Insights Unlocked

Episode web page: https://tinyurl.com/4rymcmrs-----------------------Rate Insights Unlocked and write a reviewIf you appreciate Insights Unlocked, please give it a rating and a review.Visit Apple Podcasts, pull up the Insights Unlocked show page and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Below the trailers, you'll find Ratings and Reviews. Click on a star rating. Scroll down past the highlighted review and click on "Write a Review." You'll make my day.-----------------------In today’s crowded digital world, standing out on LinkedIn is more challenging than ever. With users scrolling through 300 feet of content daily and 1.5 million pieces of content being engaged with every minute, how can marketers cut through the noise?In this episode, Nathan Isaacs sits down with Purna Virji, a LinkedIn marketing expert and author of High Impact Content Marketing, to discuss proven strategies for LinkedIn success. From blending organic and paid content to leveraging thought leadership and short-form video, Purna shares valuable insights on building engagement, trust, and brand loyalty on one of the world’s most powerful professional platforms.Key Takeaways:🔥 Why Consistency Matters: A common mistake brands make is only showing up when they have a big launch. Purna emphasizes the importance of continuous engagement—whether through organic posts, paid ads, or a mix of both.🌱 Paid vs. Organic: Why You Need Both: LinkedIn research shows that users exposed to both organic and paid content are 61% more likely to convert than those who only see paid ads. Organic content nurtures your existing audience, while paid ads help you reach new ones.📊 Testing and Learning: Your LinkedIn page isn’t just a broadcasting tool—it’s a dynamic testing ground. Brands should experiment with different types of content organically before investing ad dollars to boost their top-performing posts.🎥 The Rise of Short-Form Video: Video consumption continues to surge, with LinkedIn seeing a 34% increase in video uploads year over year. Purna recommends embracing short, engaging videos to build trust and humanize your brand.💡 Leveraging Thought Leadership: People follow people before they follow brands. Thought leader ads allow companies to boost employee and executive content, making it a powerful tool for credibility and reach.📣 Beyond Vanity Metrics: It’s not just about likes and shares—success on LinkedIn should be measured by pipeline impact, engagement quality, and long-term brand trust.Episode Links:📖 Purna Virji’s book: High Impact Content Marketing 💡 Follow Purna on LinkedIn: Purna Virji📊 LinkedIn for Marketing: LinkedIn Business Page🎧 More episodes of Insights Unlocked: UserTesting Podcast

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/3CBgLhw-----------------------Rate Insights Unlocked and write a reviewIf you appreciate Insights Unlocked, please give it a rating and a review.Visit Apple Podcasts, pull up the Insights Unlocked show page and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Below the trailers, you'll find Ratings and Reviews. Click on a star rating. Scroll down past the highlighted review and click on "Write a Review." You'll make my day.-----------------------In this episode of Insights Unlocked, host Jason Giles sits down with Alastair Simpson, VP of Design at Dropbox, to discuss his non-traditional career journey, scaling design teams, and the evolution of remote work. Alastair shares key insights on fostering a strong design culture, navigating hypergrowth environments, and leveraging AI to enhance UX research.Tune in to learn how Dropbox’s Virtual-First model is redefining collaboration, why outcomes matter more than process adherence, and how AI is reshaping design workflows.What You’ll Learn in This Episode🎨 Alastair’s Unconventional Path to Design Leadership How he transitioned from aspiring professional footballer to UX design leader. The role of consumer psychology in his design approach. How early career experiences—like working in a call center—helped him develop core design skills such as listening, communication, and problem-solving. 🏗️ Scaling Design Teams in High-Growth Companies Lessons from leading design at Atlassian and Dropbox during rapid expansion. Why effectiveness matters more than efficiency when managing creative teams. The importance of regular critique and how Dropbox ensures continuous feedback. 🌍 Virtual-First Work & Remote Collaboration How Dropbox designed and implemented its Virtual-First model (90% remote, 10% in-person). The concept of "core collaboration hours" and why nonlinear workdays boost productivity. The impact of remote work on trust, culture, and cross-functional collaboration. 🤖 AI’s Role in UX and Research How Dropbox is using AI-powered agents to improve access to past research. AI’s role in summarizing usability studies and enhancing design iteration speed. The balance between automation and human judgment in crafting great experiences. Key Takeaways & Quotes💡 “Design is about building strong foundations—color, typography, layout, and interaction design. AI can enhance our workflows, but it doesn’t replace good fundamentals.” – Alastair Simpson💡 “We don’t focus on efficiency for efficiency’s sake. Instead, we prioritize outcomes and impact.”💡 “Virtual work doesn’t mean no in-person connection—it means intentional gatherings that matter.”Resources & Links📌 Connect with Alastair Simpson on LinkedIn📌 Learn more about Dropbox Design: Dropbox.Design📌 Explore UserTesting: UserTesting.com

