My advice to you: tie yourself to the people who know your work, your mindset, and your magic. 
In 2025, now more than ever, relationships are everything. Professionally speaking, in the world of UX and product design your influence, visibility, and ability to drive outcomes often come down to one thing: trust.
In UX and product, your best work can’t speak for itself if no one sees it.
So what does that look like, tactically?
→ Start where you are. Think about your high level collaborators who really saw you cramming on a late-night deadline, navigating messy feedback, pulling off the impossible. Reach out.
→ Become visible. Not loud, not performative, just present. Share what you’re thinking about. Join the conversation in your space. Don’t just show up, but show what shifted. You’re not chasing attention, you’re building trust in public. This can look like:
- Share one useful insight you learned this week
- A before/after screenshot that changed a user flow
- Build a mini case study around an idea that has you pumped
- A short story of how a research finding led to a design or product decision
→ Offer value before you ask for anything. Share a resource. Make an intro. Cheer someone on.
→ Play the long game. Not every connection leads to a job right away. You’re not just networking for now, you’re investing in relationships that open doors next month, next year, or when you least expect it.
If you’re trying to showcase your leadership and influence, don’t just wait to be asked. Be seen. Be useful. Build trust.