The User Research Strategist: UXR | Impact

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**The User Research Strategist: UXR | Impact | AI**

The intersection of user research, business impact, and using AI intentionally and effectively

https://userresearchstrategist.com

www.userresearchstrategist.com

Latest Episodes:

How Games UXR Actually Works | Mark Cox (Lloyd's Banking Group) Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Mark Cox is a lead researcher and the Design Research and Service Design Agency Spotless in London. He’s been in research for about 7 years, and because he’s operated in an agency, he’s been lucky enough to work on all kinds of projects in different industries. The hat he currently wears is as a Games User Researcher.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* The early origins of games UXR and how it still leans on its Atari-era roots.

* Why you can’t apply traditional UX timelines and methods to game development.

* What “positive friction” means and when player frustration is part of the design.

* How Mark tests narrative and art concepts with non-interactive prototypes.

* Where aspiring games UXRs should actually start if they want to break in.

Some takeaways:

* Unlike traditional UX, games research isn’t focused on removing friction, it’s about shaping it. Some frustration is intentional, and part of the fun. Mark works with teams to understand when challenge adds value and when it tips into player drop-off. This means the researcher’s job is to trace the emotional arc of gameplay, not just catch bugs or confusion.

* Narrative and concept testing often happens with no prototype in sight. Mark tests scripts, art, and design direction using static slides, paper wireframes, or storyboards. Focus groups are a big part of this phase, helping teams hear how players talk about characters and world-building. If the story isn’t landing early on, it rarely gets better by launch.

* Mark outlined multiple types of playtesting: usability (can players navigate the UI?), appeal (do they value it?), and retention or engagement (will they come back?). These studies often include layered methods: observation, think-alouds, surveys triggered after specific in-game moments, and even eye-tracking. A good playtest doesn’t just show how players behave, it helps explain why they behave that way.

* The “fun” question is real, but rarely useful. Teams often ask “Is this fun?” but the better question is “What kind of fun are we aiming for?” Is the goal mastery? Escape? Social chaos? Mark pushes for clarity on the player emotion the team is chasing, so the research can help track whether that’s happening and where it’s falling short.

* Breaking into games UXR means doing the work before you get the job. Mark suggests joining Discords like the GamesUR SIG, getting involved in beta testing communities, and finding ways to observe or participate in amateur game design groups. Hiring managers want to see real curiosity and a strong grasp of the medium. That doesn’t mean you need a formal background in games, it means you’ve tried things, reflected on them, and learned. Researching games starts by showing you understand what makes them work.

Where to find Mark:

* 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.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

The New Reality of UX Careers | Mindaugas Petrutis (Lovable) Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

In our conversation, we discuss:

* Why traditional org charts and career ladders are breaking down and what that means for researchers and designers.

* How AI and startup culture are reshaping roles, shrinking teams, and pushing senior-level decisions onto mid-level professionals.

* Why most people feel unprepared for their new responsibilities and how to close the gap without waiting for formal mentorship.

* How to build your own “board of directors” through small acts of generosity and curiosity.

Some takeaways:

* Org charts are collapsing and it’s changing everything. Many companies, especially in tech, are shrinking their teams while still aiming for scale. That means fewer senior leaders and more ICs making high-stakes decisions without traditional support. The result: mid-level professionals find themselves thrown into strategy roles they never trained for. This indicates a shift in how companies operate at their core.

* There’s no playbook for where we’re headed. You can’t Google your way out of the complexity of hybrid roles. When someone’s a lead on paper but making director-level calls with no mentorship, the usual advice doesn’t cut it. People need better access to real conversations and fast feedback loops. Mindaugas recommends building your own crew of people to talk things through, not just reading another Medium post.

* The people who navigate change best aren’t trying to be the smartest in the room. They’re collecting diverse perspectives, asking for honest takes, and updating their opinions as they learn. In a noisy world of LinkedIn hot takes, this kind of thoughtful input often comes from quiet backchannels. Building those backchannels takes intention, not perfection.

* Don’t start with the ask. Start with curiosity. One of the best ways to build strong professional relationships is to reach out with zero agenda. A quick note saying “I appreciated your talk/post/article” stands out precisely because nobody does it anymore. When you do that over time, you create a trail of goodwill so when the time comes for an ask, you’re not a stranger. Mindaugas shares how this approach helped him build a global network from scratch.

