Building Better Experiences Through UX Leadership and Workplace Innovation

Leading in UX and Workplace Innovation

As the Chief Work Officer at Xponent21 and co-lead of Ladies that UX Richmond, my leadership roles are deeply connected by a shared focus: creating environments where people can reach their greatest potential. At Xponent21, I focus on building a work culture that fosters productivity, innovation, and collaboration. Similarly, at Ladies that UX Richmond, I work alongside my co-lead, Juliette Oliva of PixelStrike Creative, to create a community that empowers UX professionals to grow, share ideas, and contribute to meaningful projects.

My background in psychology, neuroscience, and biology informs my data-driven approach to leadership. Whether improving work processes at Xponent21 or organizing UX events for the community, I apply an analytical mindset rooted in experimentation, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

In both spaces, I’ve seen the power of creating environments that motivate and engage people. At Xponent21, this led to the successful implementation of a 4-day, 32-hour work week, which boosted productivity by 38%. In Ladies that UX Richmond, we’ve fostered a thriving UX community by hosting events that encourage collaboration, inclusion, and continuous learning. Whether we’re hosting social meetups, organizing creative activities, or leading professional development events, our goal is to build a community where everyone feels empowered to share ideas, grow their skills, and contribute meaningfully to the UX field.

At its core, leadership—whether in UX or business—is about fostering spaces where people feel valued and motivated to innovate. At Xponent21, this mindset drives not only our internal culture but also how we approach digital strategy and user experience for our clients.

Building Communities That Drive UX Innovation

One of the most rewarding aspects of leading Ladies that UX Richmond is seeing how the community comes together to address real-world UX challenges. Over the past year, we’ve hosted events like lightning talks on AI in experience design at Virginia Tech Richmond Center, design jams for local nonprofits ART 180 and Backpacks of Love, and a portfolio review event at VCU Brandcenter. These experiences have not only fostered learning and collaboration but also highlighted the power of community-driven innovation.

Much like in UX, collaboration and inclusion are critical to success in digital marketing. At Xponent21, we approach every project with a similar mindset—bringing together diverse perspectives, engaging stakeholders, and creating solutions that are both user-centered and data-driven.

The Synergy Between UX Leadership and Work Culture Innovation

Leading Ladies that UX Richmond has reinforced one important lesson: creating spaces for people to thrive—whether in UX or business—requires empathy, creativity, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous learning. These values are at the heart of both my leadership in the UX community and my work as Chief Work Officer at Xponent21.

At Xponent21, we strive to create work environments that empower our team to deliver their best. This not only translates into improved productivity but also allows us to provide better results for our clients, from more engaging digital experiences to innovative, user-driven marketing strategies. My involvement in Ladies that UX Richmond has reinforced my belief in the transformative power of community and collaboration, fueling positive change both in the workplace and beyond.

Creating Better Experiences Inside and Outside the Workplace

My experiences as co-lead of Ladies that UX Richmond and Chief Work Officer at Xponent21 have shown me that leadership is about more than guiding others—it’s about creating environments where people can innovate, collaborate, and grow. Whether I’m fostering connections within the UX community or implementing workplace strategies that improve team engagement, my goal is to make work and life better for everyone involved.

At Xponent21, we believe in the importance of community-driven innovation and continuous improvement, and we apply this approach to both our work and our culture. By building environments where people can thrive, we deliver user-centered, data-driven solutions that drive meaningful impact for our clients.

Get Involved

Looking to get involved in the UX community or explore how user-centered strategies can transform your digital marketing efforts? Connect with Ladies that UX Richmond here, or reach out to the team at Xponent21 to explore how we can help you create engaging, people-centered digital experiences.

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Courtney Turrin

Chief Work Officer at Xponent21

As the company’s number two employee, Courtney has helped guide the direction of our business, build a powerhouse team, and implement technology and workflows to improve service delivery and produce outsized results for our clients. Her current role sits at the intersection of analytics, work management, and operations. Drawing on her background in scientific research, Courtney designs efficient processes and supports our teams so they can better serve our clients. She holds masters degrees in Biology and Psychology/Neuroscience from the College of William and Mary and Yale University, respectively. Offline, Courtney is a plant whisperer, Peloton enthusiast, and proud pet mom.

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