The Optimal Path

Dalia El-Shimy, Director of UX Research at Wise and former Head of UX Research at Miro, brings her extensive experience in UX to the table. She discusses a framework for confident product decision-making by categorizing choices based on risk and reversibility. Dalia emphasizes the importance of balancing emotional instincts with logical reasoning and promotes swift actions for low-risk scenarios. Additionally, she shares insights on integrating informal user interactions with formal research to enhance product development and explores the dynamics of team decisions.

Michael Margolis, a UX Research Partner at Google Ventures with over 30 years in the field, unveils the Bullseye Customer Sprint methodology. He explains how startups can pinpoint key customers and develop prototypes quickly. Learn about the '5 and 3 in 1 formula' for rapid product learning and the importance of clear communication during user research. Michael also debunks myths surrounding user research in startups, emphasizing that it doesn't have to be time-consuming. His insights encourage building the right products more efficiently.

Devin Harold, a Design Research Leader with over twelve years in UX and former Head of Design Research at Capital One, shares his insights on linking user research to business outcomes. He discusses practical frameworks like the 'two-by-two prioritization' to showcase research value. The conversation also highlights the importance of cross-functional collaboration, evolving researcher roles, and continuous personal growth. Plus, Devin's passion for ancient Egypt adds a fascinating personal touch!

In this episode of The Optimal Path, Jehad Affoneh joins host Ash Oliver to discuss what it means to be customer-centric at Toast, the difference between being design-led and experience-led, and the role of UX research in shaping customer-centric cultures and experiences.The conversation covers cultural shifts towards empathy and curiosity, mechanisms to foster a customer-centric culture, and how Toast integrates research into everyday operations. Discover how Toast encourages everyone across the company to consistently engage with customers and empowers them with easy-to-use methods to make these interactions more effective—ultimately driving better outcomes for customers, the business, and the team.About Jehad:Jehad is a design and product leader who's led design, product, and engineering teams most recently at VMware and Splunk. He is currently Chief Design Officer at Toast where he leads the product, customer, and end-to-end experience that empowers tens of thousands of restaurants to delight their guests, do what they love, and thrive. He lives with his wife and one year old son in Redwood City, California.Connect with Jehad:You can connect with Jehad on LinkedIn, Twitter, or check out his articles here.Resources:Google’s HEART Framework for Measuring UXPrinciples: Life and Work by Ray DalioSwitch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan HeathFollow Maze on Social Media:X: @mazedesignHQInstagram: @mazedesignHQLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mazedesignTo get notified when new episodes come out, subscribe at maze.co/podcast.See you next time!

In this episode of The Optimal Path, Hannah Anokye joins host Ash Oliver to discuss her work on the Intuit Futures Team and the role of qualitative research in exploring emerging technologies, understanding users' needs, and identifying opportunities for new product developments.Hannah shares best practices for conducting moderated user interviews and how to generate insights that spark ideas and drive growth. Discover how integrating user-centric approaches in qualitative research nurtures innovation and redefines mental models, leading to more resonant and effective product solutionsAbout Hannah:Hannah is a product innovation practitioner with a unique background. Through a career with titles in product marketing, user research, and now product management, her through line has been user-centered experiences that drive meaningful impact.Most recently as a Senior User Experience Researcher on Intuit's Futures team, Hannah explored how Generative AI technology could be responsibly and meaningfully integrated across the Intuit product ecosystem.She recently transitioned into a product management role, focused on building the next generation of AI-driven products for Intuit’s future customers.Connect with Hannah:You can connect with Hannah on LinkedIn.Resources:Interviewing users by Steve PortigalDesigning Your Life - How to Build a Well-Lived Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave EvanUnpacking User Interviews: Turning Conversations into Insights by MazeFollow Maze on Social Media:X: @mazedesignHQInstagram: @mazedesignHQLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mazedesignTo get notified when new episodes come out, subscribe at maze.co/podcast.See you next time!

Nick Stiles, User Researcher at IBM, discusses the power of secondary research, also known as desk research, in making informed decisions, and why it is the “unsung hero” of research.Nick shares strategies for synthesizing secondary research findings into actionable insights for product teams and emphasizes the importance of storytelling and journalistic techniques in driving research impact.About Nick:First trained as an academic psychologist, Nick Stiles is now a passionate user researcher at IBM. With a BA in Psychology and experience in both academic psych labs and the software industry, Nick uses human behavior research to make interactions between people and tools more harmonious. He is driven by a love of learning, collaboration, and making a real-world impact through research.Connect with Nick:You can connect with Nick on Linkedin.Resources:Immersion and influence—the work of the modern UX researcher by Nick StilesThink Like a UX Researcher: How to Observe Users, Influence Design, and Shape Business Strategy by David Travis, Philip HodgsonHow to Write Short: Word Craft for Fast Times by Roy Peter ClarkFollow Maze on Social Media:X: @mazedesignHQInstagram: @mazedesignHQLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mazedesignTo get notified when new episodes come out, subscribe at maze.co/podcast.See you next time!

Ravi Mehta discusses connecting user research to product strategy and effective decision-making frameworks. He emphasizes balancing intuition, analytics, and user feedback for confident decisions. The podcast dives into reimagining user experience in the travel industry and decoding the product strategy stack. Mehta's insights on visualizing product strategy and setting clear goals offer valuable guidance for product success.

Reggie Murphy, Senior Director and Head of UX Research at Zendesk, dives into the revolutionary journey of scaling UX research. He discusses how research transformed from a support role to a strategic partner by democratizing practices. Reggie highlights the creation of training programs to empower cross-functional teams, ensuring a customer-centric culture. He also emphasizes the impact of effective feedback and communication strategies, sharing insights on mentoring and the significance of unique leadership routines. Tune in for valuable lessons on innovation and collaboration!

Join Dave Hora, a user research expert, as he discusses the future of user research, including integrating research practices throughout the product lifecycle, the growing demand for user insights, and the opportunities of AI tools. Explore the evolution of user research within organizations, the role of researchers in guiding product development, and the impact of AI on user research. Discover insights on user research foundations, unusual habits, and personal interests like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and wine making in Portugal.

In this episode of The Optimal Path, host Ash Oliver and Senior User Research Manager Paige Bennett explore the vital role of workshops in product development. Paige shares her experience facilitating workshops in the fintech industry, plus best practices for measuring success and co-creating with cross-functional partners and customers.Join us to learn how you can leverage this collaboration tool to drive stronger decision-making, build more impactful products, and grow your career as a product professional. About Paige:Paige Bennett is a Senior User Research Manager at Affirm. Prior to Affirm, Paige managed the Growth and Ecosystems research teams at Dropbox and has previous experience creating strategic research projects at Medium. She is well-versed in the world of workshop facilitation and user research, harnessing the two for big business impact. Connect with Paige:You can connect with Paige on X or Linkedin Resources:Workshopping your way to impactful products by Paige Bennett at Disco Conf 2023Why Running Better Workshops Will Make You a Better Creative Leader by Alison Coward on MediumThe Field Study Handbook by Jan ChipchaseCEO Ideational Facilitation Leadership and Team Creativity: The Mediating Role of Knowledge Sharing by Abraham Carmeli & Paul B. PaulusWolff Olins Report Follow Maze on Social Media:X: @mazedesignHQInstagram: @mazedesignHQLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mazedesignTo get notified when new episodes come out, subscribe at maze.co/podcast.See you next time!