International Women's Day - Accelerating Action - Lightning Talks

We're celebrating International Women's Day in the best way, bringing you lightning talks from three awesome leaders in the UCD space!

Come and learn from our speakers, create new connections, and leave feeling inspired.

We cannot wait to introduce you to our fantastic speakers and for you to enjoy their talks. Each lightning talk will last 10 minutes and there will be time for each speaker to answer your questions.

Denise Maskew is an experienced digital leader with over 20 years of expertise spanning retail, telecommunications, and utilities. Passionate about solving customer problems through large-scale digital transformations, Denise has a proven track record of delivering innovative e-commerce solutions that drive business outcomes.

As a people-first leader with high emotional intelligence and a knack for building authentic relationships, Denise thrives on empowering teams to reach their full potential. A strong advocate for Women in Tech, Denise is a champion for diversity and inclusion in the industry.

Beyond work, Denise wears many hats—mentor, judge, school governor, Swim England team manager and treasurer of an artistic swim club. When not leading digital innovation, they can be found paddleboarding, attending gigs, or driving her children to their many, many activities - all fueled by coffee and pepsi max!

Finding Your Authentic Self

Denise’s talk is going to cover her career story, how to bounce back when life gets tough and how she found her authentic self.

Karine is a Design and UX leader with 15 years of experience shaping digital products and leading high-impact teams. She is the former Head of Product Design at Sky Betting & Gaming, where she led major projects, including a large-scale technology transformation. She has also driven key projects at AND Digital for clients such as Asda and Lookers. Passionate about interaction design and the UX of everyday experiences, she created @‌badbad_ux, an Instagram channel highlighting the impact of poor UX.

Karine has spoken at industry events and appeared on podcasts, sharing insights on design, leadership, and the role of UX in shaping the world around us.

The UX & Design Career path that no one warned you about
Remember when you first got into UX and design? You were drawn in by creativity, problem-solving, and the thrill of crafting experiences that make a difference. Fast forward a few years, and suddenly, you’re faced with a choice no one warned you about: stay hands-on and risk stagnation, or step into leadership and leave behind the very craft that brought you here. Why does our industry push us toward management as the only path to more money, influence, and career growth? And what happens when you don’t want to give up being a maker? In this talk, we’ll dive into the reality of UX and design career paths, how they’re shaped, what choices we really have, and how to navigate them without losing what you love about your work.

With over a decade of experience in UX/UI, brand identity, and creative campaign development. Currently leading all digital projects at Lesniak Swann, Maria plays a key role in shaping user experiences from initial workshops to final execution. She has been instrumental in major digital projects for the likes of Uber, ANS, M&S and Joseph Holt Brewery.

With experience across both brand and digital throughout her career, Maria is passionate about crafting impactful digital solutions that elevate brands and enhance user experiences, empowering both individuals and businesses to succeed.

Finding my flow: From Brand Chaos to UX Clarity

With over a decade of agency experience in both brand and digital, Maria will share her journey - from a fresh graduate who thought a breakpoint was a dance move to her current role as Head of Digital Design, where UX/UI is now her jam. She’ll dive into the chaos of juggling brand and web projects over the years and share why she’s finally ready to go all-in on UX/UI.

This event always sells out so be quick and don't miss out on our first event of the year!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Colony One Silk St - Manchester Co-Working & Office Space, Silk Street, Ancoats, United Kingdom