Olunaike Oyinkansola is a product designer making waves in the technology space. With foundation in user-centered design, she creates seamless and meaningful digital experiences for products across mobile and web platforms. In line with her mission to create safe, empowering spaces for women in tech, she founded, Ladies in User-Experience (UX), a global community for women in Product and UX Design, Research, and Writing. The community aims to provide mentorship, resources, support, and visibility for women navigating the field. Through this initiative, Oyinkansola is creating a network that inspires, educates, and amplifies the voices of women across the world. With a background in Biochemistry from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, her work is driven by a mix of creativity, functionality, and a deep understanding of user needs. Beyond the technical work, Oyinkansola is a firm believer in inclusivity, ethical innovation, and community building. She enjoys sharing her knowledge through engaging videos and podcasts, often centered around helping women transition into tech and thrive within it. In this interview, she speaks on her inspiration behind the community, what she hopes to achieve, and why more women should take up space in tech.
Tell us about Ladies in UX. What inspired you to start this community?
Ladies in User-Experience (UX) is a global community created to connect, inspire, and support women in the UX design, writing and research fields. The inspiration came from my personal experience navigating the tech industry as a woman often being the only woman in the room or lacking a strong support system of peers who understood the unique challenges we face. Also, for roles like writing and research which are not saturated and there is little guidance for beginners, I was inspired to create a support system for women so they could be at the forefront of these fields. Lastly, I wanted to create a safe, empowering space where women could grow their skills, share opportunities, and truly feel seen.
Why do you feel a community like this is important in today’s tech ecosystem?
Today’s tech ecosystem is evolving rapidly, but it still struggles with representation and equity. Women are underrepresented in product and design leadership roles, and those from marginalised backgrounds face even greater barriers. A community like ours acts as a counterbalance; it nurtures talent, builds confidence, and provides access to mentorship and opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. It’s not just about representation; it’s about creating impact through a supportive, values-driven network. The future of tech must be built by diverse voices, and Ladies in UX ensures that women are not just included, but empowered.
You’ve built a successful career in product design. How has your personal journey influenced the kind of space you are creating?
My career has taken me through many stages—from being a product design intern to leading projects for global tech products. At each stage, I saw how much of our success depends on access: access to knowledge, networks, mentors, and confidence. I’ve experienced the imposter syndrome, the silent biases, and the missed promotions. But I’ve also experienced incredible growth through community and mentorship. This community is my way of translating those learnings into action. It’s shaped to be aspirational but also accessible, offering a safe space where women can grow, share, and thrive on their own terms.
What kind of support or resources can women expect?
This is for women at all stages of their UX journey, whether you’re a student just discovering user research or a seasoned designer leading strategy at a tech firm. We provide learning resources, mentorship programmes, networking events, job boards, portfolio reviews, and training sessions. Most importantly, we offer a community of like-minded women who genuinely want to see each other succeed. Our programming is built to be practical and empowering, bridging the gap between theory and real-world application.
What would you say are some of the biggest challenges women face in the UX and design space and how does your community plan to tackle them?
Women in UX face several challenges: lack of mentorship, underrepresentation in leadership, pay disparity, and often being overlooked in strategic conversations. There’s also the emotional labour of constantly needing to prove oneself in male-dominated environments. At Ladies in UX, we tackle these by creating access and visibility offering mentorship, amplifying member achievements, and running workshops that focus on negotiation, leadership, and confidence- building. We also advocate for systemic change by partnering with companies that are committed to gender equity in hiring and promotions.
Is Ladies in UX strictly for professionals, or can beginners and students also join and benefit?
Absolutely, beginners and students are not only welcome, they’re a vital part of our community. We believe in starting support early. That’s why we run beginner-friendly UX bootcamps, resume-building workshops, and portfolio critique sessions tailored for newcomers. We also pair beginners with mentors and host open que sessions to make the space less intimidating. Everyone deserves to grow with guidance, no matter where they’re starting from.
You’ve mentioned global reach. How do you plan to connect women across different countries and backgrounds?
Our vision is unapologetically global. We’re leveraging digital platforms like Slack, Zoom, LinkedIn, and our website to break geographical barriers. One of our goals is to build a network of local chapters so women can meet and collaborate in-person, no matter their location. Our training sessions are recorded and time-zone inclusive, and we spotlight stories from UX designers, writers and researchers in underrepresented regions to ensure diverse voices are heard. We want women from Lagos to London, Nairobi to New York, to feel equally seen and valued.
Building a community is no small task. What has the process been like so far, and what keeps you motivated?
It’s been both rewarding and humbling. Building a community means wearing many hats— mentor, strategist, event planner, listener. It’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work, but the outcomes make it all worth it. Seeing an absolute beginner in UX design, writing or research become ready for the job market is something that fuels me. I’m motivated by impact. I know what it’s like to feel alone in this industry, and every woman we help reminds me why this work matters.
Looking ahead, what are your short- and long-term goals for the community? Any exciting plans we should watch out for?
Short-term, we’re focused on growing our training programme and launching a new mentorship cohort. Long-term, we want to establish Ladies in UX as a global authority and launch annual conferences, scholarships, and local chapters in key cities around the world.
Finally, what advice do you have for young women who want to break into UX or tech but don’t know where to start?
Start where you are—with curiosity and consistency. UX is about solving problems for people, so stay curious about human behaviour. Learn the basics—tools like Figma, methods like user interviews, principles like accessibility. Build projects, no matter how small, and share your process. Most importantly, don’t do it alone. Join communities like Ladies in UX, find mentors, ask questions, and show up even when you feel unsure. Tech needs your voice. The journey won’t always be smooth, but your perspective is powerful and it’s needed.
