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In this special Season 3 premiere of UX Leadership by Design, Fuzzy Math co-founders Mark Baldino and Ben Ihnchak sit down live with their team for a candid Q&A reflecting on nearly 18 years of building a UX consultancy. From stakeholder management and work-life balance to founding lessons and company culture, the two share honest insights on what it really takes to lead and grow a design firm. Whether you’re a UX leader, aspiring founder, or design professional, this episode is packed with real-world wisdom from two people who’ve lived it.

Key Takeaways

• Trust is the foundation of a lasting co-founder relationship
• Selling on relationships and outcomes matters more than selling on process
• Helping people grow in their careers is one of the most rewarding parts of running a firm
• Work-life balance looks different for everyone — knowing your priorities is what matters
• Transitioning from founder-led to a leadership team model is a game changer
• Stakeholder management is both the hardest and most rewarding part of consulting
• Culture doesn’t disappear when you go remote — it just requires more intention
• You don’t have to be passionate about every part of running a business to be great at it

Chapters

1. 00:00 — Welcome & Intro: A Special Live Season 3 Premiere
2. 01:00 — Introducing Ben Ihnchak: 18 Years of Fuzzy Math
3. 02:24 — What Would Surprise You About Your Co-Founder?
4. 05:10 — Advice We Wish We Had When Starting Out
5. 09:28 — Work-Life Balance as a Founder & Parent
6. 14:34 — Biggest Accomplishments & Milestones at Fuzzy Math
7. 19:15 — Misconceptions About UX & Stakeholder Challenges
8. 27:37 — How Fuzzy Math Started & What We’ve Learned
9. 42:24 — Audience Q&A & Closing Thoughts

Resources & Links

• Connect with Ben Ihnchak on LinkedIn

• Connect with Mark on LinkedIn
• Fuzzy Math - B2B & Enterprise UX Design Consultancy