Leadership in UX – From Designer to Strategic Partner

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IxDF JHB: Leadership in UX

© Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0

The talk will explore transitioning from hands-on design work to influencing business strategy and decision-making. Pierre Leeflang, a Team Lead at Entelect will cover the key mindset shifts, skills, and challenges UX professionals face as they move into leadership roles. You’ll hear practical strategies to gain stakeholder buy-in and align UX with business goals.

About the speaker:
Pierre Leeflang is a UX designer turned Team Lead at Entelect, currently serving as the Design Lead for Health at Discovery. He leads a multi-company team of designers focused on improving digital healthcare experiences for millions of users. Pierre began his career as a hands-on designer and was the first UXer at Entelect to transition into a Team Lead role. He’s passionate about empowering designers to grow into strategic thinkers and strengthening UX influence.

Join us online or in-person at Entelect:
2nd Floor
3 Melrose Boulevard
Melrose Arch
Johannesburg
South Africa

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Leadership in UX – From Designer to Strategic Partner

Design Dinner

Date
Time
IxDF Johannesburg
17+ people going
Address

Entelect

2nd Floor, 3 Melrose Boulevard, Melrose Arch

Free to Join

Attendance is free.

No IxDF membership required.

Why Join?

Meet people who love design as much as you do. Together we learn new skills, grow our networks, and discover new job opportunities.

Join us to make lifelong friendships over coffee and a shared love of design! ❤️

Meetup Conversation

View Estee Jacobs

by Estee Jacobs

  • IxDF
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    IxDF Community Leader distinction: Become an IxDF Local Leader, Country Manager, or Continent Manager to receive this distinction. As a community leader, you help members grow, amplify design education, and shape the future of your local and global design community.
  • IxDF Connected Professional
    Attending 10 IxDF Meetups shows you’ve built meaningful connections, contributed your voice, and become a recognized part of the IxDF community. This distinction honors your ongoing engagement and the real opportunities it creates for your growth, visibility, and impact.
    IxDF Connected Professional distinction: Attending 10 IxDF Meetups shows you’ve built meaningful connections, contributed your voice, and become a recognized part of the IxDF community. This distinction honors your ongoing engagement and the real opportunities it creates for your growth, visibility, and impact.
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Hi all! Please use this conversation thread to discuss Leadership in UX – From Designer to Strategic Partner held on May 8, 2025. Feel free to ask questions about the place, date and time, agenda of the meeting, or anything else.
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  1. View Estee Jacobs

    by Estee Jacobs

    • IxDF
 Local Leader
      Take up the position of Local Leader in an IxDF Local Group to be awarded this distinction.
      IxDF Local Leader distinction: Take up the position of Local Leader in an IxDF Local Group to be awarded this distinction.
    • IxDF 
Community Leader
      Become an IxDF Local Leader, Country Manager, or Continent Manager to receive this distinction. As a community leader, you help members grow, amplify design education, and shape the future of your local and global design community.
      IxDF Community Leader distinction: Become an IxDF Local Leader, Country Manager, or Continent Manager to receive this distinction. As a community leader, you help members grow, amplify design education, and shape the future of your local and global design community.
    • IxDF Connected Professional
      Attending 10 IxDF Meetups shows you’ve built meaningful connections, contributed your voice, and become a recognized part of the IxDF community. This distinction honors your ongoing engagement and the real opportunities it creates for your growth, visibility, and impact.
      IxDF Connected Professional distinction: Attending 10 IxDF Meetups shows you’ve built meaningful connections, contributed your voice, and become a recognized part of the IxDF community. This distinction honors your ongoing engagement and the real opportunities it creates for your growth, visibility, and impact.
    • IxDF Top 10%
 Course Taker
      Complete an IxDF course with a score of at least 90% to be awarded this distinction.
      IxDF Top 10% Course Taker distinction: Complete an IxDF course with a score of at least 90% to be awarded this distinction.
    • More distinctions
      +6
      and 6 more IxDF Distinctions

    Hi all,

    Please take note that the event has been re-scheduled to Thursday, 15 May.

