As user experience evolves, generating insight or deliverables are no longer the hardest part. What is? Getting decision-makers to act on the work. Too often, UX folks assume that presenting the facts will automatically drive change. In reality, leaders filter, ignore or even resist evidence if it challenges their identity, priorities or assumptions. Ouch.
This talk equips UX professionals with tactical strategies to influence without authority. Attendees will learn how to frame findings in leadership language, create an infrastructure of trust and make stakeholders co-owners of insights. This is all accomplished while leveraging psychology and relationships.
Through relatable scenarios and practical frameworks, Jen Blatz demonstrates how UX pros can move beyond ego-driven persuasion to evidence-based influence. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to get their work noticed, understood and applied. Thus finally transforming the way they impact their organizations.
This session is ideal for mid-to-senior technology professionals, UX researchers, designers and strategists looking to increase the workplace effectiveness, without having “management” authority over teams or stakeholders.

Outline
Opening: Influence With Authority
• What is influence and why it is important

The Impact framework
• I Infrastructure. Build the Infrastructure of Trust through Relationships.
• M Meeting. But Influence Starts Before the Meeting.
• P The Psychology of the Ask. Small wins and asks lead to bigger responsibility.
• A Act Before Being Asked.
• C Make Stakeholders Collaborators and Co-Authors, Not Audiences
• T Translate Evidence Into Risk, Not Truth.

For the aspect of the framework:
• Quotes for inspiration
• Real-world tactics and approaches
• Using psychology for good

Key Takeaways
• How to frame evidence in a way that aligns with leadership priorities.
• Methods to influence decisions without formal authority or official title.
• Techniques to co-create insights and foster stakeholder buy-in.
• Understanding the psychological barriers that prevent evidence from being heard.

Why Jen is qualified to give this talk
Jen Blatz has decades of experience helping organizations translate UX research into action. She has seen firsthand how long presentations of evidence often fail. Thus she has developed practical, repeatable strategies to influence stakeholders at all levels. Her combined expertise in research, design and strategic leadership equips her to teach attendees how to get research heard, finally, without the management title, org authority or ego – but with measurable impact.

Presented
UX Scotland 2026
WUC World Usability Congress 2026