Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Loren is a UX Researcher with over 8 years of experience designing user-centered financial solutions. She’s passionate about uncovering actionable insights that bridge user needs with business objectives, and specializes in transforming complex behaviors into strategies that elevate digital experiences. Loren currently works at JPMorgan Chase as a Lead UX Researcher for digital commerce solutions. Over her time at Chase she has worked across several organizations, getting to know a wide variety of customer-facing and employee-facing products and services giving her a unique insight into how the customer views Chase as a whole.

Kathryn is a behavioral neuroscientist with experience in consumer research and methodological innovation. She earned her Bachelors in Neuroscience and Business from Muhlenberg College and her Masters in Behavioral and Decision Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. She currently works at JP Morgan Chase as a User Researcher, with a focus on methodological development, infusing behavioral science and design thinking into the customer experience.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* What end-to-end research actually means in practice and why it starts before users ever touch your product.

* How to use habit loops to map and influence real customer behavior without forcing change.

* The power of live account interviews for breaking out of prototype fantasyland.

* Strategies for building alignment and shifting stakeholders from “I need” to “we’re solving.”

* How internal playbooks, role-play exercises, and empathy maps help teams stay grounded in real life.

Some takeaways:

* End-to-end research isn’t just a longer study, but a wider lens. Loren and Kathryn define end-to-end research as everything from a customer’s initial intent to what happens after they close the product. It’s not just about usability or funnel drop-off, but about how their lives influence how they interact with your product. To get real insight, you have to look outside the interface and understand what’s happening before, during, and after each interaction. That kind of zoomed-out context changes the questions you ask and the recommendations you make.

* Customers don’t live inside your product and they won’t change their habits for you. Many organizations build with the assumption that users will adapt. They won’t. Through live account research, Loren uncovered how users ignore offers, stick to their routines, and reject anything that adds complexity. Kathryn explains how habit loops (cue → routine → reward) help teams understand why users behave the way they do, and why your product needs to slot into existing routines, not disrupt them.

* Usability labs are structured, focused, and quiet. Real life is not. That’s why live account research can be so powerful; users bring their own data, context, and mess. Watching someone navigate a real account reveals things no A/B test or journey map ever could, especially when paired with tools like empathy maps that capture what people are saying, doing, thinking, and feeling.

* To build cross-team alignment, make the customer the common ground. When products span multiple teams, priorities clash. Loren uses design rationale briefs and vision statements to realign teams around what the customer wants, not just what each team needs. Kathryn emphasizes the importance of shared language and moving from “I need” to “we’re building.” Getting people into the same room, physically or virtually, and grounding them in the customer’s perspective is what turns politics into partnership.

* If you want teams to understand context, you have to simulate real life. Kathryn runs role-playing workshops where stakeholders juggle real-life distractions while interacting with a product. It’s a reminder that customers are busy, stressed, and multitasking, and your product has to work under those conditions. Loren adds that this mindset shift helps counter the overconfidence teams can get from testing in perfect research environments. Their advice: don’t just study what customers say, watch what they actually do in the wild.

Where to find Loren:

* LinkedIn

Where to find Kathryn:

* LinkedIn

Stop piecing it together. Start leading the work.

The Everything UXR Bundle is for researchers who are tired of duct-taping free templates and second-guessing what good looks like.

You get my complete set of toolkits, templates, and strategy guides. used by teams across Google, Spotify, , to run credible research, influence decisions, and actually grow in your role.

It’s built to save you time, raise your game, and make you the person people turn to—not around.

→ Save 140+ hours a year with ready-to-use templates and frameworks

→ Boost productivity by 40% with tools that cut admin and sharpen your focus

→ Increase research adoption by 50% through clearer, faster, more strategic delivery

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Book a call or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Amanda runs Stockwell Strategy, a user experience research and innovation strategy practice. She has spent the last 15 years helping teams understand who their users are, what they need, and how to tie those insights to product and business strategy. Happy clients include startups, nonprofits, fortune 100s, and nearly everywhere in between. Amanda is happiest when helping teams spin up their UX research practices and individuals refine their research and strategy skills.

She also frequently writes and speaks about all things UX and product, teaches classes on LinkedIn Learning and for Duke's Design and Technology Innovation program, and helps organize local Ladies that UX meetups. You can also find her hiking, spoiling her dog, or sharing lobster facts.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* The concept of “research onions,” how core skills are just one layer of what makes someone effective in UX.

* Why understanding business goals and context makes research more actionable, not less user-centered.

* How collaborating with cross-functional teammates means more than just scheduling whiteboard sessions.

* Tips for solo researchers on becoming better collaborators, from small talk to strategic alignment.

* A networking approach that’s not transactional and why your next opportunity may come from a six-year-old Slack intro.

Some takeaways:

* Research is more than the craft. Amanda introduces the idea of “onion layers” to describe the full spectrum of skills researchers need. Beyond knowing methods and tools, researchers should understand how business decisions are made and where their insights fit in.

* You don’t need to be a business strategist but you do need to care. Understanding cash flow, team capacity, and strategic priorities helps researchers frame insights that get acted on. It’s not about becoming a PM; it’s about asking the right questions and understanding how your work fits the broader picture.

* Relationship-building is essential, especially when you’re the only researcher. Whether it’s baking banana bread to attract teammates or tailoring your report formats to individual preferences, Amanda shows how small acts of intentionality lead to better collaboration and insight adoption.

* Network like a human, not a transaction. Amanda advises networking consistently and authentically, not just when you’re looking for a job. The best opportunities often come from long-forgotten connections so be curious, be helpful, and stay in touch with generosity.

* Treat your stakeholders like users. Just like you wouldn’t ship a product without understanding your users, you shouldn’t present findings without understanding your audience. Customize communication styles, understand what they care about, and make it easy for them to act on your insights.

Where to find Amanda:

* Website

* LinkedIn

* Bluesky

Stop piecing it together. Start leading the work.

The Everything UXR Bundle is for researchers who are tired of duct-taping free templates and second-guessing what good looks like.

You get my complete set of toolkits, templates, and strategy guides. used by teams across Google, Spotify, , to run credible research, influence decisions, and actually grow in your role.

It’s built to save you time, raise your game, and make you the person people turn to.

→ Save 140+ hours a year with ready-to-use templates and frameworks

→ Boost productivity by 40% with tools that cut admin and sharpen your focus

→ Increase research adoption by 50% through clearer, faster, more strategic delivery

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Book a call or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Javier is a User Experience Research Director with more than 20 years of experience in the field. He is passionate about building effective research organizations that scale and deliver critical user insights that help teams develop successful products that delight users. He has a proven track record of career development and coaching.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* The difference between strategic and tactical insights, not methods and why that distinction matters.

* How to navigate the perceived “versus” between strategic and tactical research and instead embrace a more fluid, problem-driven approach.

* Ways to embed strategic insights into product planning through tools like “strategic primers.”

* How to deliver value in both tactical and strategic spaces—and earn your seat at the table in high-level planning.

* How researchers can broaden their method toolkit to avoid defaulting to the same approaches and unlock new kinds of insights.

Some takeaways:

* Strategic and tactical are outcomes, not methods. Javier emphasizes that insights, not research methods, determine whether something is strategic or tactical. Usability tests can uncover strategic direction, and field studies can surface tactical improvements. Researchers need to move away from labeling methods and focus on the value the insights provide to the business.

