#184 - Use Context For More Influence with Kristen DeLap of Econify

Ben talks with Kristen DeLap, fractional COO at Econify, to explore how UX'ers can build influence without formal authority. Kristen brings a unique perspective, having evolved from interior design to leading product teams at Herman Miller and now working as an operations executive. She shares practical strategies for understanding decision-making processes, translating design work into business impact, and creating the conditions where teams do their best work.

They also cover essential skills for today's design professionals, including decision literacy, stakeholder translation, and the art of challenging assumptions diplomatically. Kristen emphasizes that while AI can generate design artifacts, it cannot create alignment across teams or orchestrate complex organizational dynamics. She offers concrete tactics like using customer stories to explain roadmaps, minimizing big presentation moments in favor of ongoing stakeholder engagement, and treating colleagues like users to better understand their motivations and constraints.

Highlights

• 11:08 Design Skills That Can't Be Replaced by AI
• 15:56 Decision Literacy in Organizations
• 21:42 Surprising Realities of Leadership Meetings
• 24:36 Building Influence Without Organizational Power
• 29:01 Storytelling via Roadmaps Exercise
• 35:47 What Trade Off Are You Most Uncomfortable Making

Resources

• A Framework for Decision-Driven Research
• Using Research Roadshows for Influence
• The UX Designer's Guide to Research