Meet Ekaterina Golitsyna, a former marketer turned product owner in the health-tech industry.
While many students come to the UX Design Institute because they want to start a new career, Ekaterina had a different goal: to close critical knowledge gaps and become even better at her job.
In May 2022, she completed the Professional Diploma in UX Design, followed by the Professional Certificate in UI Design in August 2024—all while working as a product owner at a Norwegian health-tech company.
So what led Ekaterina to the UX Design Institute? And how have her new skills helped her career?
Let’s hear her story.
From marketer to product owner: the challenges of navigating a new career path
When Ekaterina first enrolled with the UX Design Institute, she was already navigating a significant career change.
Having worked in marketing for ten years, she moved into a new role as Product Owner at DIPS AS, a health-tech company based in Norway. This was an exciting change—but it came with some challenges.
Ekaterina recalls how, in the early days of her new career path, she felt she was missing critical knowledge of the product design and development process. Not only did this hold her back when making product-related decisions; it also impacted her confidence when collaborating with stakeholders.
Determined to address her skills gaps and become a more confident product owner, she went in search of a UX design course.
Finding the right UX design course: the importance of credibility and flexibility
When researching and comparing different UX design courses, there were two key factors that set the UX Design Institute apart for Ekaterina: flexible, self-paced learning, and a university credit-rating.
She explains:
My colleague and I started our internet search for those who offer courses in UX design. As soon as we found out what UX Design Institute offers, it was a no-brainer. The course was both self-paced (important when you have a busy schedule) and gave credits from a respected university (Glasgow Caledonian University).
For those who need to balance their UX studies against other commitments, a flexible learning schedule is essential. But how exactly does it work?
With the Professional Diploma in UX Design, you have a full year to complete the course. You decide how many hours you allocate each week, as well as when and where you study. As a ballpark, you can complete the course within six months if you dedicate a few hours weekly.
Then there’s the matter of university credit-rating. All courses offered by the UX Design Institute are credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University, which means that they’re regularly audited for quality and industry relevance.
For Ekaterina, this was an important marker of credibility. She wanted to make sure that she was learning with a reputable provider, and that the course would equip her with up-to-date knowledge and skills.
Impressed with the UX Design Institute’s offering, and with the support of her employer (who funded the course), she signed up for the Professional Diploma in UX Design.
Read more: Want to start a career in UX? Why free courses and bootcamps may not be the answer.
A transformative learning experience: the value of structure, support, and community
Ekaterina was initially drawn to the Professional Diploma in UX Design because of its flexibility and university credit-rating. However, once the course was underway, she realised she’d signed up for so much more.
Not only was she learning essential UX design skills through a well-structured, in-depth curriculum. She also found herself in the midst of a highly supportive community.
The course was very well-structured in terms of the modules, assignments, and the amount of material in every video, and the feedback sessions helped with my progress a lot. It was also very helpful that the Student Success Team was available and responded quickly.
Here, Ekaterina is referring to the expert mentor-led webinars that students can attend every week—a great opportunity to receive one-on-one feedback and support from those who work in the industry.
Students are also connected to fellow learners and past students through the Slack community, a thriving online space that’s buzzing with advice, feedback, job search tips, and more.
It’s really important to see that you’re not alone and that there are other students taking the same journey and going through the same challenges. To my great pleasure, once you are in these channels, you have unlimited access for a lifetime and can share your doubts with other students or ask a question, even after you graduate.
Through the UX Design Institute, Ekaterina also gained access to the larger global UX community—a welcoming and enriching space that provides a continuous source of learning and inspiration.
In Ekaterina’s own words:
The UX Design Institute courses have also given me the chance to become a part of the international UX community. UX is a subject where you’re never done studying, and it’s an absolute pleasure to connect with UX experts from around the world to gain their insights and share inspiration.
Learning new skills, growing in confidence, and thriving as a product owner: the lasting impact of a quality UX course
When she enrolled with the UX Design Institute, Ekaterina had one main goal: to improve her product knowledge and become a more capable and confident product owner.
After completing the Professional Diploma in UX Design in 2022, she returned two years later to take the Professional Certificate in UI Design.
Now, with her newfound UX and UI skills, she feels equipped to make effective decisions and empowered to collaborate with key stakeholders. She explains:
The courses have been invaluable in my Product Owner role, providing foundational knowledge in software development methodology and processes. They’ve also helped me communicate effectively with both designers and developers, and boosted my confidence in making informed decisions.
Thanks to the knowledge and insights she gained with the UX Design Institute, and her ongoing dedication to learning and improving, Ekaterina has well and truly found her stride in the product realm.
At the time of writing, she is still working as a product owner in the health-tech sector—a position she is now navigating with confidence, curiosity, and purpose. You can find Ekaterina on LinkedIn for career inspiration.
And for anyone else in a similar position? Ekaterina has the following words of advice:
I highly recommend the UX design course and I’ve already told others about it. It’s a must for any product owner or anyone in product management.
Are you considering a UX or UI design course? Level up your product skills with the UX Design Institute
Perhaps you’re in a similar position to Ekaterina: navigating a product role while facing some critical knowledge gaps. Or perhaps you’re completely new to the product industry and want to kick-start your career in the field.
No matter your starting point or your end goal, the Professional Diploma in UX Design will teach you the UX design process from start to finish. You’ll cover everything from user research and analysis to user flows and information architecture, right through to prototyping and design handover.
Throughout the course, you’ll connect with a thriving UX community, work on real-world portfolio projects, and build your confidence with 1:1 mentoring from experienced UX professionals—leaving you equipped to succeed in your current role or start a new career path.
You can also earn a dual qualification in UX and UI through the UX Design Institute’s Product Design (UX/UI) Programme. Visit the course page to learn more about the programme or book a free consultation for guidance.
Still unsure if learning UX and UI skills is a good move? You can learn more about the industry with these guides:
- The state of UX hiring: top insights from the UX Design Institute’s annual report
- Will AI replace UX designers? A reality check with Jakob Nielsen
- Is the UX job market oversaturated? An in-depth analysis and future outlook
Emily is a professional writer and content strategist with an MSc in Psychology. She has 8+ years of experience in the tech industry, with a focus on UX and design thinking. A regular contributor to top design publications, she also authored a chapter in The UX Careers Handbook. Emily also holds a BA in French and German and is passionate about languages and continuous learning.