* You can’t influence strategy if you’re not in the room. Delivering a compelling presentation isn’t enough. To make strategic insights actionable, researchers need to be present during planning and roadmap discussions. If you’re not sure when strategic planning happens, that’s a red flag and an invitation to start earning your seat by solving the right problems.

* “Strategic primers” help researchers shape roadmaps. One of Javier’s teams developed strategic primers: succinct, insight-packed documents delivered ahead of planning cycles. These primers synthesize research and industry knowledge into clear recommendations, helping PMs and leaders use research to guide direction-setting conversations.

* There’s no seniority in choosing tactics over strategy. Some researchers fall into the trap of avoiding tactical work as they become more senior. But successful researchers move between both as needed, supporting teams through every phase of development. Avoiding tactical work can disconnect you from the product and from impact.

* Stop chasing “strategic work, and, instead, solve the right problems. Rather than seeking out work that feels more senior or impressive, Javier encourages researchers to focus on the problems that matter most to the business. When you deliver insights that move the team forward, strategic or tactical, you build trust, influence, and long-term value.

Where to find Javier:

* Website

* LinkedIn

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Book a call or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Camila Borja is a User Research expert with almost 15 years of experience, driving insights for companies like Zalando, SumUp, and Itaú. She leads strategic projects, trains teams in research methods, and has worked with global brands such as J&J, Sanofi, and Disney. With a degree in Public Relations and Public Opinion, Camila is a dedicated problem-solver who bridges research and business to deliver impactful results.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* What “research theater” really means and how it undermines the value of user insights across organizations.

* The risks of continuous discovery becoming a buzzword-driven process with little depth or direction.

* The internal conflict researchers face when stakeholders ask to bury insights that don’t fit the roadmap.

* Why junior researchers are especially vulnerable to being pulled into performative work and how to protect against it.

* How senior researchers can shift into a more strategic role by partnering with stakeholders and driving conversations, not just insights.

Some takeaways:

* Research theater can distort data and erode trust. Camila explains that research theatre often arises when teams mimic the motions of good research without actually delivering depth or insight. Whether it’s cherry-picked data, rushed usability tests, or stakeholder-directed outcomes, the result is the same: decisions based on illusion rather than reality. The impact is compounded because it corrupts the foundation, the data. that other decisions rely on.

* Continuous discovery needs rigor, not just speed. While continuous discovery can be powerful, Camila argues that it often turns into a performance, such as 30-minute calls each week with no clear direction, biased questions, and very little impact. Without intention and structure, these rituals drain researcher time and produce low-value outcomes, threatening the credibility of the practice.

* Junior researchers are often set up to perform, not investigate. Early-career researchers can easily be pulled into validation work or asked to execute a process without context. They may lack the confidence or experience to challenge requests. Study the foundational theory, ask why relentlessly, and avoid blindly accepting stakeholder requests that don’t serve users.

* To escape the theatrics, researchers must become business partners. Senior researchers should step beyond insight delivery and into the role of strategic advisors. That means building relationships, staying close to decisions, and understanding stakeholder motivations. Camila urges researchers to ask what’s driving decisions and find the middle ground between user needs and business realities.

* Avoiding theater always starts with asking “why?” Whether it’s a stakeholder request for a marketplace feature or a directive to skip over certain findings, researchers must stay curious. Asking why isn’t just for participants, it’s also for ourselves and our teams. This curiosity is what transforms research from performance into progress.

Where to find Camila:

* Dicas da Camila Youtube

* LinkedIn

* Medium

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Reach out to me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Lucia is a Senior User Researcher and Program Manager at Haigo, a design agency in Paris. Over the past six years, she has worked with clients across industries like healthcare, aviation, banking, insurance, and culture, helping them build user-centered products and services.

She has also taught user research to university students and professionals through Haigo’s applied programs.

Some of her favorite projects include:

* Leading research on accessibility needs for people with cognitive disabilities, enabling an insurance company to create better services.

* Improving passenger information for the Parisian metro.

* Enhancing professional software for a data company in aviation.

* Designing services for a pharmaceutical company to improve the quality of life for patients with chronic illnesses.

Lucia is passionate about leveraging design and research to create impactful, inclusive, and user-friendly solutions.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* The dynamic nature of agency work, balancing multiple projects across different industries and the skill of switching contexts effectively.

* Navigating new industries as a researcher, embracing the learning curve, and using an outsider perspective as an advantage.

* Building strong client relationships, moving beyond a transactional role to becoming a trusted partner in their process.

* Handling pushback from clients, especially when they come with predetermined research methods that may not be effective.

* Presenting research insights effectively, tailoring the messaging to different audiences, from core teams to high-level stakeholders.

Some takeaways:

* Starting in a new industry can feel overwhelming, especially when dealing with highly technical fields like aviation or healthcare. However, taking time to talk to experts, ask naive questions, and connect the dots gradually builds confidence. Researchers should embrace the learning process and leverage their outsider perspective to surface fresh insights.

* Rather than maintaining a client-supplier relationship, agency researchers should integrate themselves into teams, aligning with their goals and challenges. Simple efforts like attending office days, informal coffee chats, and showing genuine interest in their work help foster trust. When clients view researchers as partners, they are more likely to value and act on insights.

* When clients insist on specific research methods (like surveys), the key is to understand their underlying goals first. Instead of outright rejection, engage them in a conversation about what they hope to achieve, then suggest alternative approaches that could yield better results. Providing case studies and demonstrating past successes helps build credibility and guide them toward the right methods.

* A single research report won’t work for everyone—stakeholders have different priorities and time constraints. Weekly check-ins keep core teams engaged, while high-level stakeholders need concise, action-driven summaries. Pairing qualitative insights with relevant data points enhances credibility, ensuring findings resonate with decision-makers.

* The best way to ensure research is taken seriously is by maintaining clear methodologies, well-organized deliverables, and a strong narrative. High-quality reports and structured presentations give research the weight it deserves. Making insights easy to digest—through visuals, summaries, and strategic framing—helps organizations act on research more effectively.

Where to find Lucia:

* LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lucia-rubio-caballeros

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Reach out to me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Prama has spent the last decade working across India, Germany, and the UK in various research roles, and I'm currently a Staff UX Researcher at HubSpot in London.

She loves tackling research challenges where traditional approaches need rethinking - whether that's bringing drivers' needs in India front and centre to Uber's product development, helping businesses scale on Zalando, or most recently, enabling small businesses to grow using the products offered by Meta and HubSpot.

She is passionate about developing research methods that balance speed with rigor in fast-moving product environments. She recently explored this in her article "Continuous Discovery Programs need an OS," and she’s now writing about designing and scaling rapid research practices for sales-driven companies.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* How continuous discovery acts as an operational framework rather than a new research methodology and why it’s essential for scaling research within product teams.

* The challenge of integrating deep research insights with the fast-moving pace of product growth.

* How triangulation and structured processes help increase confidence in findings while maintaining speed.

* Why continuous discovery is best suited for generative research and evergreen insights rather than tactical usability testing.

* The necessity of working with product, marketing, and sales teams to make continuous discovery impactful and sustainable.

Some takeaways:

* Continuous discovery is often misunderstood as just frequent user interviews. Instead, it’s a structured framework that allows research to scale alongside product development. It helps teams collect insights regularly, adapt questions over time, and ensure research is integrated into decision-making at the right moments. When executed well, it prevents research from becoming either too slow or too shallow.

