From Finders to Builders - A UXR Podcast

Today we explore the journeys of individuals transitioning from academia to UX research, featuring insights from Elisabeth Morales Arch of Elastic and Elizabeth Morin-Lessard. We talk about leveraging academic skills in the tech industry, overcoming unexpected challenges, and understanding industry-specific dynamics. Elizabeth reflects on the differences between academic and industry research, emphasizing the critical importance of analytical skills, time management, and stakeholder communication. If you're in academia and considering a career shift into tech, this episode is for you! (00:00) Welcome (00:29) Elizabeth's Background and Transition to UX (03:23) Challenges and Fears of Transitioning (05:02) Job Search and Skill Application (08:52) Unexpected Aspects of UX Research (11:07) First Job Experience in UX (13:15) Academic Research vs. Business Research (14:54) Adapting to a Faster Pace (16:02) Reflecting on the Transition (17:43) Encouraging Academia to Industry Transitions (19:27) Preparing for a UX Research Role (20:57) Advice for Aspiring UX Researchers (24:17) Leveraging Academic Work in Industry (25:50) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Hungry for more? Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Finders to Builders [https://finderstobuilders.com/] or follow me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdelmat/] Follow Elizabeth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠ [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/emorinlessard/ ] or follow her on Medium [https://medium.com/@elizabethml]

Welcome back after the summer break! This time, we host Nikki Anderson, a seasoned user researcher with over a decade of experience. Nikki discusses her diverse roles in the field, from in-house researcher to coach, and delves into her recent work, including her book 'Impact'. We cover essential topics such as building effective research practices, stakeholder management, and navigating user research operations. Nikki shares valuable tips for solo researchers, including the importance of engaging with stakeholders, understanding organizational context, and tracking your impact. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced researcher, Nikki offers practical advice to help advance your career and improve your research processes. (00:00) Intro (00:28) Nikki Anderson's Background and Career (02:00) Writing the Book 'Impact' (03:32) Importance of Research Practices (05:23) Engaging with Stakeholders (08:24) Research Operations Essentials (13:18) Assessing UX Maturity (18:30) Challenges for First Researchers (25:36) Top Tips for Solo Researchers (29:37) Conclusion Hungry for more? Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Finders to Builders newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://finderstobuilders.com/] or follow me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdelmat/] Follow Nikki ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkianderson-ux/]⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, take a look at her website User Research Academy [https://www.userresearchacademy.com/] or check out her latest book "Impact" [https://www.userresearchacademy.com/impact].

In this episode of 'From Finders to Builders', we welcome Pedro Vargas to discuss the significance and intricacies of ResearchOps. Pedro shares insights from his experience as a researcher starting in 2018, the importance of research jobs, and common misconceptions. The conversation also covers practical advice for first-time researchers, such as starting with simple tools and focusing on efficiency. We dive into areas like participant management, repositories, and the indispensable value of treating internal tools as products. Tune in to uncover valuable tips for anyone involved in research operations and learn how to effectively implement ResearchOps in various organizational contexts. (00:00) Introduction (01:50) Pedro's Journey into UX Research (04:27) The Importance of Research Ops (09:38) Getting Started with Research Ops (19:10) Common Misconceptions about Research Ops (22:45) Final Thoughts and Farewell Hungry for more? Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠From Finders to Builders newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://finderstobuilders.com/] or follow me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdelmat/] Follow Pedro ⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlindsullivan] ⁠⁠⁠or check out Research Pro [https://www.researchpro.com.br/].

Today we host Roberta Dombrowski, a seasoned research partner at Maze and a leadership coach at Learn Mindfully. Roberta shares her insights on what it means to lead in UX research, emphasizing that leadership can come from any role, not just those with managerial titles. She discusses the essential traits and skills needed for effective leadership, such as communication, conflict resolution, and visionary thinking, along with the common challenges researchers face. We also touch on topics like imposter syndrome, the importance of onboarding, and actionable tips for solo researchers or teams of one. (00:00) Introduction (00:16) Roberta's Background and Experience (01:04) Leadership in UX Research (02:37) Challenges of Leading Without a Title (07:59) Traits and Skills for Effective Leadership (11:26) Scaling the Team and Transitioning to Leadership (19:16) Imposter Syndrome in Leadership (23:23) First 30, 60, 90 Days as a Researcher (27:23) Final Tips and Closing Remarks Hungry for more? Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Finders to Builders newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://finderstobuilders.com/] or follow me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdelmat/] Follow Roberta ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertadombrowski/] or check out ⁠Learn Mindfully⁠ [https://learnmindfully.co/]. Check out some of Roberta's articles to dig deeper into what we discussed in this episode: * Embracing onlyness: ⁠https://learnmindfully.co/2024/07/05/embracing-onlyness/⁠ [https://learnmindfully.co/2024/07/05/embracing-onlyness/] * Getting to the heart of influence: ⁠https://learnmindfully.co/2023/10/10/getting-to-the-heart-of-influence/⁠ [https://learnmindfully.co/2023/10/10/getting-to-the-heart-of-influence/]

In this episode, we discuss essential steps for new researchers joining a company. How to prepare during the interview process, how to better understand company dynamics in the first 30-60 days, and how to set yourself up for success through identifying key stakeholders and current research practices. We talk about the importance of understanding the 'who, how, and where', the team's operational setup, and how to approach this with a playmaker mindset to elevate the overall research culture within the company. (00:00) Introduction to the First Researcher Role (00:26) Preparing During the Interview Process (02:22) Starting the Job: Onboarding Essentials (04:04) Understanding the Team and Their Roles (06:42) Exploring Existing Research Practices (08:54) Identifying Current and Future Research Opportunities (12:10) Operational Setup and Long-Term Planning (15:26) Conclusion and Community Engagement Hungry for more? Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠From Finders to Builders newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://finderstobuilders.com/] or follow me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdelmat/]