Awkward Silences

Caitria O'Neill, a seasoned UX researcher with experience at Airbnb, Meta, and soon Google, shares her insights on effectively communicating research findings. She dives into the art of crafting impactful reports and emphasizes the necessity of engaging storytelling. Caitria discusses strategies for structuring insights, enhancing presentations with visual storytelling, and the ever-evolving nature of research management. She even incorporates a light-hearted segment on her favorite emojis, showcasing their role in professional communication.

Kate Towsey, a Research Operations expert formerly at Atlassian, shares insights on the significance of Research Operations (ReOps) and its growing relevance in business. She emphasizes the essential steps to start a ReOps practice while navigating challenges like participant recruitment and operational management. Kate discusses her journey from content strategist to researcher, tackling imposter syndrome along the way. Now investing in Cha Cha Club, she highlights the importance of community and collaboration in enhancing research efficiency.

Andrea Amorós, a Senior Principal Researcher at Ingram Micro and former Associate Principal UX Researcher at ADP, dives into the world of strategic research. She emphasizes its value in influencing stakeholders and the critical role of effective communication. Andrea discusses how to present findings with empathy, fostering engagement within organizations. She also explores the importance of self-awareness in professional growth and the unique challenges researchers face in driving impactful change. Tune in for insights on leveraging strengths and promoting a culture of collaboration!

Welcome to Summer Throwbacks, were we revisit some of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes.This week, Eniola Abioye, UX Researcher at Meta, discusses what it takes to break into the user research industry. Her advice on creating application materials, searching for roles, and preparing for the interview process offer evergreen insight for any job seeker.UX Career ResourcesFree on-demand course with Eniola: User Research 101The Ultimate UX Research Job BoardGetting started with freelance UX research

Welcome to Summer Throwbacks, where we revisit some of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes.This week features Amy Chess (then at Amazon) unpacking arguably the most important research skill: asking questions. She shares what makes a "good" question, how questions should connect to insights and impact, and how you can improve your question-creation ability.Research Question ResourcesA Guide to User Research Questions70+ User Testing Question ExamplesWriting Better User Interview Questions

Teresa Torres, a product discovery coach at Product Talk, shares her expertise on continuous discovery methods, advocating for regular customer feedback to drive product development. She delves into the importance of intertwining discovery with delivery, and emphasizes the value of interviewing current, potential, and churned users. Teresa also provides practical tips on automating participant recruitment and conducting effective interviews. Throughout, she underscores the significance of continuous learning and adapting discovery practices to fit team dynamics.

This week, Erika Hall, founder of Mule Design and author of 'Just Enough Research,' dives into the pitfalls of surveys in research. She argues that surveys are often misused, yielding unreliable data and that teams should focus on more meaningful conversation instead. Erika highlights the dangers of quick, poorly designed surveys and the importance of starting with the right research questions. Instead of seeking predictions, she suggests asking about past behaviors and prioritizing quality insights over quantity.

Embedded research teams—where UXRs are dedicated to a single product area—are popular. The proximity to design, product, and engineering stakeholders increases subject-matter expertise and user insight integration. But how can those working in this structure balance deep diving product-specific work with longer-term strategic opportunities?Hannah Ghidey, Senior Research Manager at Etsy has successfully navigated this balance, finding big, strategy-setting questions while maintaining product-specific influence and know-how. It’s a great conversation for anyone working as a UXR on a product team or searching for a scaleable way to build a responsive team that’s also strategically-oriented.Highlights03:09 Strategic Research in Business Innovation07:30 Effective Collaborative Research Planning11:03 Harnessing Team Insights for Innovation15:01 Building Trust in Research Collaboration20:15 Sustaining Research Relevance29:53 Integrating Research into Business StrategyAbout HannahHannah Ghidey is a UX leader, currently at Etsy. She is a creative, strategist, and researcher, helping teams shape experiences at the intersection of user needs, business goals, and data.ResourcesUltimate Guide to Research StrategyResearch x Product Collaboration ReportBuild a UX Research Team From Scratch

Jess Holbrook, Senior Director of Research at Microsoft AI, specializes in human-centered AI and has a rich background from Meta and Google. He shares insights on how UX researchers can adapt to the rapid changes in AI, emphasizing the importance of ethical practices and user dignity. Jess discusses the intersection of psychology and design, the value of diverse team perspectives, and the evolving role of AI in UX. With optimism and caution, he advocates for responsible AI use while encouraging innovation and collaboration.

Jay Vidyarthi, a designer and the founder of Still Ape, dives into the fusion of mindfulness and technology. He shares his journey from UX struggles to creating products that enhance well-being. The conversation highlights how design should shift from merely user-based to life-centered. Jay emphasizes mindful presence and the emotional aspects of technology use, offering practical strategies to reclaim our attention in a digital world. He also discusses the importance of user research in uncovering assumptions and fostering genuine connections through design.