* A major concern in user research is that fast-paced discovery leads to weak, unreliable insights. However, Prama explains that speed and quality can coexist if processes are thoughtfully designed. By structuring data collection, using qualitative surveys, and leveraging ongoing research efforts, teams can maintain high standards while keeping up with business needs.

* Not all research questions are suited for continuous discovery. Instead of focusing on highly specific, short-term problems, continuous discovery thrives when exploring broad, generative questions that evolve over time. Researchers should evaluate whether a question remains relevant across different segments and timeframes before including it in an ongoing discovery framework.

* For continuous discovery to be effective, it requires alignment with key stakeholders, including product managers, marketers, and customer support teams. Researchers should actively collaborate with these teams, leverage their existing data, and co-create research priorities. Transparency in findings also ensures that insights are actionable and widely adopted.

* Unlike traditional research projects with a clear start and end, continuous discovery evolves over time. Research questions refine, insights deepen, and methodologies adjust based on what has been learned. The key to success is setting up a system that allows for flexibility, ensures regular touchpoints, and keeps stakeholders engaged in the research process.

Where to find Prama:

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prama1007/

* Prama’s Medium: https://medium.com/@pramaneeraja_12112

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Reach out to me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Kamila has a background in Anthropology and Human Ethology, which has always fueled her curiosity about people and their behaviors. However, she started my career in management consulting at KPMG but quickly realized how much she missed research. That’s when she discovered user research and knew it was the perfect fit for her. She joined a software company, Avast, where she worked her way up, learning the ins and outs of the field. After the tech industry faced a wave of layoffs, she took the leap into freelancing. Since then, she has worked with both small teams and large corporations, building a network of clients that keeps me inspired and engaged.

Research isn't just work for her—it's what keeps her curious and motivated every day. And when she isn’t researching or chatting about it, you probably (won’t) find her getting lost in the mountains or exploring remote landscapes.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* How Kamila moved from an in-house user research role to freelancing and the key factors in making that decision.

* Why freelancing is more than just research—covering project management, finances, marketing, and self-discipline.

* How to frame your experience in a way that resonates with business-minded clients and attracts the right opportunities.

* Understanding pricing models (hourly, project-based, day rate) and how to ensure your work is financially sustainable.

* The importance of networking, proactive outreach, and leveraging word-of-mouth to build a steady pipeline of work.

Some takeaways:

* Freelancing is not just about research; it’s a business. Becoming a freelance user researcher means wearing multiple hats—project manager, salesperson, accountant, and marketer. Success depends on mastering these additional skills, not just research expertise, and embracing the unpredictability that comes with being your own boss. Structuring your time and processes efficiently is just as crucial as delivering high-quality research work.

* Confidence and stakeholder management are essential skills. One of the biggest differences between in-house and freelance work is the ability to push back on requests, frame research in business terms, and advocate for the right methods. New freelancers should be prepared to confidently lead discussions with clients, translating research findings into language that executives and product teams understand. Without strong stakeholder management, freelance researchers risk being seen as order-takers rather than strategic partners.

* Your portfolio should highlight business impact, not just research methods. Potential clients care less about research techniques and more about measurable outcomes. A strong portfolio should emphasize how research influenced revenue, engagement, or decision-making rather than detailing methodologies. Tailoring case studies to align with each potential client’s industry and specific challenges will significantly increase the chances of securing work.

* Pricing correctly prevents burnout. When setting freelance rates, account for more than just living expenses—consider taxes, health insurance, vacation time, and unpaid work (such as admin and sales). Many new freelancers undercharge and struggle financially as a result, leading to overwork and stress. Planning for financial sustainability early on ensures long-term success and allows for flexibility when taking on projects.

* Finding work requires proactive outreach. Clients don’t magically appear, and waiting for inbound inquiries is rarely a reliable strategy, especially at the beginning. Successful freelancers attend networking events, directly reach out to potential clients, and sometimes offer small audits or heuristic evaluations to showcase value. A consistent effort in building relationships and demonstrating expertise often leads to referrals, which can become the most stable source of income over time.

Where to find Kamila:

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamila-boudova-ux/

* ADP List: https://adplist.org/mentors/kamila-boudova

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Reach out to me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Check out my UXR AI prompt library, designed to help you become more efficient and effective as a user researcher!

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Anne-Charlotte Triple is a Senior UX Researcher at Payfit, a leading HR and payroll software company. After spending 10 years conducting research in humanitarian aid across conflict zones, she made the switch to tech during her pregnancy. With a PhD in sociology and experience working with organizations like UNICEF and the World Bank, she first joined LiveMentor, an EdTech platform helping entrepreneurs develop their business, before moving to Payfit.

What makes her story interesting is how she's adapted her research skills from crisis zones to tech products, while maintaining the same core focus: understanding human needs to create meaningful impact. She's also become quite the AI enthusiast — though she'll be the first to tell you why human insight still matters most.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* Anne Charlotte shares her journey from academia and humanitarian work to UX research in tech, highlighting the transferable skills and challenges in the transition.

* Despite technological advancements, fundamental research methods remain constant, while tools have evolved to increase efficiency and accuracy.

* Adaptability is crucial for user researchers, but it must be applied strategically to ensure meaningful impact without being overwhelmed.

* AI offers opportunities to streamline time-consuming tasks, but it requires careful use to maintain research rigor and avoid misinformation.

* Building strong relationships and adapting communication styles to different teams help ensure research findings drive actionable business decisions.

Interested in diving into using AI in your research to make you more efficient and effective (and to help you focus on the good parts of UXR)? Check out my AI prompt library.

Some takeaways:

* Successful researchers don’t just adapt to changes—they do so strategically. Start with small experiments, learn what works, and gradually scale. Whether it’s new methodologies, tools, or team dynamics, staying flexible while maintaining a clear focus ensures long-term success.

* While AI can automate transcription and data synthesis, it’s crucial to cross-check insights manually to maintain accuracy and depth. Researchers should use AI to free up time for deeper analysis, rather than relying on it for interpreting complex human behaviors.

* Understanding how different teams consume information—whether they prefer reports, quick summaries, or visuals—is essential. Tailoring research outputs to their needs ensures that insights are actionable and drive real business value.

* Researchers should avoid the trap of constantly seeking new tools. Instead, focus on mastering a few that truly improve workflow efficiency, such as AI for transcription and synthesis, while maintaining a hands-on approach to interpretation.

* Rather than trying to collaborate with everyone, focus on building meaningful relationships with key stakeholders. Regular check-ins, early involvement in research projects, and aligning research goals with business priorities foster trust and greater impact.

Where to find Anne-Charlotte:

* LinkedIn

The Impact Membership : A space for user researchers who think bigger

You know your craft. You’ve run the studies, delivered the insights, and seen what happens when research is ignored. You’re ready to go beyond execution and start making real strategic impact but, let’s be honest, that’s not always easy.

That’s where the Impact Membership comes in.

This is not another free Slack group or a place to swap survey templates. It’s a curated community for mid-to-senior user researchers who want to:

* Turn research into influence – Get insights to stick, shape product and business strategy, and gain real buy-in.

* Break out of the research silo – Learn from peers facing the same challenges and work through them together.

* Stay sharp and ahead of the curve – Dive deep into advanced research strategy, stakeholder management, and leadership.

