Too many designers wait for their companies to approve conferences or courses before investing in themselves. This week, we unpack why that’s a career-limiting mistake and how taking ownership of your education builds leadership, confidence, and community.

What if the biggest career mistake you’re making is waiting for your company to invest in you?

Too many designers make the same mistake: They wait for their company to invest in them.

⇢ The conference budget.
⇢ The HR-approved training.
⇢ The green light from a manager.

It’s OK! I’m 100% guilty of this too!

But first, check out this week's sponsor:

But here’s the truth: leaders don’t wait for permission!

They invest in themselves first.

And that investment pays off in ways a certificate never will:

⇢ Connections that open doors
⇢ Confidence to speak with authority
⇢ A mindset that treats growth as leadership

This week on Beyond UX Design, I talk with Yao Adantor, an educator and founder of UX Con, about why owning your education is the key to long-term impact.

Yao and I dig into:

• Why conferences are really about connection, not content
• How sacrifice (time, money, energy) builds future opportunities
• Why confidence is the real ROI of learning
• How to lead yourself before you lead others

Don’t Wait for Permission To... Sep 18 · Beyond UX Design 56:29   ​

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Speaking of Conferences!

Get a FREE ticket to UXCon '25 by listening to the end of the episode and replying to this email with the secret word.

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1️⃣ Stop waiting for permission: Too many designers stall their growth until a company approves a budget. Leaders don’t wait—they take initiative. Even small self-funded investments, like an online course or meetup, can have an outsized impact on your career trajectory.

2️⃣ Think of education as more than school: Education isn’t just about degrees or certificates. It’s the time you put into real experiences, networking, and connecting with people who expand your perspective. Don’t limit yourself to formal learning when every interaction can teach you something valuable.

3️⃣ Apply the entrepreneurial mindset to your growth: Entrepreneurs don’t sit back and hope for resources—they find ways to make things happen. Apply that same mindset to your education. Be scrappy, resourceful, and proactive in finding ways to learn, even if the money or time isn’t handed to you.

4️⃣ Investing in yourself builds confidence: Confidence doesn’t come from a certificate on your wall. It comes from conversations, debates, and experiences that sharpen your thinking. Conferences and communities give you the practice and perspective to speak with authority when it matters most.

5️⃣ Your growth fuels your community: Education isn’t selfish. The more you grow, the more you can give back, whether that’s through mentoring, teaching, or simply showing up as a better teammate. Think of your investment not just as personal, but as service to the people around you.

Listen to episode 135 now!

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