* Mid-level is now the pressure point of modern orgs. Senior ICs are being handed business-critical decisions without context, coaching, or peers to learn from. Community matters as a practical scaffolding for decision-making and finding those people is the key to helping you get to your next level, and push through that mid-level ceiling

Where to find Mindaugas:

* 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?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

Getting Scrappy with Product Research | John Fontenot (Terlumina, Path to Product) Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

John Fontenot has spent a decade in tech, working initially in software partnerships for Intel’s Software and Services Group where he was first introduced to the role of product management. In 2018 John made a pivot into a role as a UX Researcher to get his foot in the door of a product team for a small HRTech SaaS company and hasn’t looked back. John has worked in a variety of Sr. IC product manager roles, Director and Group Product Manager roles, and is now serving as VP of Product Management for Terlumina, an Enterprise SaaS startup focused on healthcare compliance management.

John also runs a program called Path2Product where he helps aspiring PMs transition into their first product management role. John is a huge proponent and student of UX Research and truly believes that good product management can’t be done well without it.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* What “scrappy” product research really means and when it crosses the line into chaos.

* Why PMs can (and should) learn research basics when they don’t have a dedicated partner.

* How to build trust with researchers without stepping on their toes.

* Creative recruitment strategies when incentives aren’t an option—and what that reveals about product-market fit.

* The case against paying customers for interviews, and how to make people want to talk to you.

Some takeaways:

* Scrappy research isn’t an excuse to be sloppy. Scrappy doesn’t mean fast for the sake of speed, it means smart, efficient, and focused on risk. John outlines how some decisions call for deep, strategic research, especially when millions are on the line, while others don’t need to be tested to death. The key is knowing the stakes and picking the right level of investment. Scrappy research works best when it’s intentional, not reactionary.

* John shares creative ways to reach users without incentives, like turning idea boards into interview leads or mining Facebook groups and Slack communities for warm outreach. In regulated industries where payments aren’t allowed, trust and thoughtful messaging become even more important. The best outreach comes from doing your homework, if you know what people care about, they’ll usually talk. Payment can create a transactional mindset; genuine interest creates better conversations.

* With researchers often outnumbered 10 to 1, it’s unrealistic to gatekeep all research tasks. But that doesn’t mean PMs or designers should bulldoze their way in. John advocates for shared ownership with clear boundaries, where non-researchers offer support, not competition, by helping with smaller usability tasks or contributing to recruitment. Trust is built by asking first, showing competence, and being open to feedback.

* Recruitment speed isn’t always the goal. Paying for participants might help with speed, but it can muddy your insight quality. If no one wants to talk about the feature you’re testing, that might be a signal it’s not worth building. Slower recruitment through organic methods forces you to get sharper on messaging, segmentation, and whether the problem actually matters.

* John argues that researchers are most valuable when they go beyond testing buttons and start shaping product direction. Researchers who understand business priorities and speak the language of product are better able to influence decisions. Likewise, PMs who understand research can spot poor methods and ask sharper questions. Everyone benefits when the team invests in learning across roles and when researchers step confidently into strategic conversations.

Where to find John:

* Website

* LinkedIn

* Blog

* Why you should never pay for customer interviews

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?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

Lessons from the Only Researcher in the Room | Alaine Burns Laycock (Dext) Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Alaine is an empathetic UX leader with a proven track record of driving user-centric strategies, adeptly managing teams, and delivering impactful research that drives business growth and strategic alignment.

In her role as a Research Manager at Dext, she oversees research delivery, strategy, and operational functions. With 12 years of extensive experience in user research and design, she is deeply passionate about leading and inspiring individuals while ensuring that customer insights remain at the core of product development.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* What happens when a six-person research team shrinks to one and how Alaine rebuilt from there.

* Why doing “more research” wasn’t the answer, and stepping back was the most strategic move.

* How to spot the right people to advocate for research, even if it’s not your direct manager.

* The messy reality of research democratization and what finally made it work.

* What it really means to operate as a business partner rather than a user advocate.