Why join now?

* You don’t have to figure this out alone – Every member is carefully selected, so you’re learning alongside people who truly get it.

* Get real value, fast – No fluff, no generic advice—just focused conversations, expert-led sessions, and practical guidance you can use right away.

* Make it work for you – Whether you want to participate actively or learn at your own pace, there’s no pressure—just a space designed for impact without overwhelm.

Membership fee: £627/year or £171/quarter

This isn’t just about keeping the lights on. Your membership funds exclusive research initiatives, high-caliber events, guest speakers, and a space that actually pushes the field forward.

Spots are limited because we keep this community tight-knit and high-value. If you’re ready to step up and drive meaningful change through research, we’d love to have you.

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Reach out to me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Maureen is an accomplished User Researcher & Service Designer with 7 years of industry experience across diverse fields. Her design & research efforts support decision-making in highly technical problem spaces, ranging from global health policy-making, local economics, and most recently, product design for enterprise software for Commercial Property Insurance provider, FM Global. Maureen utilizes expertise in data visualization to craft clear, compelling storytelling for designers through to Senior leadership. In addition to her product work, she’s also a mentor and leader, working 1:1 with aspiring UX Researchers through ADPList, and collaborating directly with Senior management to develop training initiatives and resources for FM Global’s 40-person UX organization.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* Understanding how low-maturity organizations hire UX professionals but struggle with integration and decision-making.

* The importance of adopting a challenge mindset to overcome organizational constraints and thrive despite them.

* Building deeper relationships with stakeholders by understanding their goals and positioning yourself as a valuable partner.

* How to create opportunities for career advancement by focusing on high-impact work and identifying organizational needs.

* Effective strategies for presenting research and feedback in a way that fosters collaboration and reduces defensiveness.

Some takeaways:

* Recognizing where your organization falls on UX maturity scales (such as Nielsen Norman’s model) helps in setting realistic expectations and strategies. It’s essential to acknowledge that a low-maturity organization is not a reflection of your skills but rather an environmental challenge to navigate.

* Embracing a challenge mindset, rather than a threat response, helps researchers see constraints as opportunities for innovation. Viewing colleagues as allies rather than obstacles fosters more productive relationships and enables better advocacy for user research.

* Just as researchers advocate for user empathy, they should extend that same empathy to stakeholders. Understanding their business goals and collaborating rather than competing fosters trust and mutual success.

* In low-maturity environments, career growth isn’t always linear. Researchers should proactively seek high-value work, propose solutions to persistent challenges, and align their work with business priorities to demonstrate impact.

* When working with resistant stakeholders, depersonalizing feedback using structured formats (like user requirements documents) helps focus discussions on problem-solving rather than blame, creating a more collaborative environment.

Where to find Maureen:

* Website

* LinkedIn

The Impact Membership : A space for user researchers who think bigger

You know your craft. You’ve run the studies, delivered the insights, and seen what happens when research is ignored. You’re ready to go beyond execution and start making real strategic impact but, let’s be honest, that’s not always easy.

That’s where the Impact Membership comes in.

This is not another free Slack group or a place to swap survey templates. It’s a curated community for mid-to-senior user researchers who want to:

* Turn research into influence – Get insights to stick, shape product and business strategy, and gain real buy-in.

* Break out of the research silo – Learn from peers facing the same challenges and work through them together.

* Stay sharp and ahead of the curve – Dive deep into advanced research strategy, stakeholder management, and leadership.

Why join now?

* You don’t have to figure this out alone – Every member is carefully selected, so you’re learning alongside people who truly get it.

* Get real value, fast – No fluff, no generic advice—just focused conversations, expert-led sessions, and practical guidance you can use right away.

* Make it work for you – Whether you want to participate actively or learn at your own pace, there’s no pressure—just a space designed for impact without overwhelm.

Membership fee: £627/year or £171/quarter

This isn’t just about keeping the lights on. Your membership funds exclusive research initiatives, high-caliber events, guest speakers, and a space that actually pushes the field forward.

Spots are limited because we keep this community tight-knit and high-value. If you’re ready to step up and drive meaningful change through research, we’d love to have you.

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Reach out to me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Check out my UXR AI prompt library, designed to help you become more efficient and effective as a user researcher!

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Jorge Arango is an information architect, author, and educator. For the past three decades, he has used architectural thinking to bring clarity and direction to digital projects for clients ranging from non-profits to Fortune 500 companies. He’s the author of Duly Noted: Extend Your Mind Through Connected Notes, Living in Information: Responsible Design for Digital Places, co-author of Information Architecture: for the Web and Beyond, and host of The Informed Life podcast. Besides consulting, writing, and podcasting, Jorge also teaches in the graduate interaction design program at the California College of the Arts.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* How AI is becoming a transformational technology for UX design, akin to the emergence of the web decades ago.

* The limitations of AI, emphasizing its role in augmenting human work rather than replacing it.

* Jorge’s experiences with AI in both the research phase and content taxonomy applications for information architecture.

* Tips for understanding and integrating AI tools into UX workflows, moving beyond chat-based interfaces like ChatGPT.

* The importance of approaching AI with curiosity and seeing it as a way to enhance, rather than disrupt, traditional workflows.

Jorge recently released a self-driven course for folks wanting to learn about information architecture.

Some takeaways:

* AI tools are best used to enhance human efficiency, allowing professionals to perform tasks at greater scale and speed. For instance, large website analysis becomes more feasible with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) techniques, enabling quicker insights without compromising accuracy.

* Not all AI tools are suitable for every UX process. Effective use requires tailoring tools to specific phases, such as research or content taxonomy, and understanding their strengths and limitations, like context window sizes or text-based limitations.

* AI’s potential is often misunderstood due to hype or fear. Developing a hands-on relationship with AI tools dispels misconceptions, revealing their actual capabilities and boundaries, such as their reliance on user input for quality output.

* Rather than delegating entire tasks to AI, think of it as a collaborative editor. Prompts like “What am I missing?” can provide fresh perspectives on drafts or reports, enhancing the final product without diluting human expertise.

* Viewing AI through a lens of opportunity rather than threat helps professionals integrate it constructively into workflows. This involves learning about non-chat-based AI tools and exploring new use cases, fostering innovation and efficiency in UX practices.

Where to find Jorge:

* Website: https://jarango.com

* LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jarango

* Twitter/X: https://x.com/jarango

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Reach out to me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Kate stepped into a design strategist role at Constant Contact earlier this year, where she is focused on integrating GenAI capabilities into their email and digital marketing software to address long-standing user needs of small business owners. Previously, she spent five years honing her skills in mixed-methods research at Constant Contact as well as the Bentley University user experience center where she helped clients in different industries make their technology easier to use. Kate holds a Master’s in Human Factors in Information Design from Bentley University and a Bachelor’s from Colgate University. A self-described digital renaissance woman, she has worn many hats across her career, giving her a unique perspective on product development. She’s passionate about reimagining the future of technology through a thoughtful blend of user insights and emerging innovations.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* The evolution from user research to strategy roles and how this transition enhances decision-making and business alignment.

* Balancing user needs with business goals, emphasizing that they are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary.

* Practical steps to integrate strategic thinking into research tasks and presentations, such as adding broader implications to findings.

* Building relationships and co-creating roles to ensure alignment and foster collaboration across departments.

