Top 10 Women Who Built Empires – And What We Can Learn From Them

At UX GIRL, we believe that every innovative idea needs a strong foundation—built not only on assumptions, but on real user needs. That’s why we were thrilled to support the Oncostories project through the Garage Genius program by leading a tailored Product Discovery workshop for its founder.

Oncostories is an emerging platform designed to connect individuals with oncology experience—patients, survivors, and caregivers—with oncologists. Its mission is to bridge communication gaps, provide access to empathetic dialogue, and make room for voices often unheard in the traditional healthcare system. From our first conversation, we knew this project had tremendous social potential.

Why We Started with Product Discovery

Our collaboration with Małgorzata (Margaret) Lisowska, the project’s founder, began with a Product Discovery workshop—a strategic process we treat as a critical starting point at UX GIRL. It's the moment where we pause and ask:

• Who are we building this for?
• What real-life problems do they face?
• Which solutions will bring the most value—and which are just “nice to have”?

During these sessions, our team:

• explores deep user needs and context,
• maps out user journeys and pain points,
• generates solution ideas based on insights,
• prioritizes features and actions that truly matter.

The workshop was led by our UX strategists Magdalena Ostoja-Chyżyńska and Anna W., with fantastic support from Garage Genius mentors, including Zuzanna Kot, and Adam Dawidziuk, a medical industry expert who brought valuable clinical perspective. Strategic guidance was also provided by Mateusz Pawelec, who helped shape the broader development path of the project.

Inside the Workshop: Co-Creating with Purpose

Throughout the workshop, we defined key personas, mapped end-to-end experiences, and crafted feature concepts aligned with emotional and functional user needs. One major insight emerged around communication barriers—particularly the emotional disconnect that many patients feel when navigating medical systems.

This led to a crucial shift: reimagining one of the platform’s core features to focus not only on knowledge exchange, but on enabling meaningful two-way interaction. These kinds of pivots are only possible when we anchor design decisions in real user insights.

And it's worth it. According to Nielsen Norman Group, up to 50% of project budgets are wasted on features that don’t align with user needs. Discovery helps us avoid that path—and build products with real impact.

What We Gained—And What Comes Next

Thanks to Product Discovery, Oncostories gained strategic clarity and a prioritized development roadmap grounded in empathy, feasibility, and business relevance. For us at UX GIRL, this is the kind of transformation we love to see: a strong idea shaped by real-world context and driven by authentic user understanding.

This experience also reminds us of a key message for all changemakers: engage UX experts early. The earlier we understand your users, the better and faster we can move forward—with fewer missteps and more confident decisions.

Oncostories is growing quickly, and we’re proud to have helped it take shape. We’re rooting for its continued success and watching its next steps with excitement.

Have a Vision for Change? Start with UX.

If you’re building a socially impactful, technological, or educational solution—reach out. At UX GIRL, we know how to turn empathy into strategy and ideas into action. Let’s co-create something meaningful, together.

‍

The UX and UI industry is evolving at lightning speed—new tools, roles, and expectations emerge constantly. Yet despite progress toward inclusion, women working in this space still face clear challenges: underrepresentation, limited access to support networks, and lower visibility in high-impact projects.

That’s why women in UX/UI are increasingly turning to the power of networking—the intentional building of professional relationships that lead to real outcomes: mentorship, collaboration, access to clients, and greater confidence.

‍

Why Women’s Networking Matters in UX/UI

According to PwC’s Women in Tech report, women represent only around 26% of the workforce in the European tech industry (Source: PwC UK). While UX tends to have better gender balance than other tech sectors, women are still less likely to hold leadership roles, as shown by the Design Forward Fund report by InVision (Source: InVision).

Having access to a supportive, like-minded network can help women grow faster, share experiences, and make better-informed career decisions. It’s not just about visibility—it’s about confidence, connection, and community.

