Making a Living from Your Side Hustle
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.
I'm Dr. Chloe Sharp, author of "Make Products That Matter," a comprehensive guide to research-driven product development. As an experienced innovation consultant and exited co-founder of SnapOut, I've helped numerous startups and SMEs secure over £10 million in funding while providing expert UX and innovation services.
My expertise spans product management, UX research, and innovation leadership. I've successfully built a 300-member strong UX community (UXMK) with speakers such as Barclays Ventures, Akendi and Open University, led complex innovation projects, and established new services within existing SMEs. My experience includes working as a product manager and leader at one of the UK's leading grant agencies, where I honed my skills in strategic decision-making and product management.
As an ILM5 qualified coach, I mentor leaders, founders, and product development teams, emphasising data-driven, evidence-based approaches to business and product strategy and building innovation cultures. My background in user research, market analysis, and product management enables me to build compelling evidence for informed decision-making.
My academic credentials, including a PhD in sociology specialising in grounded theory, have informed my scientific approach to product research and discovery. I apply this theoretical knowledge to practical, context-specific situations, helping businesses innovate effectively.
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.
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.
For years, product managers and other professionals have been conditioned to follow a linear career path—climbing the corporate ladder step by step, often constrained by company politics and rigid promotion cycles. But the landscape has changed. No longer do ambitious professionals have to wait for a title bump to advance their careers.
In this session, we introduce the "Career Lattice"—a dynamic and flexible approach to career growth that allows individuals to expand their skills, impact, and income beyond traditional promotions. We’ll share how product leaders, executives, and professionals can create new opportunities on their own terms—leveraging side projects, consulting, cross-functional collaborations, and strategic skill-building to shape fulfilling, financially rewarding careers without leaving the security of their full-time job.
Key Takeaways:
- Why career growth isn’t just about promotions—and how focusing solely on climbing the ladder can hold you back.
- The Career Lattice framework—how moving sideways, diagonally, or even taking a step back can open bigger doors.
- Real-life success stories—case studies of professionals who have successfully navigated non-linear career growth.
- Actionable strategies—three practical steps attendees can take to start applying the Career Lattice approach immediately.
Audience Engagement & Format:
Storytelling & Case Studies – Examples of individuals who have successfully built careers outside the traditional mold.Interactive Reflection – Guided prompts for attendees to assess their own career aspirations and opportunities.Actionable Framework – Attendees will walk away with a practical roadmap to implement the Career Lattice approach in their own careers.
This session is perfect for professionals looking to expand their career potential without sacrificing their current stability. Attendees will leave empowered with a fresh perspective, tangible next steps, and the confidence to take control of their career trajectory—whether through internal moves, side gigs, or passion projects.
Scaling a digital business from a one-person operation to a high-performing team is a challenge many solopreneurs face. Without the right strategies, growth can lead to inefficiencies, miscommunication, and burnout.
In this session, I will guide solopreneurs through the essential steps to prepare for team expansion while maintaining agility and focus. Attendees will learn:
- When and how to start building a team – Identifying the right moment to scale and the first roles to hire
- Delegation strategies that work – How to offload tasks effectively while maintaining quality and vision
- Systems and workflows for seamless collaboration – The must-have tools and processes to keep operations smooth
- Avoiding common scaling pitfalls – How to prevent growing pains that can slow down success