* The role of intention setting in career transitions and how vision exercises can help clarify personal and professional goals.

Check out the goal statement exercise here:

Some takeaways:

* Research findings need to connect to actionable opportunities. To make research impactful, include a “broader implications” slide in your presentations. This slide should tie research insights to organizational objectives and explore strategic opportunities. For instance, findings from usability tests can highlight broader trends or gaps in user behavior, fostering discussions on larger business implications.

* Strategic roles require co-creation and proactive definition. Rather than relying solely on job descriptions, take an active role in shaping your position. Write down what you want to do, combining personal strengths with business needs. Discuss this vision with stakeholders to align expectations and gain buy-in for new responsibilities.

* Building cross-departmental relationships is essential. Collaboration thrives on strong interpersonal connections. Initiate coffee chats or casual discussions with stakeholders from other teams. Leverage mutual connections to expand your network and gain insights into how different departments operate, facilitating smoother collaboration on strategic projects.

* Career transitions benefit from goal-setting exercises. Set intentions by envisioning your future role in detail. Write a goal statement describing your ideal position, the work you’d like to do, and how you’ll feel upon achieving it. Review this regularly to keep your actions aligned with your long-term aspirations.

* Strategic thinking marries user and business needs. Adopt a holistic approach where user insights are not seen in isolation but as a means to drive business success. For example, service blueprints and customer journey maps should not only outline user pain points but also identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and profitability.

Where to find Kate:

* Website

* LinkedIn

* Substack

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Reach out to me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

In this conversation, I cover:

* The shift towards democratizing tasks like usability testing and surveys, and how AI might take over repetitive research processes

* Moving away from evaluative tasks and stepping into more strategic roles that involve partnering with businesses to shape long-term goals

* Focusing on uncovering unknown unknowns through generative research to find innovative solutions and disrupt existing market spaces

* The importance of not just responding to requests but proactively identifying research opportunities that can drive business growth

* Helping teams, especially in low-maturity environments, understand and incorporate user research into strategic business decisions

* How user researchers can assist companies in anticipating future trends and unmet needs, rather than simply improving existing processes

Some takeaways:

* With AI and automation, tasks like usability testing will increasingly be democratized within teams or handled by AI, allowing researchers to focus on higher-level strategic work

* User researchers need to evolve into thought partners, working closely with business teams to guide strategy and innovation

* Instead of just enhancing existing products, researchers should focus on uncovering unmet needs and unknown unknowns that can lead to disruptive innovations

* By conducting generative research, researchers can identify new opportunities and adjacent markets that companies haven’t considered yet

* Researchers should move towards proactive research, driving the exploration of new ideas and strategies rather than waiting for stakeholders to bring them projects

References:

* The User Research Strategist Book Waitlist

💥 Unlock even more value

We all know that the field of user research is changing. We need to move beyond basic tasks like usability testing and surveys. These tasks will become more democratized or automated through AI. Instead of being scared of this shift (and fighting it), we can use it to our advantage to finally move into a strategic space as user researchers.

We can shift into the business space and lead as dot connectors, thought partners, and innovators within our field. We can demonstrate the exact ROI of our impactful research work and showcase our incredible value. We need to become strategic user researchers. Ready for your shift?

For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email nikki@userresearchacademy.com

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Dave Hora is perpetual Employee of the Month at Dave's Research Company: as a consultant, he helps leaders run strategic product initiatives and teams build well-informed product processes.

In 2011, Dave was the first researcher at a mobile startup in San Francisco, then went on to work as the first research hire at five more companies including ResearchGate, PlanGrid, and Instacart. In 2020, he went independent and founded Dave's Research Company in Porto, Portugal.

Dave co-led and co-designed the Research Skills Framework during his time as a Research Ops Community board member. He runs a small mailing list about how we make good software, and each year he takes a short sabbatical for winemaking or sake brewing season.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* Why researchers must understand the broader workflows and strategic goals their work feeds into.

* How to “journey map” your research projects to identify patterns in decisions and outcomes.

* The tension between pet projects and strategic alignment—especially in ambiguous organizations.

* The importance of gaining visibility into upstream and downstream processes beyond the research itself.

* How researchers can navigate vague strategies like “10x growth” without losing their grounding.

Some takeaways:

* Research is only valuable in context. Dave reminds us that insights have little power unless they directly support the work a team is trying to do. Strategic research isn’t about delivering answers in isolation, it’s about enabling action and influencing the sequence of product decisions.

* Journey map your projects, not just your users. To grow as a researcher, reflect on your past projects and map the decisions, artifacts, and impacts they produced. Over time, you’ll start to see recurring patterns, what kinds of questions emerge at different phases, and how research is (or isn’t) used.

* Visibility is your first step to influence. If you’re stuck in a validation loop, start by asking what happens next. Join meetings outside your immediate research bubble. Observe how decisions are made, how documents evolve, and where your insights go. Influence begins with curiosity and presence.

* Without strategy, pet projects thrive. When companies lack a clear “what we are and aren’t doing,” well-intentioned ideas, often from leadership, can steamroll roadmaps. Researchers won’t always win these battles, but they can help clarify risks, expose assumptions, and steer ideas through a more thoughtful path to validation.

* Your role isn’t to fix the org, but to participate wisely. You don’t need to solve your company’s strategic alignment or broken processes. But you can bring awareness to trade-offs, highlight what’s at stake, and help others reflect. Influence is surfacing the right questions at the right time.

Where to find Dave:

* Website

* LinkedIn

Stop piecing it together. Start leading the work.

The Everything UXR Bundle is for researchers who are tired of duct-taping free templates and second-guessing what good looks like.

You get my complete set of toolkits, templates, and strategy guides. used by teams across Google, Spotify, , to run credible research, influence decisions, and actually grow in your role.

It’s built to save you time, raise your game, and make you the person people turn to.

→ Save 140+ hours a year with ready-to-use templates and frameworks

→ Boost productivity by 40% with tools that cut admin and sharpen your focus

→ Increase research adoption by 50% through clearer, faster, more strategic delivery

https://userresearchstrategist.squarespace.com/everything-uxr-bundle

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Book a call or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Dale from the UK, currently based in Italy, is a UX Researcher with 4 years experience working in fields such as the Space, Sustainability and Marketing Industries, and currently hosting the UXR Minds Podcast. His mission is to help new and aspiring UX Researchers break into the field by sharing informative episodes on best practices and trends in the industry. In our conversation, we discuss:

* Dale’s experience of a six-month job hunt in the UX research field.

* The emotional toll of rejections, ghosting, and lack of responses.

* Strategies for staying proactive, including networking on LinkedIn and refining resumes.

* The importance of maintaining personal growth and mental health during a job search.

Dale hosts the amazing UXR Minds podcast, where he dedicates his time to guiding new user researchers or those interested in the field. Highly recommend listening!

Some takeaways:

* Dale’s six-month job hunt highlights the challenges of breaking into or progressing in competitive fields like UX research. His experience shows that even with in-house and freelance work on your resume, securing interviews can be difficult due to market saturation and economic downturns. Regularly update your portfolio and resume to reflect your latest projects, and tailor each application to the specific role to stand out in a competitive market.