In this engaging discussion, Melissa Garber, Senior User Experience Researcher at Consumer Reports, delves into the intersection of AI and UX research. She highlights how AI can enhance consumer insights while emphasizing the importance of a human-centric approach. Melissa tackles challenges like data privacy, skepticism in AI adoption, and the evolving nature of consumer journeys. Listeners will learn why UX research should drive AI development and how proactive research shapes AI tools, ultimately empowering consumers in today’s tech-driven landscape.

Andy O’Dower, Twilio’s VP of Product Management, shares insights into transforming customer communication. He discusses how Twilio simplifies complex systems for developers, integrating voice, video, and messaging with ease. The conversation highlights the impact of AI in delivering personalized customer experiences through tools like sentiment analysis and virtual agents. Andy also emphasizes the importance of trust and privacy in AI, advocating for transparency to ensure secure interactions in this evolving landscape.

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4h5CI79-----------------------Rate Insights Unlocked and write a reviewIf you appreciate Insights Unlocked, please give it a rating and a review.Visit Apple Podcasts, pull up the Insights Unlocked show page and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Below the trailers, you'll find Ratings and Reviews. Click on a star rating. Scroll down past the highlighted review and click on "Write a Review." You'll make my day.-----------------------In this special episode, recorded live at The Human Insights Summit in October, Amy Stillman, VP of Design at Cedar, and Logan Hartline, Senior Director of UX at HCA Healthcare, talk with host Lija Hogan from UserTesting about how healthcare leaders use storytelling and AI to improve UX, align stakeholders, and transform patient experiences.The episode focused on innovation and user experience (UX) in healthcare, emphasizing collaboration, insights, and the integration of AI.Key Themes:Collaboration and Success Stories: Amy shared Cedar’s efforts in creating tools to help patients identify Medicaid eligibility, simplifying a typically cumbersome process. The project highlighted the emotional and psychological barriers users face and how digital solutions can foster a more accessible and empathetic experience. Logan discussed a UX project improving emergency department operations. By shadowing staff and observing real-life workflows, the team uncovered critical design insights about the conflicting color codes across different systems, leading to improved coordination. AI and Innovation: Both leaders highlighted AI's role in their organizations. Logan described how predictive analytics are helping anticipate staffing needs in labor and delivery, balancing efficiency with human oversight. Amy discussed leveraging AI in call centers to improve data accuracy and reduce staff workload. By analyzing tone and call content, they enhanced both operational efficiency and patient satisfaction while maintaining sensitivity to user tolerance for AI interactions. The Power of Insights and Storytelling:Both speakers emphasized the importance of qualitative research and storytelling in aligning stakeholders and driving change. Using patient narratives and highlight reels, they built urgency and alignment among decision-makers, demonstrating the tangible impact of UX insights.Advice for UX Practitioners:Logan advised starting small with curiosity-driven research and democratizing UX practices within teams. Amy stressed the importance of aligning UX goals with measurable metrics that resonate with stakeholders, particularly in healthcare’s data-driven environment.

