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What’s it really like inside a UX consultancy? In this special in-house episode of UX Leadership by Design, Mark Baldino sits down with two incredible Fuzzy Math teammates — Senior Designer Madeleine Byrne and Senior Project Manager Jaléssa Savage — to talk about what UX leadership looks like from the inside out.

They unpack how projects are structured, how cross-functional teams communicate, and how empathy, clarity, and constraints shape successful outcomes. From wrangling stakeholders to making smart design trade-offs, it’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Fuzzy Math keeps projects human, impactful, and on track — with a few hot takes and laughs along the way.

Whether you’re growing into leadership or just curious how collaborative teams actually work, this one’s packed with insights and energy.

Key Takeaways:

• Balancing Empathy Across Users and Clients – True design leadership means understanding not just end-users but also the internal and external stakeholders shaping the work.
• Why Design Needs Guardrails – PMs aren’t just managing scope — they’re helping passionate designers stay focused and productive within real-world constraints.
• Visuals Are Alignment Tools, Not Just Outputs – Design artifacts aren’t just deliverables; they’re powerful tools for clarifying thinking and aligning teams.
• Stakeholder Trust Starts Early – Trust-building begins with structured project kickoffs and intentional communication — not just when the work hits Figma.
• Client Assumptions Need Evidence – Teams often bring mental models of what they want; our job is to validate, challenge, and guide them with research and strategy.

Chapters:

• 00:00 – Introducing the Fuzzy Math Team
• 00:51 – Madeleine’s Journey from Theater to UX
• 03:19 – Jaléssa’s Journey from Events to Project Management
• 05:57 – Listening and Building Trust with Clients
• 12:47 – How Fuzzy Math Project Teams Work Together
• 25:10 – Common Design Challenges and How We Handle Them
• 31:31 – Working with Clients Who Have a Mental Model
• 43:06 – Hot Takes and Advice for Aspiring Leaders

Links:

• Connect with Madeleine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleine-byrne-150a959a/
• Connect with Jaléssa on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalessasavage/

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