* Dale discusses how rejection emails and ghosting from potential employers can take a mental toll. He tracks his job applications to better understand response rates and gauge where improvements might be needed. Start tracking your job applications in a spreadsheet. Log the role, company, application date, and any follow-up actions. This will help you identify patterns in your applications and fine-tune your approach

* Rather than relying solely on job boards, Dale finds more success by being active on LinkedIn and reaching out directly to hiring managers or heads of UX. This has led to meaningful conversations, which can open doors even if they don’t result in immediate offers. Spend at least 30 minutes each day engaging on LinkedIn—comment on relevant posts, connect with professionals in your field, and send personalized messages to hiring managers. When messaging, focus on building a relationship rather than directly asking for a job.

* Job hunting can be all-consuming, but Dale advises setting boundaries to protect your personal life. He recommends allocating specific days or blocks of time for job search activities while using the rest of the time for family, hobbies, or volunteering. Schedule job search activities like a workday, with clear start and end times. For example, dedicate mornings to updating resumes and afternoons to networking, then disconnect for the evening. This structured approach prevents burnout and allows for mental recharging.

* One of Dale’s core messages is to stay true to yourself during interviews and networking efforts. He advises job seekers not to feel pressured to mold themselves into what they think a company wants but rather to embrace their strengths and unique qualities. Before interviews, create a personal narrative around your key strengths and how they align with the company’s needs. Practice framing any weaknesses as opportunities for growth, and approach networking conversations with genuine curiosity rather than just seeking a job lead. This makes your interactions more authentic and impactful.

Where to find Dale:

* LinkedIn

* UXR Minds podcast

* Website

For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email nikki@userresearchacademy.com

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Hannah is a UX researcher with over a decade of experience helping product teams make smarter, faster decisions. She has a thing for working on public sector services, the grittier, the better and nothing is grittier than healthcare (especially women's health). Hannah worked her way up the chain to be head of research, but she just couldn’t keep away from the hustle of a product team. Instead, she focused on scaling down UX research methods so even the leanest teams can get some insight.

Her mantra? Good research comes in small packages.

 In our conversation, we discuss:

* The importance of bridging the gap between research and business decisions

* Challenges of getting research used by teams and keeping it actionable

* The value of workshops in facilitating collaboration and decision-making

* Tips for structuring workshops in an agile, time-constrained environment

Any links to courses or something

Some takeaways:

* Research doesn’t end with analysis. To ensure your findings are applied, you need to facilitate discussions that help teams translate insights into actionable decisions. After completing research, schedule a workshop where key stakeholders (designers, product managers, and developers) collaborate to prioritize insights based on business needs and feasibility.

* Workshops are vital for creating alignment between cross-functional teams. Hannah emphasized how they enable everyone to share perspectives and make collaborative decisions, ensuring that research gets implemented. Start by introducing short workshops (like assumption mapping) into existing meetings, ensuring that decisions are made as a group rather than individually by stakeholders.

* In agile teams, traditional long-form research methods can be broken down into smaller, digestible tasks spread across multiple sessions. This makes them more manageable and ensures participation without overwhelming the team. Use methods like problem clarity vs. risk mapping in agile sprints by integrating them into existing meetings like retrospectives or standups. Limit activities to 10-15 minutes to fit the team’s schedule.

* A well-structured workshop ensures that participants stay focused and engaged. Timeboxing each part of the workshop, as Hannah suggested, keeps discussions on track and maximizes productivity. For every workshop, clearly define time limits for each activity. Use visible countdowns to ensure that no one person dominates the conversation, allowing equal participation from all team members.

* The misconception that workshops must be long or formal is outdated. Short, frequent sessions can be just as effective in driving decisions and maintaining momentum. Create “minimum viable workshops” by breaking a larger activity into smaller chunks across multiple shorter meetings. For example, instead of a three-hour workshop, spread exercises across a two-week sprint, completing small tasks during existing ceremonies or standups.

Where to find Hannah:

* LinkedIn

* Website

For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email nikki@userresearchacademy.com

In this podcast episode, I discuss:

* How we can often feel like we have to do jobs outside our scope

* The difficulty of saying no to projects

* How it isn’t ideal for us to be overextending into someone else’s expertise

* What to do when someone asks you to do a task you aren’t an expert in

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Ruby Pryor is the founder of Rex. Rex is a UX research and strategic design consulting firm. Ruby has worked in Design and Customer Experience for a decade across Australia and Asia. Her previous experience includes working for Boston Consulting Group, Grab and Nous Group. She is a recognized global expert, has spoken at UX conferences in 6 countries and has been interviewed on CNA. In our conversation, we discuss:

* Why cultural localization of apps/products is so important

* UX Research’s strategic role within organizations

* The importance of mitigating risk through UX research

* The need to collaborate across teams

Ruby is hosting a new cohort for her Write for Impact course: https://maven.com/rexperience/writingforimpact (Use NIKKI20, which Ruby generously shared, and get a 20% discount)

Some takeaways:

* UX researchers should advocate for deeper localization efforts, ensuring the product experience feels natural and intuitive for users in different regions. For instance, reviewing user flows with regional preferences in mind or conducting localized user research can help prevent alienating non-US users.

* UX researchers should participate in early product strategy discussions to ensure localization and other user-focused decisions are embedded from the start, reducing costly missteps. They should also actively engage with business and strategy teams, framing research insights around risk reduction and business opportunities. Being part of the conversation early can help UX researchers influence decisions like feature prioritization and product launches in new markets.

* Demonstrating the tangible value of UX research can be difficult because it often prevents negative outcomes that aren’t immediately measurable. Document the decisions before and after research to show their impact. Track the changes made after research insights are applied. For example, if a feature that was initially prioritized is deprioritized due to research findings, quantify the potential cost savings in terms of development time and resources to showcase the value of your work.

* UX researchers often limit their collaboration to product teams but should also connect with business operations and strategy departments to align research insights with broader business goals. Seek out opportunities to network and collaborate with stakeholders in business strategy, operations, and marketing. Understanding their goals can help researchers align their findings with broader organizational objectives, increasing the overall impact of UX research.

* A core part of UX research is mitigating risk by identifying potential usability issues before they reach the market, but this impact often goes unnoticed because it prevents problems rather than solves them. Keep a clear record of what decisions would have been made without research insights, and show how research prevented potential errors, resource waste, or user frustration. This can help quantify the “hidden” value of your research efforts.

Where to find Ruby:

* Website: www.rexhq.io and www.rubypryor.com 

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruby-pryor/

* Impact sizing masterclasses: https://www.rexhq.io/masterclasses

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free User Research walk-through✨. In these walk-throughs, I review my previous work and comment on what worked, what didn’t, and how I would improve it or walk you through work I am currently doing to share my thought process.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

Resources:

* Submit a topic

Join my membership!

If you’re looking for even more content, a space to call home (a private community), and live sessions with me to answer all your deepest questions, check out my membership (you get all this content for free within the membership), as it might be a good fit for you!

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Three times a month, I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast, and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

Resources:

* Connect with Giulia

* Career jumping from UXR to PM

Resources:

* UX Forensics - check out my website

* Join my membership!

* Submit a topic/question

Content note:

While we won’t be discussing details about specific traumatic experiences, we will be mentioning examples of trauma and trauma responses. Because even high-level discussions like these can be activating for those who have experienced trauma, we want to invite listeners to pay attention to how you’re feeling (emotionally and physically) as you listen. If you find yourself experiencing a strong reaction, we encourage you to pause to care for yourself, whether that includes recentering with deep and measured breathing or stepping away.

