Juan Pena

🌱 First session

Senior UX Designer @ Walmart

1testimonial Arkansas Chicago (UTC-5) 9+ yrs in design

About

I started in graphic design and moved into UX later. At Walmart I went from apprentice to Senior UX Designer in about four years, working on enterprise finance and procurement tools. For two years I've run a twice-weekly design critique for three teams, and I mentored a designer from Figma basics to owning features end to end. I'm direct and honest about what's working and what isn't. I like helping people who feel stuck or are switching careers, because I've been there. I speak English and Spanish.

How I can help

I can help with: 1. Getting promoted: decoding what the next level actually requires, tracking your impact as you go, and picking the projects that show next-level behavior before you have the title. 2. Enterprise and complex-domain UX: getting up to speed in a dense domain fast, working with SMEs, and designing inside a design system instead of around it. 3. Startup to corporate transitions: what changes, and what doesn't, about process, speed, and stakeholders when you move between the two. 4. Portfolios and case studies: telling a strong story with enterprise or work that isn't visually flashy. 5. Influence and navigating politics: presenting to product and engineering so it lands as a decision, building alliances across teams, and handling disagreement without escalating. 6. Difficult conversations with managers: asking for what you need, whether that's more scope, better support, a promotion case, or a raise, and how to handle the pushback. 7. AI in the design process: using tools like ChatGPT, Claude Code, Codex, or Figma Make while keeping the output aligned to a design system

Expertise

Selected work

Portfolio

What mentees say

1 testimonial on Hop

Mentees say:warm · 1honest · 1great listener · 1specific · 1

Juan was very friendly throughout the entire session, and he even provided very valuable and honest feedback that I'm excited to implement in my portfolio! If you're stuck figuring out what works/doesn't work on your case studies -- don't hesitate to book a time with him! He'll get you in the right direction very quickly :)
warmhonestgreat listenerspecific
Maria · Oct 2026 · Hop session

Sessions

Let's meetFree
30 min
We get to know each other and talk about where you are and where you want to go. Bring a question, a goal, or a portfolio link if you have one. You'll leave with a clear next step and an honest read on what to focus on first. If it's a good fit, we can plan a deeper session.
Detailed Portfolio Review$40
60 min
Send me your portfolio or one case study before we meet. We'll go through it together and I'll give you honest, specific feedback on story, structure, and visuals. You'll leave with a short list of what to fix first and what's already working.
Interview Practice$40
60 min
We'll run a mock portfolio presentation or design interview. You present like it's the real thing, and I give you honest feedback on your story, pacing, and how you answer tough questions. You'll leave knowing what to tighten before the real interview.

English, Spanish

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