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 processesSome 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 projectsReferences:* The User Research Strategist Book Waitlist💥 Unlock even more valueWe 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 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

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

Hannah Knowles, a seasoned UX researcher with over a decade of experience, shares her insights on bridging the gap between research and business decisions. She emphasizes the vital role of workshops in fostering collaboration and making actionable insights. Hannah discusses innovative approaches to engage stakeholders and transform research dynamics, advocating for interactive methodologies. With a focus on lean teams, she provides tips for structuring workshops in agile environments, ensuring research doesn’t end with analysis but drives effective team collaboration.

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 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

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 teamsRuby 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 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

Discover the art of crafting user research proposals tailored for specific industries, like legal tech. Learn about defining critical business problems and employing effective research strategies. The conversation dives into essential components for a successful proposal, including participant recruitment and showcasing potential ROI. Personal insights and impactful case studies illustrate how user experience research can significantly drive business growth. Perfect for anyone looking to enhance their proposal-building skills!

👋 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 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

Resources:* UX Forensics - check out my website* Join my membership!* Submit a topic/question 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

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.htmFollow: * Rachael Dietkus, Melissa Eggleston, Carol Scott, PhDJoin:* Trauma-Informed Design Discussion Group (request to join using this form) 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

👋 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 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