Some takeaways:

* You can’t research your way out of a broken system. Alaine tried to do everything alone and quickly realized she was burning out while diminishing trust in research. The turning point came when she stepped back to understand what the business actually needed, then rebuilt with that in mind.

* Get closer to product, not just users. Alaine shifted her focus toward building relationships with senior product leaders and learning how they think. Reporting into a VP of Product helped position research as part of the product org, not a separate function trying to fight for attention.

* Strategic visibility creates pull, not push. Her first hires were two contractors focused on mission-critical work. Once stakeholders saw the quality and impact, demand for research grew naturally. From there, product teams started asking for more researchers, Alaine didn’t need to campaign again.

* Democratization isn’t plug-and-play, it’s infrastructure. Initial attempts failed until she simplified tools, rewrote bloated processes, and treated it as a real change management project. Now, 30+ people can confidently run research with a central handbook and lightweight systems built around their needs.

* Start with honesty, not idealism. The first step in rebuilding wasn’t a grand vision. It was getting brutally honest about how research was perceived across the company. Anonymous feedback and reflection helped clarify what role the business wanted research to play and that insight shaped every step forward.

Where to find Alaine:

* LinkedIn

Interested in sponsoring the podcast?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

Physical Products, Brutal Honesty, and the Agency Way | Filip Cicek (Ruthless Insights) Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Filip Cicek is a seasoned researcher with a Master's degree in Sociology and over 15 years of diverse experience spanning academia, non-profit, and business realms. Proficient in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, Filip leads Ruthless Insights, a cutting-edge consultancy specializing in UX and market research.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* How physical product research forces rigor, patience, and multiple rounds of muddy discovery.

* The invisible weight of decision-making when mistakes cost millions and can’t be undone.

* What it takes to manage client expectations and stop pretending research can always be fast.

* Why Filip left academia and started Ruthless Insights after getting fired and how he made it work.

* The real challenges of agency work and how bad recruiting, rushed timelines, and AI shortcuts create sloppy insights.

Some takeaways:

* Physical product research demands rigor, not speed. When mistakes cost millions and there’s no going back post-launch, teams take research seriously. Filip explains how physical product work forces multiple rounds of exploratory studies, each more focused than the last, until real confidence is built. There’s no skipping the mess of qualitative research, no rapid sprints, no quick pivots, no AB tests. The trade-off? You get to do real, strategic work that actually gets used if you’re willing to sit in the mud for a while.

* Filip and Nikki both agree: multiple rounds of generative research can feel like an existential crisis. You finish each round with more questions than answers, stuck in abstract insights your stakeholders don’t always want to hear. But those vague, frustrating truths are the only path to real product clarity, especially in high-stakes spaces. Researchers need to get comfortable with uncertainty and help clients understand that clarity takes time.

* Many stakeholders just don’t know what good research actually takes. It’s your job to tell them. Filip’s advice: don’t agree to three-week timelines just to be helpful, push back with clarity. Clients don’t need speed, they need to not be wrong. And when researchers stop overpromising and start managing expectations, trust and repeat work follow.

* Ruthless Insights was built on rejection and a bet on honesty.Filip started his agency after getting fired and being told to “bet on yourself” by a client. That same client helped him name Ruthless Insights, based on Filip’s refusal to sugarcoat tough findings. His whole model is built around doing the job well without padding the process or the price, no fancy office, no fluff, just clean, useful insight. It’s not glamorous, but it’s what keeps clients coming back.

* Most people don’t understand how hard research is until they try it. From clients underestimating how long recruitment takes, to stakeholders clinging to a single quote from an interview, Filip has seen it all. He’s learned to pre-empt confusion by overcommunicating upfront, bringing recruiters in early, and walking stakeholders through the analysis process. He doesn’t try to move fast, he tries to be accurate. And that’s what builds a reputation that outlasts a slide deck.

Where to find Filip:

* Ruthless Insights

* Statis-fact

* 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?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

Connecting the Research Dots | Iwalola Sobowale (Moniepoint) Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Iwalola Sobowale is a research leader empowering tech innovation in Nigeria’s exciting tech industry. As the Head of Customer Research at Moniepoint, she drives strategic research to enhance customer experience, improve product adoption, and strengthen market positioning.