    Hope to see you there.

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Local Leaders of IxDF Johannesburg

Chesway Slabbert

Chesway Slabbert

Untitled V.3.7

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
  • IxDF
 Local Leader
    Take up the position of Local Leader in an IxDF Local Group to be awarded this distinction.
    IxDF Local Leader distinction: Take up the position of Local Leader in an IxDF Local Group to be awarded this distinction.
  • IxDF 
Community Leader
    Become an IxDF Local Leader, Country Manager, or Continent Manager to receive this distinction. As a community leader, you help members grow, amplify design education, and shape the future of your local and global design community.
    IxDF Community Leader distinction: Become an IxDF Local Leader, Country Manager, or Continent Manager to receive this distinction. As a community leader, you help members grow, amplify design education, and shape the future of your local and global design community.
  • IxDF Connected Professional
    Attending 10 IxDF Meetups shows you’ve built meaningful connections, contributed your voice, and become a recognized part of the IxDF community. This distinction honors your ongoing engagement and the real opportunities it creates for your growth, visibility, and impact.
    IxDF Connected Professional distinction: Attending 10 IxDF Meetups shows you’ve built meaningful connections, contributed your voice, and become a recognized part of the IxDF community. This distinction honors your ongoing engagement and the real opportunities it creates for your growth, visibility, and impact.
  • IxDF Top 10%
 Course Taker
    Complete an IxDF course with a score of at least 90% to be awarded this distinction.
    IxDF Top 10% Course Taker distinction: Complete an IxDF course with a score of at least 90% to be awarded this distinction.
  • More distinctions
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    and 8 more IxDF Distinctions
Estee Jacobs

Estee Jacobs

Design Lead

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
  • IxDF
 Local Leader
    Take up the position of Local Leader in an IxDF Local Group to be awarded this distinction.
    IxDF Local Leader distinction: Take up the position of Local Leader in an IxDF Local Group to be awarded this distinction.
  • IxDF 
Community Leader
    Become an IxDF Local Leader, Country Manager, or Continent Manager to receive this distinction. As a community leader, you help members grow, amplify design education, and shape the future of your local and global design community.
    IxDF Community Leader distinction: Become an IxDF Local Leader, Country Manager, or Continent Manager to receive this distinction. As a community leader, you help members grow, amplify design education, and shape the future of your local and global design community.
  • IxDF Connected Professional
    Attending 10 IxDF Meetups shows you’ve built meaningful connections, contributed your voice, and become a recognized part of the IxDF community. This distinction honors your ongoing engagement and the real opportunities it creates for your growth, visibility, and impact.
    IxDF Connected Professional distinction: Attending 10 IxDF Meetups shows you’ve built meaningful connections, contributed your voice, and become a recognized part of the IxDF community. This distinction honors your ongoing engagement and the real opportunities it creates for your growth, visibility, and impact.
  • IxDF Top 10%
 Course Taker
    Complete an IxDF course with a score of at least 90% to be awarded this distinction.
    IxDF Top 10% Course Taker distinction: Complete an IxDF course with a score of at least 90% to be awarded this distinction.
  • More distinctions
    +6
    and 6 more IxDF Distinctions
Mariska Meyers

