The Great LinkedIn Identity Crisis (and why my bio still isn’t “perfect”)

Every few months, I find myself staring at my LinkedIn profile like it’s a stubborn jar lid.
You know the kind you twist and twist until your hand hurts, then put back in the cupboard because surely, it will open another day.

Except my “jar lid” is the headline under my name.

Apparently, it’s supposed to sum up what I do, how I do it, and why you should care in one elegant, concise line. Easy, right?

Sure. And I can also juggle flaming torches while designing a seamless user onboarding flow.

The problem is: I do a lot of things.
I help organisations reimagine how they operate, design systems for sustainable growth, and, in the process, make life easier for their customers (and occasionally for the people running the show).

I also mentor UX designers, run workshops, create resources for entrepreneurs, and moonlight as the person who asks, “But have you talked to your users?” in meetings.

Recently, I’ve been knee-deep in helping a company restructure and scale. I can’t exactly say that on LinkedIn without sounding like I’m writing a spy novel, so it becomes: “I help organisations scale and design systems for growth.” Which is… accurate-ish.

Then comes the title debate.
Some people have one clear title. I have a… title salad.
“UX Researcher / Brand Strategist / Business Development Consultant / Professional Dot-Connector / Retired Civil Servant” doesn’t exactly scream polish.

So here I am, experimenting with new headlines like:

• Amplifying impact through research, strategy, and design

• Helping businesses work better for people

• Turning complexity into clarity (with a dash of coffee)

Each one feels right for like a second… until I remember that LinkedIn is the internet’s most judgmental business card, and just like that, I’m back to staring at the stupid jar lid again.

But the truth is..
Maybe the perfect LinkedIn headline doesn’t exist.
Maybe it’s just an evolving snapshot of where I am right now — part researcher, part strategist, part mentor, part therapist — all trying to make things better for people that live on planet earth.

And maybe that’s enough… at least until the next identity crisis.