Sarah Doody's Speaking Experience
I give UX talks and workshops at UX conferences worldwide and online to help teams and individuals change how they work and think.
I’ve been speaking since 2012 and I take it seriously! Whether you’re putting on a conference or in house event, your attendees deserve an awesome experience.
A talk or workshop is a product, and I design every talk and workshop with the attendee experience in mind.
Faced with the challenge of fading attention spans, everything I do is designed to keep the audience engaged. I weave together storytelling, case studies, process, inspiration and passion with the goal of driving people to action.
I am available for talks and workshops worldwide whether in person or online.
Have an event you’d like me to speak at?
I’m available for in-person and remote speaking and workshops. Please contact me and provide as much detail about your event as possible.
“She engaged with our 500 plus audience in a way that was both entertaining and instructive, having the highest NPS from our post-event feedback form.“
– André Marquet, Productized Lisbon Organizer
My UX talks help teams get back to basics and take action through a balance of process, inspiration, and practice.
UX TALK
Anticipatory Design & the Future of Technology
As technology becomes smarter, what is the ethical line of making decisions on behalf of the people who use our products? As a society, what happens if more of our roles are automated?
This talk explores 4 cautions and 4 design principles to consider as automation inserts itself into the products we create.
UX TALK
The Ultimate Competitive Advantage: Let’s Put The User Back in UX
What if your team could create something you know people want instead of something you hope they need? Learn how to break the habit of rushing to build with these 4 steps:
- Conduct fast and cost-friendly research.
- Understand the true problem, not symptoms.
- Identify exactly what to build.
- Launch and validate the idea.
UX TALK
Why We Need Storytellers at The Heart of Product Development
Far too often, teams focus on execution before defining the product opportunity and unique value proposition.
Leveraging the power of storytelling can help teams focus on the “why” of a product before they become entrenched in the “how”.
This talk provides product teams with storytelling principles and practices that can be integrated into their existing product development methodology.
View the slides (40k views)
Read the article
Watch the video
My in person and online UX workshops provide hands-on skills & strategies that teams and individuals can apply to their roles immediately.
UX WORKSHOP
Storyboarding In Product Development
Learn how to avoid costly mistakes that occur when team members don’t share a common understanding of the product story.
Storyboarding helps teams establish a clear product vision early in the product design process, thereby reducing common problems of delayed launches and budget creep.
* Available as a half-day workshop for conferences and companies.
UX WORKSHOP
Rapid Research For Product People
How can you make smart decisions for your product if you don’t understand your users?
Learn how to get buy-in for and do more research, even if “research” is not in your job title. In this workshop, you’ll practice doing user research by partnering up and doing customer interviews and usability tests.
* Available as a half and full-day workshop for conferences and companies
UX WORKSHOP
Creating a Cadence & Culture of Research
The only way to equip your team with the information to make the best decisions is to do ongoing research.
Creating a culture of research is crucial for product teams. ks of “re-work”. In order to create a cadence of research, it must be a part of your culture. Learn how to plan, conduct, and evangelize quarterly research on your team.
* Available as a half and full-day workshop for conferences and companies.
My UX talks and workshops have received some of the highest ratings and positive feedback from UX conference organizers and attendees.
“Sarah’s Let’s Put the User Back in UX talk was one of the highest rated talks at INDUSTRY: The Product Conference in 2019. It was equal parts informative and actionable — all while keeping every attendee completely engaged.
Do yourself a favor and don’t hesitate to book Sarah at your next product/UX/technology conference Do yourself a favor and don’t hesitate to book Sarah at your next product / UX / technology conference.“
– Mike Belsito, INDUSTRY Organizer
“In her talk at the Productized Conference 2019, in Lisbon, Sarah Doody showed some examples to define the difference between Anticipatory and Automated Design.
She engaged with our 500 plus audience in a way that was both entertaining and instructive, having the highest NPS from our post-event feedback form.”
– André Marquet, Productized Organizer
“Sarah is a great storyteller, a confident speaker and a delight to work with. From an organisers perspective she’s super responsive and professional, delivering everything we requested and more.
From an attendee point of view, she’s great at unpacking complex concepts in an engaging way, makes time for audience members, and is very “present” at the event. Exactly what you’d want from an experienced speaker. As such I’ve already recommended her to other events and will continue to do so.”
