Eli GOLD Ferrer

Lead UX | Founding UX Practice & Product EX @ Floor and Decor

Atlanta, GA New York (UTC-4) 25+ yrs in design

About

For over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring people from around the world and working across a wide range of environments and organisations. I’m open to helping you connect the dots between your experiences, resume, portfolio, and career goals and uncover the strengths and “superpowers” that make you stand out. Let’s face it: no organisation is the same, and there won’t always be rainbows and butterflies. But we can take that ride together, navigate the challenges, and spark your next chapter with confidence. My mentoring style is honest, supportive, and down to earth. I’m passionate about encouraging positive change within the industry, building meaningful connections, and making a few friends along the way. I’m excited to be a Hop Buddy and continue the good vibes!

How I can help

I help product designers, product managers, and emerging leaders prepare for what’s next—whether that means reviewing your portfolio before a senior interview, sharpening your case studies, communicating your impact, navigating stakeholder challenges, or growing your strategic influence and leadership skills. I love getting to the real problem behind the question, exchanging perspectives, and helping turn messy challenges into clear, practical next steps. My style is honest, supportive, and grounded in real-world experience—with a little humor along the way. Together, we’ll build momentum and create meaningful career growth without sacrificing your sanity.

Ask me about

IC to manager

Returning from a break

Layoffs

First or only designer

A reorg

Getting passed over

Influence without authority

Stakeholder standoffs

Presenting to execs

Imposter syndrome

Negotiating comp

Building a design system

Craft to strategy

Growing into leadership

Expertise

collaboration & stakeholder engagement

elevate your design leadership skills

conflict resolution

building trust

Sessions

From Pixel Pusher to Partner: Demonstrating Your Strategic ValueFree
30 min
Design is a business function, but often, designers struggle to articulate that value to stakeholders. In this deep-dive session, we’ll move beyond the "how" of design and focus on the "why." We will analyze how you position your work in meetings, translate design decisions into business metrics, and build the influence needed to lead projects rather than just execute them. This is about leveling up your professional presence and ensuring your contributions are seen as essential to business success.
Design, Redefined: Integrating AI into Your Creative WorkflowFree
30 min
AI isn't just about faster production—it’s changing how we think, research, and execute design. In this session, we won't just talk about tools; we will discuss how to strategically integrate AI into your process without losing your unique "superpower" or creative intent. We’ll explore how to use AI to augment your workflow, speed up research, and free up space for higher-level strategic thinking. This session is for designers looking to stay relevant, embrace new realities, and lead the way in how their teams adopt emerging technology.

English, Spanish

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