‍

Where to Find Mentorship and Support in UX/UI

Thankfully, there’s a growing ecosystem of initiatives built specifically for women in UX and UI. Here are some of the most valuable communities and mentorship platforms to explore:

• Ladies that UX – A global community of women in UX with local chapters in cities like Warsaw, Kraków, and Gdańsk. Offers meetups, workshops, and an open, inclusive space to share experiences
  
  
• Women in UX (UXPA) – Part of the UXPA network, offering events, resources, and a strong international network of women UX professionals
  
  
• Dare IT – A Polish initiative offering mentoring, development programs, and hands-on projects for women entering tech
  
  
• Tech Leaders Poland – A free mentoring program run by the Perspektywy Foundation, connecting women in IT with experienced mentors
  
  
• ADPList – A global mentoring platform that allows you to book free 1:1 sessions with experienced UX designers, researchers, and product strategists
  
  
• Slack & LinkedIn groups – Active communities like "Women in UX," "Design Mentorship," "UX Design Polska," and "SheDesigns" regularly share job leads, portfolio feedback, and professional advice.
  
  

And remember—mentorship goes both ways. If you’ve gained experience, consider becoming a mentor yourself. It’s not only rewarding, but also a great way to build leadership skills and give back to the community.

‍

Collaboration Among Women: Projects, Trust, and Shared Opportunities

Networking isn’t just about chatting or exchanging business cards. It’s about building real relationships that can lead to joint ventures, shared clients, and long-term partnerships.

Among women in UX, these types of collaboration are gaining popularity:

• Online coworking sessions, where freelancers and remote workers support each other while working on personal or client projects.
  
  
• Mastermind groups, where a small group of peers meets regularly to set goals, share insights, and offer accountability.
  
  
• Feedback workshops, where participants present their UX case studies and get constructive, real-time input.
  
  

If you’re just starting out and don’t have a large contact base—don’t worry. You can begin with one LinkedIn message, one industry event, or one short online chat with someone you admire. It’s all about taking the first step.

‍

How Companies and Agencies Can Empower Women in UX/UI

While grassroots communities are powerful, employers and agencies also play a vital role in creating supportive ecosystems. Organizations that build internal mentorship programs, fund conference participation, and create open knowledge-sharing spaces contribute directly to stronger, more confident teams.

At UX GIRL, we recognize how crucial representation and inclusion are in the design process. That’s why we actively support women at every stage of their UX careers—by sharing knowledge, promoting female experts, and collaborating across our partner network. We believe women in UX shouldn’t just have a seat at the table—they should help shape the entire strategy.

‍

What You Can Do This Week

Don’t wait for your network to build itself. Here are three simple steps you can take right now:

1. Join one of the communities mentioned above (e.g., Ladies that UX or Dare IT).
   
   
2. Sign up for a mentorship program—as a mentee or a mentor.
   
   
3. Reach out to one inspiring woman in your field and ask for a short coffee chat online.
   
   

Building a network of women in UX/UI is an investment that pays off—with better projects, more confidence, and a stronger, more inclusive design industry.

At UX GIRL, we actively support young women entering the field of UX.
We believe that real change happens when women are not just present in the industry, but truly empowered to lead, create, and grow. That’s why we regularly share knowledge, promote women experts, and collaborate within our community.

And right now—we have an open call for our mentorship program.
If you’re just starting out in UX and looking for guidance, encouragement, and practical experience, we invite you to join us.
Let’s build the future of UX together—one strong connection at a time.

‍

‍

Introduction

Accessibility in UX design ensures that digital products are usable by people with diverse abilities. While many businesses perceive accessibility as a regulatory requirement or an additional expense, the reality is that investing in accessibility drives significant business value. Companies that prioritize accessibility gain a competitive edge, reduce legal risks, and improve user experience, ultimately leading to higher engagement and revenue growth.

Expanding Market Reach

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1.3 billion people globally live with some form of disability. This means that a substantial segment of potential customers may face barriers when interacting with digital products that lack accessible design.

Additionally, the global population is aging, with over 2 billion people expected to be over 60 by 2050. Accessible design benefits older adults who may experience vision, hearing, or motor impairments.

Legal & Financial Risk Reduction

Non-compliance with accessibility standards can lead to costly lawsuits. Regulations like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the U.S. and the European Accessibility Act require businesses to make digital platforms accessible.