– Andy Budd, UX London Organizer
“Sarah’s Rapid Research for Product People was one of the most popular workshops at INDUSTRY: The Product Conference in 2019. While it was a late addition to INDUSTRY, it ended up becoming one of the fastest-selling workshops of the entire conference.
Attendees rated Sarah and her workshop so highly that we can’t wait to work with her again in the future.”
– Mike Belsito, INDUSTRY Organizer
” Sarah ran a highly professional and engaging workshop on rapid research techniques for hundreds of UX professionals of all levels.
A consummate communicator, she was an instant hit and someone our community would welcome back. In short, I highly recommend Sarah.”
– Ben Newton, Product Lead at Loop 11
Here’s what UX conference and workshop attendees have to say about my work
“I made my first product storyboard and I understand the problem 1,000% better. Thanks for an inspiring workshop.”
Tom D
Workshop: Storyboarding In Product Development
“Your workshop couldn’t have come in a better time. This week we conducted our first round of usability tests and interviews. And of course, I used some of the insights that I got during your workshop.”
Pedro V
Workshop: Rapid Research
“I really liked how the activities allowed us to workshop from our own perspective and on our own product. The take-home tools and resources were great too.”
Anonymous
Workshop: Creating A Culture Of Research
Here are some of the UX conferences and events I’ve given talks and lead workshops at
Upcoming Talks & Events
Workshop at Front Utah
Topic: Practical UX Research Tips for Product Teams
November 2022
Salt Lake City, Utah
Speaker at VanUE
Topic: The Product of You
November 2022
Online
Past Talks & Events
Speaker at Front Conference
Topic: Anticipatory Design
August 2021 in
Zurich, Switzerland
Speaker at Alida Activate Conference
Topic: How to Build a People-Focused Company
May 2021
Online
Speaker at Industry Conference
Topic: Let’s Put The User Back In UX
September 2019
Cleveland, Ohio
Speaker at UX London
Topic: Anticipatory Design
May 2019
London, UK
Speaker at UX Professionals Association NYC
Topic: Designing & Scaling Your UX Career
May 2019
Virtual
Speaker at Front Utah
Topic: Creating a Culture of Research
November 2018
Salt Lake City, UT
Speaker at StartCon
Topic: Let’s Put The User Back In UX
November 2017
Sydney, Australia
Speaker at AIGA National Design Conference
Topic: Anticipatory Design
September 2017
Minneapolis, MN
Speaker at The Family
Topic: Prototyping in User Experience
June 2017
Berlin, Germany
Speaker at UXLX
Topic: Anticipatory Design
May 2017
Lisbon, Portugal
Speaker for InVision’s Online Design Talk Series
Topic: Creating a Habit of Research
December 7, 2016
Online
Speaker for User Zoom’s UX Webinar Series (Europe)
Topic: Prototyping Your Way To A Better Product
November 9, 2016
Online
Speaker at Interact London
Topic: Anticipatory Design & The Future of Technology
October 19, 2016
The British Museum, London, UK
Workshop Facilitator at Interact London
Topic: The 5-Step User Research Formula
October 17, 2016
The British Museum, London, UK
Guest Lecturer at General Assembly
Topic: Why User Experience Matters (Product Management class)
October 11, 2016
New York, NY
Speaker for User Zoom’s UX Webinar Series (North America)
Topic: Prototyping Your Way To A Better Product
September 13, 2016
Online
Speaker for Power To Fly’s Webinar Series
Topic: Prototyping Your Way To A Better Product
May 17, 2016
Online
Workshop Facilitator at Mobile UX London
Topic: Storyboarding in Product Development
November 26, 2015
University College of London, London, UK
Panelist at Product Council
Provided live feedback about presenting startups
December 7, 2013
New York, NY
Instructor & Curriculum Developer at General Assembly
Created curriculum for & taught the first 12-week UX intensive
Fall / Winter 2013
New York, NY
Speaker at Asbury Agile
Topic: Storytelling In Product Development
October 2013
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Speaker at General Assembly UX Day
Topic: Why We Need Storytelling In Product Development
August 2012
New York, NY
Have an event you’d like me to speak at?
I’m available for in-person and remote speaking and workshops. Please contact me and provide as much detail about your event as possible.