From UX Designer to UXpreneur: Monetizing Your Skills Beyond a 9-to-5
Many UX designers dream of turning their expertise into a profitable side hustle but struggle with where to start. In this session, I’ll break down practical, actionable strategies for monetizing UX skills beyond a traditional job, whether through mentoring, consulting, cohort-based courses, workshops, or digital products.
In this session I will share real-life insights from my journey of scaling MarziUXD into a thriving UX education business.
I'm a UX educator, mentor, and founder of MarziUXD, a UX community dedicated to helping designers land jobs and level up their careers. With over 10 years of experience in UX, I’ve mentored hundreds of designers and built a sustainable business around teaching, mentoring, and running cohort-based challenges. My expertise lies in transition from learning to earning, turning skills into scalable income streams through workshops, consulting, and content creation.
Networking isn’t just about business cards or LinkedIn connections—it’s about building real relationships that open doors. Sure, it can feel awkward or even a little cringe, but with the right mindset, it doesn’t have to be.
Modern networking is about quality, not quantity. It’s not about meeting as many people as possible—it’s about connecting with intention, online or in person. In this session, we’ll cover practical strategies for building authentic relationships that can boost your career or business. We’ll discuss how to network with purpose, make a lasting impression, and turn connections into real opportunities.
If networking feels intimidating, you’re not alone. It’s tricky for most people! But when approached the right way, it can be one of the most valuable tools in your career. Let’s make it work for you.
Great startups begin with great problems. But how do you train yourself to spot them? This session explores the art of problem sensitivity—the ability to recognize unmet needs, inefficiencies, and emerging opportunities before others do. Learn how to shift your mindset, ask the right questions, and uncover startup-worthy insights in everyday life. Whether you're an aspiring founder or an experienced entrepreneur looking for your next big idea, this talk will provide actionable frameworks and real-world examples to sharpen your problem-finding skills.
Shawn Johnson has built a career transforming ideas into global successes. As the founder of SocioPunk & Seichō Syndicate, he helps businesses scale through disruptive creativity and sustainable growth strategies. From leading product and design for Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal to working with brands like Nike, Disney, and Microsoft, Shawn knows what it takes to turn passion into profit.
In this session, Shawn will share his battle-tested strategies for scaling your side hustle while thriving in your career. Learn how to leverage your expertise, build high-value brands, and automate growth—all without burnout. Shawn’s blueprint blends product innovation, design thinking, and business strategy to help you create sustainable success.
Whether you're looking to launch, scale, or exit, this talk will equip you with the mindset and tactics to turn your side gig into a global powerhouse. Don't settle - join this session and supercharge your success.
I've taken my side hustle which helps entrepreneurs test their business ideas and create messaging that resonates with customers, to a full-time venture. In this talk, I will talk you through the early stages of developing an idea and how to validate this idea with potential customers, through to building on this by monetising and transitioning away from a side-hustle to a full-time venture.
