At DBS, I had the chance to work with Paul Cobban, the Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Data Officer.

One of the first things he told me stuck with me:

👉 “If you want leadership to take design seriously, show them the numbers.”

I had always believed in the power of good design to improve experiences. But what I learned at DBS was this:

💡 Design without data is just opinion.

So instead of just advocating for UX on “gut feel,” I started backing it up with hard numbers:

📌 Surveys → Measuring employee satisfaction before & after a design change.

📌 A/B Tests → Proving which UX solution actually worked better.

📌 Productivity Metrics → Showing how UX reduced friction and saved time.

When senior leaders saw actual time saved, revenue gained, or satisfaction increased, UX wasn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore. It became a business priority.

Co-Creation Without the Power Struggles

Another thing I learned? Stakeholder sessions are messy.

If you’ve ever facilitated a workshop with:

👔 A high-level executive

🤓 A detail-obsessed product manager

🎨 A passionate designer

… you know that ego battles can derail everything.

One trick that worked for me?

Have everyone sketch their ideas first—before sharing.

Here’s why it works:

✅ It avoids HIPPO bias (Highest Paid Person’s Opinion) taking over.

✅ Everyone’s voice gets heard—not just the loudest one.

✅ It shifts focus from who’s talking to what’s best for the project.

The result? Better collaboration. Faster decisions. More buy-in.

Lesson learned: If you want your UX work to drive change, don’t just tell. Show the numbers, structure the discussions, and make sure every voice is heard.

How do you get buy-in for UX at your company? Reply with “buy-in” and I’ll share my best UX persuasion strategies.