Introduction: An Interview with Your Host, Kyle Soucy

The UX Consultants Lounge

In this special introductory episode, we get to know Kyle, the host of our UX Consultant Podcast. Celebrating her 20th year in business as an independent UX research consultant, Kyle shares her journey, the motivations behind starting this podcast, and what listeners can expect in future episodes. Joined by her children, Roger and Gabriel, Kyle answers some of the most frequently asked questions about her career, offering a personal and heartfelt look into her life as a consultant.

Show Highlights:

• Introduction to Kyle (00:00:00) - Kyle introduces herself and her company, Usable Interface, and reflects on her 20-year career as an independent UX research consultant.
• Why This Podcast? (00:02:00) - Kyle discusses the reasons for starting the podcast, emphasizing the need for real talk about consulting, especially in the current economic climate.
• What to Expect (00:03:00) - An overview of the podcast's format, including interviews with other UX consultants, client appearances, listener questions, and more.
• Who is This Podcast For? (00:05:00) - Defining the target audience for the podcast: independent contractors, consultants, freelancers, and solopreneurs in the UX field.
• About Kyle and Her Consultancy (00:07:00) - Kyle answers common questions about her business, Usable Interface, with her kids, Roger and Gabriel, asking the questions.
• Kyle's Journey into UX and Consulting (00:12:00) - Kyle shares her path from working in a Fortune 500 company to becoming an independent consultant.
• The Leap into Consulting (00:20:00) - How Kyle transitioned from a corporate job to starting her own consultancy.
• Finding Work as a Consultant (00:23:00) - The importance of networking, building connections, and establishing credibility through speaking and writing.
• Challenges and Rewards (00:28:00) - The best and worst parts of consulting, according to Kyle.
• Advice for Aspiring Consultants (00:30:00) - What it takes to be a successful UX consultant, including mastering your craft, being self-motivated, and building a strong network.
• Specialization in UX (00:34:00) - Kyle discusses whether to specialize in a particular area of UX and shares her experience as a qualitative UX researcher.
• Bloopers and Wrap-Up (00:38:00) - Enjoy some funny bloopers with Kyle and her kids. Kyle wraps up the episode and teases the next episode featuring a guest interview with Karen McGrane.

Links and Resources:

• Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Kyle's UX Research consultancy, Usable Interface.
• Recommended podcast: The Deliberate Freelancer.

Submit a question or story: Have a question or topic that you'd like us to cover in a future episode and/or want to share an anonymous consulting story? Submit your questions and stories.

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I can’t wait to have you back in the lounge for our next episode!

Kapitel

1. Introduction: An Interview with Your Host, Kyle Soucy (00:00:00)

2. Why this podcast? (00:01:38)

3. What can you expect in this podcast? (00:03:07)

4. Who is this podcast for? (00:04:13)

5. About Kyle and her consultancy (00:07:05)

6. Meet Kyle's kids as they interview her (00:09:20)

7. Roger and Gabriel share a little about themselves (00:10:29)

8. How did you end up in UX and why did you decide to go out on your own as a consultant? (00:12:06)

9. How did you make the leap into consulting? (00:19:26)

10. How do you find work? (00:22:09)

11. Do you ever think about having employees or a partnership? (00:24:20)

12. Have you ever needed help with your business? (00:25:37)

13. What do you like best and least about consulting? (00:27:15)

14. What do you think it takes to be a successful UX consultant? (00:29:03)

15. What attracted you to UX? (00:31:14)

16. Do you have a specialty? (00:33:49)

17. What answers surprised Roger and Gabriel (00:35:57)

18. Wrap up (00:38:47)

19. Bloopers! (00:39:14)