Resources:

* Marja’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marja-germans-gard-phd/

* Marja’s website: https://marjagermansgardphd.com/

Listen: 

* A Trauma-Informed Future with Katie Kurtz (podcast)

* Laura van Dernoot Lipsky on Future Tripping (podcast)

Read: 

* Cultivating Resiliencies for All: The Necessity of Trauma Responsive Research Practices (article by Matt Bernius and Rachael Dietkus)

* Practicing without a license (article by Tad Hirsch)

* Design for Safety (book by Eva PenzeyMoog)

* Trauma Informed Design resources website (a resource repository: https://www.tidresources.org/)

* Trauma-Informed Design Research (Medium article by Jax Wechsler)

* SAMHSA principles: https://www.cdc.gov/orr/infographics/6_principles_trauma_info.htm

Follow: 

* Rachael Dietkus, Melissa Eggleston, Carol Scott, PhD

Join:

* Trauma-Informed Design Discussion Group (request to join using this form)

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Three times a month, I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast, and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

Resources:

* Follow Ana on LinkedIn

* “The tools” by Phil Stutz

* Join my membership!

* Submit a topic/question

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Three times a month, I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast, and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

Resources:

* Follow Vanessa on LinkedIn

* Evolving UXR for Greater Impact @ Great Research Event

* Join my membership!

* Submit a topic/question

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Steve is a UX researcher at MeasuringU, a full-service research agency in Denver, Colorado in the United States, and a research faculty member at the University of Denver. He has a Ph.D. in higher education with a focus on research methods and statistics, and transitioned into UX research after working in education policy and technology for over a decade. He loves the challenge of helping organizations make data-informed decisions to improve their products and services, and hopes to one day specialize in training and mentoring newer researchers in the field.

Outside of work, he loves puzzles, IKEA, miniatures, volunteering, and is currently his local Disney Lorcana champion.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* What it’s like to run user research for products you don’t work on directly and can’t influence day-to-day.

* The core differences between in-house and agency UX research and how to adapt your mindset.

* How to tactfully redirect clients when they ask for the wrong method or too much scope.

* Tips for managing clients and stakeholders you may never meet until the final presentation.

* Why agency work can sharpen your skills in stakeholder engagement, methodology flexibility, and research storytelling.

Some takeaways:

* Influence doesn’t require ownership. Even when you’re not embedded in a product team, you can shape critical decisions by understanding the business need, offering the right methodology, and asking questions internal teams may overlook. Steve shows how an external researcher can become a trusted advisor by bringing fresh eyes and rigorous thinking.

* Great research starts with pre-work, even under pressure. Agency research often comes with tight timelines, but skipping discovery is a mistake. Steve emphasizes getting a crash course in the product, team dynamics, and prior context before diving in. Understanding what success looks like and who the findings are for helps shape more actionable research.

* Pushback is part of the job and it’s a good thing. Clients may ask for the wrong method or an excessive scope. Steve walks through how his team uses clear business reasoning, previous case studies, and budget realities to shift direction without creating friction. Being honest builds long-term trust and often leads to repeat work.

* The final report isn’t just a deck, it’s a performance. You may only meet key stakeholders at the end, so make it count. Tailor insights to the audience (quant vs qual, detail vs big picture), practice storytelling, and have clear next steps ready. When done well, these sessions often spark follow-up projects or deeper buy-in from leadership.

* Agency work builds layered skills fast. Steve loves the diversity of agency life: switching between domains, juggling multiple clients, and mentoring less experienced teams. It sharpens your ability to pivot between strategic and tactical work, advocate for better research, and influence teams from the outside even with limited face time.

Where to find Steve:

* Website

* LinkedIn

Stop piecing it together. Start leading the work.

The Everything UXR Bundle is for researchers who are tired of duct-taping free templates and second-guessing what good looks like.

You get my complete set of toolkits, templates, and strategy guides. used by teams across Google, Spotify, , to run credible research, influence decisions, and actually grow in your role.

It’s built to save you time, raise your game, and make you the person people turn to.

→ Save 140+ hours a year with ready-to-use templates and frameworks

→ Boost productivity by 40% with tools that cut admin and sharpen your focus

→ Increase research adoption by 50% through clearer, faster, more strategic delivery

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Book a call or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

Resources:

* Follow Kasia on LinkedIn

* Kasia’s recommended resources:

* Foundation Regiment that offers free online psychological consultations 

* Basics of Trauma Informed Design 

* Somatic Experiencing by Peter Levine 

* "Deviate" by Beau Lotto 

* “Stutz”

* Join my Membership!

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Three times a month, I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast, and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

This is Dear Nikki’s first-ever user research membership spotlight, where I bring on user researchers from my membership to discuss their particular experiences on a given topic. For this episode, I spoke with Harmony on how to think about and choose user research tools for your team!

Resources:

* Harmony’s LinkedIn

* HUX Innovation

* Tooling Up for Success

* G2 User Research Tools

* Join my Membership!

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Three times a month, I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast, and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

Resources:

* Six-month mentorship program

* User Research Membership

* Skills assessment sheet

* Failure journal

* Create a career plan

* Mistakes I’ve made as a UXR - part one & part two

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Each week I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast, and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

Resources:

* Walk the store interviews

* Continuous discovery

* Submit a topic/question

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Three times a month, I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

Resources:

* Jira Product Discovery

* Six-month mentorship spots available

* Submit a topic

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Each week I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

Resources:

* Submit a topic/question

* Personal ReadMe example

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Each week I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast, and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

Resources:

* 2023 Salary Report

* Global UX Compensation Transparency Project

* Submit a question/topic

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Each week I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast, and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

Resources:

* Submit a topic/question

* Write a literature review

* Secondary resources list:

* Google Scholar: A great source of academic papers or reports by universities.

* ResearchGate: A handy resource for scientific or academic papers.

* ACM Digital Library: Has many scholarly peer-reviewed journals, particularly on information technology disciplines.

* Springer: Filled with scientific documents and books on many different topics.

* Wiley Online Library: Scientific and academic journals, articles, and books on a wide range of subjects.

* Forrester: Has insights on tending and essential marketing topics.

* Baymard: Filled with UX articles, UX Benchmarks, and research that helps make more informed design decisions.

* Voicebot: Trends and reports specifically on AI and Voice.

* Charity Choice: Free reports of charities in the UK.

* The Guardian's "What I'm Really Thinking" Series: Dives into the social science of what people in certain situations think or feel.

* Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) digital library: A repository of resources on computing research and practice.

* Journal of Usability Studies (JUS): A publication dedicated to exploring usability and other research-related topics

* Stanford d.school: Brings sources on a variety of topics when it comes to design and research

* MIT D-Lab: Dives into topics related to humanitarianism and other social causes

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Each week I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast, and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

Resources:

* How User Research Impacts the AARRR Metrics

* Submit a topic/question

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Each week I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast, and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

Podcast resources:

* Surveys that work

* 11 Usability Testing Metrics to Enrich Your Reporting

* Measure satisfaction without the NPS

* A Practical Guide to Measuring Usability

* Conduct a benchmarking study

* How to conduct a tree test

* Submit a question

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Ned Dwyer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Great Question, the all-in-one UX research platform designed to democratize research at scale.

