorship for professionals across product, engineering, design, marketing, data science, and product research. Felix shares his journey from being a designer to launching a community-driven company, the key inflection points that shaped ADPList’s rapid growth, and the pivotal moment that forced him to rethink everything. Along the way, he unpac...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change, we talk with Teresa Cain—Product & UX Leader and best-selling author of Solving Problems in Two Hours and Next-Gen Product Management. Teresa shares her career journey, from breaking into the product world to leading impactful teams in the tech space. She discusses the power of mentorship, embracing a growth mindset, and staying versatile to overcome challenges like career transitions and the rise of AI in tech. Packed with actionable advice, Ter...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change, we explore the inspiring journey of Connor Joyce—researcher, author of Bridging Intention and Impact, and influencer. Connor shares how he navigated setbacks, embraced change, and discovered his North Star. He discusses the "Four Idols" framework (money, power, pleasure, fame), which has shaped his career perspective, and emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset in turning challenges into opportunities. Connor also shares insights on the evo...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change , Richard Dalton, Head of Design for Consumer at Verizon, reflects on the twists and turns that shaped his remarkable career. From navigating career pivots to embracing leadership lessons, Richard shares how surrounding himself with smarter people, rethinking feedback, and designing for end-to-end customer experiences have driven his success. Packed with actionable insights on growth, innovation, and resilience, this episode is a must-listen for...

This week, I’m thrilled to welcome Paul Strike, a UX and digital experience leader who has spent over a decade shaping transformative design strategies. In our conversation, Paul takes us on a journey through his career, starting as a creative high schooler passionate about set design and evolving into a leader in the design and digital experience space. Paul shares pivotal moments from his career, including founding a human-centered design consultancy, stepping into leadership roles that requi...

In this episode, Catt Small, a staff designer and founder of the Games Devs of Color Expo, shares her journey from graphic design to UX mastery. She reflects on her growth as a designer, emphasizing the importance of empathy, adaptability, and building strong relationships in shaping exceptional user experiences. Catt also discusses the power of community and how her passion for gaming inspired her to create a platform celebrating diverse voices in the industry. With valuable insights on navigat...

In this episode of That Pivotal Moment of Change , we sit down with Susie Hall, President of Community and Customer Engagement at Aquent, to explore the transformative power of kindness, curiosity, and authentic relationships in leadership. Over her 25-year journey, Susie has mastered the art of building relationships and building community, most notably through Inside Out, a safe space for senior in-house creative leaders to connect and grow. Susie shares candid insights into the lessons she...