With a background in another Nigerian unicorn - Interswitch, Transsion who are the manufacturers of the Tecno and Infinix, the mobile device brands dominating the African continent, and Fidelity Bank, one of Nigeria’s leading commercial banks, she has led initiatives that optimize digital banking, payments, and financial inclusion.

Beyond her role, Iwalola is the co-founder of Usability for Africa, a ground-breaking research initiative that seeks to democratice usability knowledge for African tech. She is currently co-authoring a book that captures these insights and is also the host of The Spotlight Podcast, fostering industry knowledge-sharing to nurture the tech and business ecosystem.

Her passion for innovation and commitment to excellence mark her as a standout professional in the field.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* How Iwalola defines customer-centric product development and ties it directly to strategy, not just research.

* Why sharing research isn’t just about visibility, it’s about timing, relationships, and understanding internal decisions.

* The difference between reacting to requests and actually guiding what gets built.

* Tips for navigating low-maturity orgs without letting them define your trajectory.

* Why asking “why” is underrated, and how to do it without getting kicked out of the room.

Some takeaways:

* To make real impact, researchers need to understand three things: what the business is doing, what it’s not doing, and who the customer really is. Without clarity on these decisions, research either floats or gets ignored. Iwalola talks about the need for alignment—not just understanding the customer, but understanding the organization’s strategic bets. That’s where real influence starts.

* You can’t guide decisions if you don’t know what decisions are being made. Guidance isn’t about “being in the room” once a month. It’s about reading internal docs, scanning Slack channels, asking for team roadmaps, and paying attention to who’s working on what. The research doesn’t stop at the user—it starts again inside the company. If you want to be helpful, you need to investigate your organization like you would any other system.

* Iwalola makes research feel like a friendly place, no bad questions, no posturing. She shares often, asks stakeholders about what they already know, and brings curiosity instead of critique. That posture builds trust and slowly pulls even hesitant partners into the process. The goal is to help stakeholders make better calls, with you at the table.

* Instead of begging for buy-in from resistant teams, start with those who already get it. Work closely with them, and let the results do the talking. Once other teams see that insights actually help drive progress, they’ll start to seek you out. That’s influence built by reputation—not explanation.

* Leadership isn’t used to being asked “why,” but it’s one of the most important questions a researcher can ask. It unlocks context, helps you shape your work, and shows you’re genuinely trying to support—not challenge—the direction. If you understand why something is being prioritized, you can better decide how to contribute. Just know your audience, and bring the “why” with care.

Where to find Iwalola:

* Twitter

* Podcast

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?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

Using AI as Your Research Intern | Ryan Glasgow (Sprig) Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Ryan Glasgow is the CEO of Sprig, an AI-native survey platform built to replace legacy tools like Qualtrics. Sprig combines advanced survey capabilities, AI-powered analysis, and an intuitive user experience to help research and product teams get richer insights, faster. Before starting Sprig, Ryan led product at Weebly and Vurb, where he saw how slow, fragmented research workflows could limit product velocity. Today, Sprig is used by companies like Stripe, DoorDash, Notion, and Netflix to run surveys, analyze results instantly with AI, and deliver insights that shape product decisions.

In our conversation, we discuss:

* How the research community’s mindset toward AI has shifted from fear to experimentation.

* What it means to treat AI like an eager intern and why that mental model changes everything.

* How to break your workflow into “job steps” and plug AI in where it can actually help.

* What Sprig is building to support both qual and quant researchers at different levels.

* Why sharing raw data with stakeholders (not just summaries) might be the next big unlock for research impact.

Some takeaways:

* Many teams outside of research are still figuring out what AI is good for. Meanwhile, UXRs are already experimenting with real tasks, like synthesis, survey creation, and study planning, because they’ve had to. Ryan points out that researchers are becoming internal AI evangelists, getting asked to present their workflows to other departments. The field’s willingness to experiment is turning into a quiet leadership moment.

* The best way to work with AI? Pretend it’s a new intern. It’s fast, eager, and can take on a ton but needs oversight, review, and clear direction. That framing unlocks a very different way of thinking: not “Will it replace me?” but “What can I delegate to it so I can focus on higher-impact work?” That shift is showing up in how researchers manage tasks across their workflow.