After two successful exits as a founder, Ned launched his biggest idea to date: helping enterprise teams better understand their users. Ned has led Great Question in empowering UX researchers, designers, and product teams to collaborate seamlessly and uncover the insights needed to build something great.

With over a decade of experience at the intersection of product, design & research; Ned has driven innovation and scaled businesses that solve complex challenges for enterprises.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Ned loves spending time in sunny Oakland, California with his wife, two kids and three cats.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* What democratization really means and why it’s not just about “everyone doing research.”

* The shift in sentiment and adoption—from early-stage startups to 16,000-person enterprises.

* How researchers can avoid being sidelined by becoming facilitators, not gatekeepers.

* The role of tools, policies, and AI in scaling high-quality research safely across teams.

* Strategies for building the business case for tools and training—especially in resource-limited orgs.

Some takeaways:

* Democratization is already happening whether you’re involved or not. Ned emphasizes that research is already being done across organizations by non-researchers, just not always well. The opportunity for researchers is to step into a facilitator role: setting standards, defining guardrails, and ensuring quality without hoarding control.

* Big orgs are leading the way, not just scrappy startups. Contrary to early assumptions, the most aggressive adopters of democratization aren’t just startups, they’re enterprises with thousands of employees. The difference? These organizations invest in scalable infrastructure, permissions, and training to empower safe, responsible research at scale.

* Guardrails matter more than gatekeeping. With the right systems, democratization doesn’t have to mean chaos. Great Question includes features like eligibility criteria, access controls, incentive limits, study approval flows, and AI-powered report validation. These guardrails enable research at scale without compromising integrity or participant experience.

* Make your case by speaking leadership’s language. To advocate for democratization tools or training, tie your request to business goals: reduced legal risk, better participant experience, efficiency gains, and fewer headcount needs. Use the “researcher effort score” to quantify pain points and show progress over time.

* Want more influence? Get close to the money. Strategic researchers don’t wait for requests, they go to sales, marketing, and product to understand pain points and proactively solve them. Running win/loss research or unblocking customer access helps build trust, grow research demand, and elevate your role beyond usability testing.

Where to find Ned:

* Website

* LinkedIn: Great Question

* LinkedIn: Ned

* Twitter/X

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I’m always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Book a call or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors.

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Each week I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast, and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

Podcast resources:

* Treat stakeholders like users

* Submit a question

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Each week I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

In this episode, I discuss the recent posts I’ve been seeing on LinkedIn about layoffs and thinking about how we can approach some of these challenging situations together with an open, empathetic mindset

Submit a question!

Join my UXR membership

👋 Hey, Nikki here! Welcome to this month’s ✨ free podcast ✨ of User Research Academy. Each week I tackle reader questions about the ins and outs of user research through my podcast and share super concrete tips and examples on user research methods, approaches, careers, or situations.

If you want to see everything I post, subscribe below!

In this episode, I discuss a slightly different approach to tracking impact at your organization by examining how your research can impact individual colleagues and decision-making.

Formulas I mentioned:

* (time saved) x (employee cost) x (# of employees) = cost savings

* (# of errors) x (avg. repair time) x (employee cost) x (# of employees) = cost savings

Submit a question!

Join my bi-weekly newsletter!

Join my UXR membership

In this episode, I talk through different approaches you can use to practice your user research skills in low-stakes environments to feel more confident using different methodologies

Resources:

Whiteboard challenge prompts

Join my UXR membership

Submit a question! (or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com)

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In this episode, I talk through the question of, when you are working with skilled PMs (or other stakeholders), who is meant to own discovery work?

Article with levels of support

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In part two of this episode, I talk about the other five top mistakes I have made as a user researcher and how I shifted them into learnings

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Join my UXR membership

In part one of this episode, I talk about five (out of the ten) top mistakes I have made as a user researcher and how I shifted them into learnings

Resources:

- Treat stakeholders like users ebook

Submit a question! (or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com)

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In this episode, I talk through how to think about creating research questions and then how that can help you choose an appropriate method!

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In this episode, I answer a question about what to do if you need to conduct a field study in someone's home and also strategies if, for whatever reason, you aren't able to visit them in their home!

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In this episode, I talk about recent UXR lay-offs and my recommendations for staying competitive in a tough market

Resources:

- Prioritizing user research projects

- Workshop facilitation webinar

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Hi all - this is a free series where I critique anonymized resumes that were submitted to me. If you love the work I do, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter. It helps me continue what I do and putting this kind of work out into the community.

Check out part two here.

Stop applying. Start getting interviews.

The UXR Job Bundle gives you everything you need to land better roles, faster.

→ Resume + portfolio templates that get callbacks

→ Interview frameworks that show how you think

→ Case study formats that hook hiring managers in 60 seconds

→ Negotiation scripts to help you stop settling

Researchers who use it report 3x more interviews and stronger offers.

Don’t just polish your resume. Change your outcome.

Formulas:

* [Verb] + [what you did] + [quantifier] which resulted in + [measurable or strategic impact]

Example: Ran 4 onboarding interviews with new clients, which resulted in redesigned setup steps and a 25% drop in support tickets.

* [Verb] + [insight you generated] + by [method], leading to + [decision/outcome]

Example: Uncovered usability issues by synthesizing 12 support calls, leading to a streamlined payment flow.

* [Verb] + [collaboration/project] + across [team/org], resulting in + [alignment/change]

Example: Facilitated quarterly review across Product and Ops, resulting in better prioritization and fewer miscommunications.

* [Verb] + [process/tool/project you led or improved] + [how many/who/what] which resulted in + [business/user impact]

Example: Improved onboarding workflow used by 3 teams, which resulted in a 25% reduction in support queries.

* [Verb] + [insight or decision you contributed to] + by [action taken] + leading to + [impact on project/team/metric]

Example: Informed product roadmap by synthesizing 30 customer interviews, leading to launch of 2 new features.

* [Verb] + [communication or output you created] + that influenced + [stakeholders/team] + to [do what]

Example: Created user insight brief that influenced PMs to prioritize accessibility fixes.

* [Verb] + [collaboration you facilitated] + across [teams/functions] + to [goal], resulting in + [change or outcome]

Example: Facilitated weekly cross-functional syncs across Design and Ops to align on support triage, resulting in 30% faster escalation resolution.

* [Verb] + [project or task] + within [timeline or budget], resulting in + [measurable business or user value]

Example: Delivered usability testing project within 2 weeks, resulting in simplified checkout flow and 15% conversion uplift.

* [Verb] + [problem you solved] + by [how you solved it],which [impact/result]

Example: Resolved data duplication issue by implementing a shared tracking template, which reduced manual rework by 80%.

In this episode, I answer a question/concern I have been hearing about a lot: will AI take over our job as user researchers? Spoiler: no :) listen to learn why!

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In this session I talk through how I organize notetaking during research sessions and some actionable approaches you can try! I reference the affinity diagram I use during debriefing as a potential way to notetake as well!

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In this episode, I talk through tips and best practices when you have a limited number of users you can engage with and are concerned about "UXR fatigue"

In this episode, I recommend the following resources:

• Prioritization Article + Template


• Walk the Store Interviews


• Rolling Research Programs

Submit a question! (or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com)

Join my bi-weekly newsletter!

Join my UXR membership

In this episode, I discuss the two main approaches to mixed methods research design and when a quantitative- versus qualitative-first approach is most applicable!

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Join my UXR membership