Mariska Meyers

Product Designer

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
  • IxDF
 Local Leader
    Take up the position of Local Leader in an IxDF Local Group to be awarded this distinction.
    IxDF Local Leader distinction: Take up the position of Local Leader in an IxDF Local Group to be awarded this distinction.
  • IxDF 
Community Leader
    Become an IxDF Local Leader, Country Manager, or Continent Manager to receive this distinction. As a community leader, you help members grow, amplify design education, and shape the future of your local and global design community.
    IxDF Community Leader distinction: Become an IxDF Local Leader, Country Manager, or Continent Manager to receive this distinction. As a community leader, you help members grow, amplify design education, and shape the future of your local and global design community.
  • IxDF Connected Professional
    Attending 10 IxDF Meetups shows you’ve built meaningful connections, contributed your voice, and become a recognized part of the IxDF community. This distinction honors your ongoing engagement and the real opportunities it creates for your growth, visibility, and impact.
    IxDF Connected Professional distinction: Attending 10 IxDF Meetups shows you’ve built meaningful connections, contributed your voice, and become a recognized part of the IxDF community. This distinction honors your ongoing engagement and the real opportunities it creates for your growth, visibility, and impact.
  • IxDF Top 10%
 Course Taker
    Complete an IxDF course with a score of at least 90% to be awarded this distinction.
    IxDF Top 10% Course Taker distinction: Complete an IxDF course with a score of at least 90% to be awarded this distinction.
  • More distinctions
    +8
    and 8 more IxDF Distinctions

Questions? We've Got Answers

What is an IxDF Local Group and why should I join one?

An IxDF Local Group is a meeting point for people with a passion for design in your city.

You don't need to be a designer, just passionate about great design and how it can improve your work and career.

Meetups are the heartbeat of IxDF Local Groups, whether we meet at a café, a creative space or a local company. There's nothing quite like the magic of meeting face-to-face to share ideas and inspiration.

We also host regular IxDF Design Dinners, where we enjoy great food and help each other learn and grow. Even a simple coffee meetup in a café can ignite collaborations and friendships that last a lifetime.

You'll also have a private and exclusive online forum where you can openly get help and career advice.

Simply put, we learn together and smile together.

You'll expand your career network, discover new skills, explore job opportunities, meet potential clients, or even find your next dedicated team member when you join an xDF Local Group.

Remember: Your network is your net worth.

What goes on in an IxDF Local Group?

Your IxDF Local Group is led by an IxDF Local Leader and serves as a vibrant hub where you can network, learn and grow.

Here's what you can expect:

  • A community of professionals from all walks of life, who share a passion for great design and how it can benefit their career, their company, and society in general.

  • Meetups are the heartbeat of IxDF Local Groups, whether we meet at a café or a creative space. There's nothing quite like the magic of meeting face-to-face to share ideas and inspiration.

  • We also host regular IxDF Design Dinners, where we enjoy great food and help each other learn and grow. Even a simple coffee meetup in a cafe can ignite collaborations and friendships that last a lifetime.

  • You don't have to be a designer, just passionate about great design and how it can improve your work and career. Design skills make you valuable - in any job and any industry.

  • You'll also have a private and exclusive online forum where you can openly get help and career advice.

  • We help each other find new career opportunities and jobs.

  • We also host more formal workshops to share knowledge and learn from each other, e.g., case studies, success stories and practical experiences.

  • We have ongoing conversations about current design topics and local opportunities, which can help you stay ahead of industry developments and identify career opportunities.

  • And lastly, peer-led sessions focused on specific design challenges that will help you build expertise and sharpen your problem-solving skills.

In other words, we learn together and smile together. We lift each other up.

I'm not even a designer. Should I still join an IxDF Local Group?

Yes, absolutely!

IxDF Local Groups are for everyone, regardless of your professional background.

Design skills make you valuable. In any job and any industry. That's why our IxDF Local Groups are not just for professional designers. They're communities of professionals from all walks of life, who share a passion for great design and how it can benefit their career, their company, and society in general.

No matter what your job currently is, you'll find a supportive community to connect and grow with.

Each meetup is a chance to grow, learn, and connect with passionate professionals like yourself. Even small gatherings create big opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Learn Together.
Smile Together

In a world that's getting more artificial, lonely, and competitive, IxDF brings the heart back.

We're a community with heart and soul, so you never have to face the job market alone. At IxDF, we lift each other up, learn together, and spark friendships that grow your career.

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