About Ximena (say hee-men-ah)

Ximena Vengoechea is a user researcher, writer, and illustrator, and the creator of The Life Audit. She is the author of several nonfiction books and journals, including the new book, The Life Audit: A Step-By-Step Guide to Discovering Your Goals and Building the Life You Want and companion The Life Audit Journal (forthcoming). Her previous books include 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 BookRiot's Best Books of 2023, and Listen Like You Mean it: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection, which was a Next Big Idea Club finalist in 2021. Her writing has appeared in Inc., The Washington Post, Newsweek, Forbes, and Fast Company, among others. 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 living and resting well.