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/40y13N5-----------------------Rate Insights Unlocked and write a reviewIf you appreciate Insights Unlocked, please give it a rating and a review.Visit Apple Podcasts, pull up the Insights Unlocked show page and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Below the trailers, you'll find Ratings and Reviews. Click on a star rating. Scroll down past the highlighted review and click on "Write a Review." You'll make my day.-----------------------In this special episode, recorded live from THiS 2024, we explore the biggest challenges women face in today’s workplace and the actionable steps needed to drive change. Our panel of inspiring women leaders dives into the persistent gender pay gap, the lack of leadership representation, the importance of mentorship and sponsorship, and achieving a sustainable work-family balance.From tips on negotiating salaries to navigating career growth with intentionality, this conversation offers practical advice and powerful insights for women looking to thrive in tech—and for organizations striving to create more equitable workplaces.Whether you're a leader, mentor, or someone starting your career, this episode provides valuable takeaways to help you advocate for yourself, build meaningful connections, and craft the career you want.Panelists included: Stacy Sherman, author and advisor, Doing CX Right Alita Joyce, UX Researcher at Google Cloud  Monique Lalonde, Director, Product Design at REI Lija Hogan, Principal, Experience Research Strategy at UserTesting What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to address the gender pay gap with practical negotiation strategies and pay equity policies. Why leadership representation matters and how to position yourself for growth. The critical role of mentorship and how to build relationships that empower your career. How to balance career and family with the right support systems and mindset. The power of asking for opportunities, setting goals, and creating your own communities for support. Key Topics DiscussedGender Pay Gap Women earn 84% of what men earn—how can we close this gap? Negotiation tips and strategies for pay equity. Leadership Representation How to find companies that prioritize women in leadership roles. Practical advice for setting and communicating leadership goals. Mentorship and Sponsorship The difference between mentors and sponsors—and why both matter. Proactive steps to find mentors and build supportive professional networks. Work-Family Balance Why it’s not about choosing “either-or”—you can thrive in both work and family life. Insights into planning and creating a sustainable support system.

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4gFlEVz-----------------------Rate Insights Unlocked and write a reviewIf you appreciate Insights Unlocked, please give it a rating and a review.Visit Apple Podcasts, pull up the Insights Unlocked show page and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Below the trailers, you'll find Ratings and Reviews. Click on a star rating. Scroll down past the highlighted review and click on "Write a Review." You'll make my day.-----------------------Episode Summary:In this episode of Insights Unlocked, host Nathan Isaacs chats with Kuldeep Kelkar, partner at UXReactor, seasoned UX researcher, and author of Strengthen Your User Research Superpowers. Kuldeep shares his journey through 25+ years in user research, his experiences shaping the industry, and how his new book is designed to empower researchers to amplify their influence within organizations.What You'll Learn in This Episode: The evolution of user research from a niche function to a critical part of product development. Key challenges faced by UX researchers, including gaining influence, communicating value, and driving business impact. How Kuldeep’s book provides practical, actionable skills in the form of "superpowers" to help researchers navigate these challenges. Why addressing sample size questions can be an opportunity to educate and build credibility. Highlights: Kuldeep’s Career Journey: From being one of the first researchers at PayPal in 2004 to his leadership role at UX Reactor. About the Book: Kuldeep’s book is structured like a deck of 52 cards, each focused on strengthening specific "superpowers" researchers need to succeed. Favorite Superpower: Learn why "sample size" is a topic Kuldeep now approaches with confidence and excitement. AI in UX Research: Insights into how AI tools like ChatGPT are being integrated into research and design processes, and the current limitations of AI-driven efficiencies. Industry Trends: Discover how budget constraints and resource cuts are influencing organizations’ approaches to UX and the growing demand for outsourced expertise. Customer Feedback in Action: A surprising story of how Kuldeep’s advice helped a client rethink usability testing timelines. Rapid-Fire Fun:Kuldeep shares his favorite word ("research"), a dream career (astrophysicist), and what role he’d take in a restaurant (chef—despite not cooking!).Memorable Quote:"The biggest challenge for researchers isn’t conducting research—it’s gaining influence and driving outcomes within their organizations." – Kuldeep Kelkar

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4gFlEVz-----------------------Rate Insights Unlocked and write a reviewIf you appreciate Insights Unlocked, please give it a rating and a review.Visit Apple Podcasts, pull up the Insights Unlocked show page and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Below the trailers, you'll find Ratings and Reviews. Click on a star rating. Scroll down past the highlighted review and click on "Write a Review." You'll make my day.-----------------------In this episode, Michael Dominic, Head of AI at UserTesting, and Mike Mace, a seasoned tech industry veteran, delve into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the workplace. From the evolution of AI to strategies for effective implementation, they explore how organizations can harness this powerful technology to drive productivity, innovation, and competitive advantage.Key Takeaways:The Two Waves of AI Hype: Explore the rise and fall of conversational AI tools during the first hype cycle (2015–2019). Learn how OpenAI's ChatGPT launched the second wave of rapid adoption in 2022. AI Adoption at a Glance: 66% of knowledge workers globally use generative AI tools like ChatGPT, making this the fastest adoption of a major tech product in history. Despite high adoption rates, only 20% of users maximize AI's potential as a daily productivity tool. Challenges in AI Integration: A significant gap in training leaves most users underutilizing AI. Companies must implement deliberate training and governance to reap the full benefits. Humanizing AI Interactions: Discover how users judge AI chatbots like they would human interactions—emphasizing tone, phrasing, and emotional resonance. Understand the importance of aligning AI interactions with brand voice and values. Strategies for Success: Choose the right AI model for your business needs. Set clear data governance policies to ensure security and compliance. Establish training programs to help employees integrate AI into their workflows effectively. Treat AI as a partner in strategy, not just a task-oriented tool. Actionable Insights: For Leaders: Empower your teams with AI training and clear guidelines to unlock its full productivity potential. For Product Teams: Test AI features for usability and emotional resonance to ensure they align with user expectations and your brand identity. For Organizations: View AI as an opportunity for competitive differentiation, not just a security challenge.