The cost of non-compliance:

• In 2022, over 4,000 digital accessibility lawsuits were filed in the U.S. alone
• Companies like Domino’s Pizza faced legal action due to an inaccessible website, leading to bad press and costly legal battles.
• The average cost of defending an accessibility lawsuit can range from $10,000 to $100,000 or more, excluding potential settlements or fines.
• Implementing accessibility from the start is significantly cheaper than retrofitting after legal issues arise.

Case Study: The Domino’s Pizza Lawsuit

Domino’s faced a high-profile lawsuit when a visually impaired customer, was unable to use their website and mobile app to order food despite using screen-reader software. The case escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the plaintiff, reinforcing that digital accessibility falls under ADA compliance. This lawsuit not only cost Domino’s financially but also damaged its reputation, highlighting the importance of proactively ensuring accessibility.

Case Study: Netflix’s Settlement and Accessibility Improvements

In another landmark case, Netflix was sued by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) for not providing closed captions on all video content. The lawsuit led to a historic settlement and a commitment from Netflix to caption all streaming content moving forward. This case demonstrated the legal obligations and financial risks of ignoring accessibility but also showed how accessibility investments can enhance user engagement and brand trust.

Improved User Experience = Higher Engagement

Accessibility enhances usability for everyone, not just those with disabilities. Features such as closed captions, alt text, and keyboard navigation improve the experience for all users, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates.

Case Study: Microsoft

Microsoft’s commitment to accessibility led to the development of inclusive design features like Windows Narrator and adaptive controllers for gaming. These innovations improved product usability, expanded their customer base, and reinforced their reputation as an industry leader.

Another example is Microsoft Teams, which introduced real-time captions and background noise suppression. Initially designed for accessibility, these features became widely used by all users, enhancing productivity and engagement.

SEO and Performance Benefits

Search engines, particularly Google, favor accessible websites. Accessibility improvements such as semantic HTML, fast-loading pages, and descriptive alt text contribute to better rankings, increased traffic, and enhanced user retention.

The SEO Connection

• Google’s algorithms prioritize well-structured content, benefiting sites with strong accessibility features.
• Faster-loading, accessible websites see lower bounce rates and higher engagement metrics.
• Websites with proper semantic HTML and ARIA landmarks are easier for search engines to index and rank higher in search results.
• Transcripts and closed captions for videos not only improve accessibility but also make video content searchable, boosting SEO.

Performance Optimization Through Accessibility

• Faster Page Load Times: Many accessibility improvements, such as optimizing images with proper alt text and ensuring clean HTML structures, lead to faster website performance, improving user experience and search rankings.
• Mobile-Friendliness: Accessible websites tend to follow responsive design best practices, enhancing usability across devices, which is a key ranking factor for Google.
• Reduced Bounce Rates: When users can navigate a website more easily due to proper contrast ratios, readable fonts, and clear navigation structures, they are less likely to leave immediately, positively impacting SEO rankings.

Innovation & Competitive Advantage

Many accessibility-driven innovations have become mainstream features. Voice assistants, dark mode, and high-contrast interfaces were initially designed for accessibility but are now widely used by all users.

Market Leaders in Accessibility

• Apple leads the way with features like VoiceOver and AssistiveTouch, making its products more inclusive.
• Google’s commitment to accessibility ensures its search engine and apps are usable by a diverse audience.
• Airbnb improved its platform’s accessibility, allowing it to serve a broader user base, increasing engagement and revenue.

Conclusion: Accessibility as a Competitive Advantage

Accessibility is not just a moral obligation but a strategic investment. Companies that prioritize inclusive design gain a broader audience, reduce legal risks, improve user experience, and enhance their SEO and brand reputation. Investing in accessibility today sets businesses up for long-term success.

Ready to Make Your Digital Product Accessible?

Start by conducting an accessibility audit or consulting with an expert to ensure your website or app meets WCAG guidelines. An accessible platform leads to higher conversions, stronger brand loyalty, and a better user experience for all.