Tamara Adlin – Navigating Executive Misalignment in UX (Part 1)

In the first of a two-part episode of Brave UX, Brendan Jarvis interviews Tamara Adlin, President of Adlin Inc. Tamara Adlin is a thought leader and a seasoned UX consultant with over 25 years of experience helping companies create better products. Tamara reflects on her time at Amazon, lessons from leadership, and her pioneering work with personas. She highlights how executive misalignment can derail projects, emphasizing that personas alone can’t fix underlying communication issues. Tamara introduces her “Executive Alignment in Five Conversations” methodology, a framework designed to align teams and ensure project success. The conversation also touches on the importance of ongoing alignment and how well-crafted personas can be transformative when supported by clear, cohesive leadership.

Highlights include:

• 00:00 - Introduction and Background
• 05:30 - Tamara’s Journey into Animal Rescue
• 12:15 - The Persona Life Cycle Books
• 18:45 - Alignment Insights from Amazon
• 26:00 - The Importance of a Support System
• 32:30 - Diversity in Tech
• 40:15 - The Challenges of Executive Misalignment
• 46:00 - Executive Alignment in Five Conversations
• 55:30 - Case Study: Zillow
• 1:02:15 - Conclusion and Teaser for Part Two

 

Who is Tamara Adlin

Tamara Adlin is a seasoned UX consultant with over 25 years of experience helping companies create better products. A former UX leader at Amazon, Tamara has worked with top tech enterprises, specializing in startups and Web3 projects for the past 20 years. She co-authored The Persona Lifecycle books and developed the "Executive Alignment in Five Conversations" framework, which helps teams refocus on user needs and improve product outcomes. With expertise in product strategy, UX diagnostics, and leadership alignment, Tamara’s approach drives rapid improvements and long-term success for companies navigating disruptive technologies like blockchain and AI.

"I like to use the metaphor of a 'tornado' to describe the chaos that ensues when executive opinions change rapidly. One moment, you’re moving forward, and the next, everything is flipped upside down. It’s crucial to understand those stakeholder assumptions upfront rather than letting the storm dictate the direction of your project." Tamara Adlin

Find Tamara Here

• Tamara Adlin on LinkedIn
• Adlin Inc Website

 

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