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/408ltw2-----------------------Rate Insights Unlocked and write a reviewIf you appreciate Insights Unlocked, please give it a rating and a review.Visit Apple Podcasts, pull up the Insights Unlocked show page and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Below the trailers, you'll find Ratings and Reviews. Click on a star rating. Scroll down past the highlighted review and click on "Write a Review." You'll make my day.-----------------------In this episode of Insights Unlocked, host Nathan Isaacs talks with Mike McDowell, Senior Solutions Consultant at UserTesting, about his role, his new book Demotainment: The Art of Delivering Demos That Engage, Inspire, and Drive Results, and his approach to crafting compelling product demonstrations.Key Highlights:Role at UserTesting:Mike describes his role as a platform expert, guiding clients on effectively utilizing UserTesting’s tools. He supports sales processes and helps teams maximize value by aligning the platform with their business goals​.The Concept of Demotainment:Mike explains how his background in theater inspired him to transform product demonstrations into performances that captivate audiences. His philosophy emphasizes bringing energy, personalizing demos, and engaging customers​.Writing the Book:The book stemmed from a popular presentation Mike gave at Demo Fest. Encouraged by the reception, he expanded his ideas into a LinkedIn article and eventually a book. He shares the iterative writing process, from drafting chapters based on his presentation to weaving in anecdotes and pop culture references to make the book lively and relatable​.Impact on Sales Teams:The book aims to help sales professionals make their demonstrations more personalized and engaging, ultimately boosting success rates. Mike offers strategies for tailoring demos even with limited preparation​.Behind-the-Scenes of Writing:Mike talks about the discipline and creativity required to write a book while managing a busy schedule. He reveals how revisiting his material and getting reader feedback improved both his writing and professional approach to demos​.

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/3VNnj2G-----------------------Rate Insights Unlocked and write a reviewIf you appreciate Insights Unlocked, please give it a rating and a review.Visit Apple Podcasts, pull up the Insights Unlocked show page and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Below the trailers, you'll find Ratings and Reviews. Click on a star rating. Scroll down past the highlighted review and click on "Write a Review." You'll make my day.-----------------------In this episode of Insights Unlocked, host Kerry Johnstone welcomes Veronica Bogdacenco, Channel and Optimization Manager at Tide, a leading UK-based fintech company. Veronica shares her expertise in blending marketing insights with UX strategies to create seamless and effective user experiences. She delves into the challenges of maintaining agility in a fast-growing company, creative approaches to user testing, and how AI is reshaping UX research.From her innovative weekend testing methods to leveraging in-app notifications for user feedback, Veronica provides actionable tips for product teams navigating growth and tight deadlines. She also highlights the importance of quick, iterative research to de-risk decisions and ensure clarity in regulated industries like finance. Whether you're a UX researcher, product manager, or designer, this episode is packed with practical advice for building user-centric products efficiently.What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Blending Marketing and UX: How to use qualitative and quantitative data for deeper customer insights. Maintaining Agility in a Growing Organization: Veronica’s methods for decentralizing UX research and streamlining processes. Innovative Testing Techniques: The power of weekend tests, external testers, and in-app notifications to gather feedback without disrupting workflows. AI in UX Research: How AI can enhance UX processes by automating tasks like feedback summaries and detecting emotional responses. Working in Regulated Industries: Key considerations for ensuring clarity and transparency in customer-facing designs. Scaling UX Practices: Strategies to embed UX testing into workflows as teams and product portfolios expand.