About Ximena (say hee-men-ah)

Ximena Vengoechea is a user researcher, writer, and illustrator whose work on personal and professional development has been published in Inc., The Washington Post, Fast Company, Newsweek, Forbes, and Huffington Post, among others. She is the author of the new book, Rest Easy: Discover Calm and Abundance through the Radical Power of Rest, which received a starred review from Library Journal and was named one of Book Riot’s best books of 2023. Her previous book, Listen Like You Mean it: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection (Penguin Random House), was a Next Big Idea Club finalist in 2021. She has several forthcoming books, including The Life Audit: A Step-By-Step Guide to Discovering Your Goals and Building the Life You Want (October 2024), and The Life Audit Journal (February 2025), based on her popular project The Life Audit. She also writes Letters from Ximena, a newsletter about staying curious, getting creative, and living well. Ximena is a keynote speaker on topics such as empathetic and inclusive listening, navigating difficult conversations, and preventing burnout. A user researcher by training, she previously worked at Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and is an expert in bringing design thinking outside of the lab and applying it to our everyday world. In addition to her writing and speaking, she advises organizations and individuals on user research, executive communication, and resting well.