Finders to Builders - A UX Research Show

In this episode, we discuss why the traditional 'big reveal' in research presentations is often ineffective and detrimental to the research process. Instead, I advocate for a 'building in public' approach, where insights and updates are shared regularly with the team.

This method ensures alignment, reduces misunderstandings, and increases the likelihood that your insights will be acted upon. I also share practical tips on how to keep stakeholders engaged throughout the research process.

(01:43) Welcome and Personal Anecdote

(02:20) The Big Reveal: Why It's Harmful

(06:30) Alternatives to the Big Reveal

(09:36) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of Refunders to Builders, I sit down with two incredible guests, Meltem and Marvin, who are seasoned UX career coaches.

We dive deep into the challenges faced by UX professionals, from feeling stuck in well-paid jobs to navigating career transitions and deciding on the next steps.

We discuss the importance of taking time to learn, understanding one's unique strengths, the role of soft skills, and networking.

Whether you're just starting in UX, considering a shift, or wondering how to stand out in the current job market, this conversation offers valuable insights and practical advice.

Tune in to understand how to align your career goals with what truly motivates you and how to approach career development in a meaningful and impactful way.

(01:57) Meet Our Guests: Meltem and Marvin

(02:48) Understanding Career Stagnation

(06:46) Advice for Career Transitioners

(09:12) Growing in Your UX Career

(13:19) Finding Direction When Feeling Lost

(17:00) Considering a Step Back from Management

(20:45) The Importance of Soft Skills

(24:52) Navigating the Current UX Job Market

(29:36) The Power of Networking

(33:38) Conclusion and Farewell

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You can find Meltem on LinkedIn or Substack And you can find Marvin on LinkedIn

In this episode, I discuss how to profile your users for participant recruitment in user research.

By creating a detailed differentiation between your users, you'll learn how to effectively contact and recruit them for your studies.

Using simple tools, I demonstrate a structured method you can use when you arrive as the company's first researcher to categorize and assess your user base, considering factors like response time, recruitment costs, and user roles.(01:17) Intro(02:01) Overview of User Profiling for Recruitment(02:59) Creating a User Differentiation Table(04:35) Detailed Breakdown of User Categories(07:25) Recruitment Strategies and Considerations(11:29) Conclusion and Additional Resources

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In this episode, we explore effective stakeholder management strategies for user researchers with Jen Blatz and Amanda Gelb.

We explore the importance of understanding decision-makers' priorities, leveraging social listening, and aligning research objectives from the outset.

Amanda and Jen share their experiences and methodologies, including stakeholder mapping, co-creation, navigating misalignments, and proving research value.

This episode is packed with practical advice for first or solo researchers on prioritization, building relationships, and creating scalable frameworks to demonstrate research impact.(01:46) Intro(03:32) Amanda Gelb's Background and Current Endeavors(04:38) Discussion on Stakeholder Management(05:13) Common Challenges in Managing Stakeholder Expectations(06:59) The Role of Intake Process in Stakeholder Management(09:37) Mapping and Identifying Stakeholders(15:59) Involving Stakeholders Throughout the Research Process(21:58) Balancing Research Involvement(23:13) Building Relationships with Stakeholders(25:52) Handling Executive Requests(29:17) Effective Communication with Developers(32:20) Defending Research Decisions(38:03) Proving the Value of Research(40:27) Key Tips for Solo Researchers(44:22) Conclusion and Farewell

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You can find our guests on:

Jen Blatz's LinkedIn or her YouTube Channel BlatzChatz

Amanda's LinkedIn or her fabulous Maven course

Hello and welcome to Season 2 of From Finders to Builders!

There is a lot of new stuff coming up this season! We will have dual guest interviews, in-depth one-on-one conversations, and, of course, plenty of solo episodes like this one!

This 2025 there's a lot of fearmongering out there. Loads of people writing and claiming "UXR is dead", "AI will eat us alive", "The industry is...." and things of the sort.

Let's not dive into the negative and keep pushing forward. You've got this!

Let's kick start this Season 2 with some positivity!

(00:41) Exciting Plans for 2025

(01:17) New Interview Formats

(01:49) Adopting a Positive Mindset Despite Fear

(05:43) On Current Challenges

(07:58) Final Thoughts

Stay tuned! Subscribe to theFrom Finders to Builders Newsletter.

Thank you for tuning in for Season 1 and sorry I could not record the 5 episodes I had planned.

However... this lead me to confirm Season 2!

See you soon in Feburary 2025!

Subscribe to our newsletter at finderstobuilders.com and stay up to date.

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.

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.

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or follow me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Nikki ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, take a look at her website User Research Academy or check out her latest book "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.

Hungry for more?

Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠From Finders to Builders newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

or follow me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Pedro ⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠or check out Research Pro.

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.

Hungry for more?

Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Finders to Builders newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

or follow me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Roberta ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ or check out ⁠Learn Mindfully⁠.

Check out some of Roberta's articles to dig deeper into what we discussed in this episode: