The User Research Strategist: UXR | Impact | Career

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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

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