* Before you plug AI into your stack, audit your actual workflow. Break it into steps, like study planning, stakeholder requests, distribution, synthesis, insight sharing, and decide where AI can support. Sprig is built around this approach, helping researchers insert AI at specific job steps. Trying to use one tool for everything often backfires; success comes from surgical fits, not general use.

* Sprig is expanding from in-product surveys into long-form survey support with built-in AI features for study creation, open text clustering, and synthesis. Ryan shared how qual researchers use AI to draft surveys, get feedback, and even generate first-pass summaries of open ends. Other tools like Notebook LM and Gamma help researchers do faster analysis and deck creation without skipping the rigor.

* One of the most radical ideas Ryan shared: share your raw research data, transcripts, open ends, survey results, so stakeholders can ask their own questions. With tools like ChatGPT or Notebook LM, that data becomes living, queryable insight. It turns research from a static deliverable into an exploratory tool. It also takes the pressure off researchers to have all the answers, all the time.

Where to find Ryan:

* Website

* LinkedIn

* X

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?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

Researching for Real Life | Loren Flores & Kathryn Ambroze (JPMorgan Chase) Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

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?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

Business-Savvy Research and Onion Layers of UX | Amanda Stockwell (Stockwell Strategy) Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

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

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

Facilitation as a Superpower | Bindu Upadhyay (Gitlab) Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

—

Bindu is passionate about understanding people, their behaviour, and the ecosystems in which they interact. In every role she drives cross-functional collaborations across R&D and Go To Market teams to craft impactful product and service propositions with the most recent being a new product for Customer Onboarding Experience. Having moved from India to the Netherlands, from engineering to design, working in multidisciplinary (and multicultural) teams deeply influenced Bindu’s worldview and shaped her approach of connecting the dots.

With experience spanning both agency and in-house roles, Bindu enjoys transforming user insights into innovative B2B and B2C strategies, products, and services. She ensures every voice is heard and valued, fostering an inclusive culture where teams can thrive.

Bindu enjoys a lot of hobbies - painting, crocheting, knitting, reading books, strength training, and, most recently, sending digital postcards!

In our conversation, we discuss:

* How Bindu went from being drained by early workshops to building a facilitation style that fits her strengths.

* What separates a true workshop from a meeting and how to tell if you’re running one that should’ve been an email.

* Why facilitation isn’t just for extroverts, and how any personality type can make it their strength.

* Handling tricky workshop dynamics like power imbalance, dominant voices, and unclear goals.

* Bindu’s favorite practical frameworks, including “I Do Art” and the double diamond model.

Some takeaways:

* Facilitation is a skill you can build, not a personality trait. Bindu reminds us that facilitation isn’t something you’re born with. It’s a practice that develops over time. She began by running small team sessions, learned by copying and iterating, and now has a toolkit that reflects her style and boundaries. Whether you’re introverted, new to the field, or someone who dreads public speaking, there’s a version of facilitation that can work for you.

* Preparation changes everything. Rather than starting with activities, Bindu uses a mental model that splits every workshop into three parts: before, during, and after. The “I Do Art” framework, intention, desired outcomes, agenda, roles, rules, and time, is how she checks if a workshop is actually needed. Without clear prep, even the best-designed session can fall flat.

* Workshops only work when they’re participatory. If a session is used to share decisions that have already been made, it’s not a workshop, it’s a broadcast. Bindu encourages facilitators to clarify whether people are being asked to collaborate or simply observe. When that line is blurry, trust can break down fast.

* Managing difficult participants takes quiet strategy. When workshops go off-track, whether due to dominant voices, resistance, or role-based groupthink, Bindu relies on alignment with a sponsor, pre-workshop conversations, and delegation. Giving strong personalities a constructive role, like timekeeper or discussion monitor, often brings them onside without confrontation.

* Don’t forget the follow-through. Workshops can generate energy but, without clear wrap-ups and next steps, it dissipates. Bindu closes each session by reviewing actions, assigning owners, and sending a summary soon after. She recommends ending with a reflective question to help participants carry the insights forward, like “What’s one thing you’ll do differently now?”

Where to find Bindu:

* Website

* LinkedIn

* Blog

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?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

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