Insights Unlocked

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4dDbMuy

Lisa shares insights from her 20+ years in scenario planning and design, reflecting on the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it highlighted the critical need for imagination, empathy, and long-term thinking in leadership. She discusses the value of futures thinking in education and business, emphasizing how anticipatory leadership, scenario planning, and rapid prototyping can help organizations build resilience and stay ahead of disruption.

Whether you're leading a team, crafting customer experiences, or shaping strategic decisions, this episode will inspire you to stretch your thinking, foster creativity, and embrace your role as a designer of the future.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why the pandemic marked a turning point in how leaders perceive uncertainty

How imagination is an underdeveloped but essential leadership skill

Practical tools like futures wheels and scenario planning to anticipate change

The role of design and prototyping in shaping strategic foresight

How to nurture a culture that values long-term thinking and experimentation

Why attention is the new currency in the battle for meaningful innovation

Resources & Links:

Lisa Kay Solomon on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakaysolomon/

Jason Giles on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaygiles/

Leading like a Futurist course on LinkedIn Learning https://www.linkedin.com/learning/leading-like-a-futurist/you-are-a-futurist

Harvard Business Review: 5 Pandemic-Era Lessons on Leading Through Change https://hbr.org/2025/03/5-pandemic-era-lessons-on-leading-through-drastic-change?ab=HP-hero-latest-1

Stanford d.school profile: https://dschool.stanford.edu/directory/lisa-kay-solomon

Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4370dIB

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Got a question? Want to recommend a guest? Or do you want to tell me how the show can be better? 

Send me a voice message via email at [email protected]

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In this episode of Insights Unlocked, we’re joined by Alita Kendrick, a UX researcher at Google leading accessibility research for the Google Cloud Platform and exploring new market opportunities. Alita discusses how generative AI is revolutionizing UX workflows—from streamlining planning docs to accelerating qualitative data analysis.

Host Michael Domanic and Alita dive into how tools like Gemini, ChatGPT, and UserTesting’s AI features are cutting research time in half and giving researchers back the space to focus on strategy, storytelling, and democratizing insights across organizations. Alita also shares real-world use cases, common pitfalls to avoid when starting with AI, and how AI can even help uncover your own unconscious biases.

Whether you’re a seasoned UX researcher or just starting to integrate AI into your work, this episode is packed with practical advice, inspiration, and a look at what the future holds for AI-powered research.

Key topics discussed:

How Alita uses AI throughout the research lifecycle—from planning to analysis

Time savings and operational efficiencies achieved through AI tools

Creative tools like NotebookLM, Claude, and Midjourney in UX workflows

How to prompt AI effectively and avoid common early mistakes

Balancing AI outputs with critical thinking and business context

The role of AI in democratizing research and surfacing legacy insights

Personal reflections on AI adoption, experimentation, and optimism for its future

Resources & Links:

Alita on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alita-kendrick/)

Michael on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldomanic/)

Alita’s author site on NNG (https://www.nngroup.com/people/alita-kendrick/)

Alita’s Efficient UX course on NNG (https://www.nngroup.com/courses/efficient-ux/)

Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/3S1wxq4

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Got a question? Want to recommend a guest? Or do you want to tell me how the show can be better? 

Send me a voice message via email at [email protected]

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In this episode of Insights Unlocked, we sit down with Jessica Schultz, senior manager of experience research at BECU, to explore how one of the largest credit unions in the U.S. built a member research panel that delivers powerful insights—quickly and securely.

Jessica shares her unique career journey from front-line teller to UX research leader and walks us through the end-to-end process of launching BECU’s custom member panel. She breaks down the strategic decisions behind the panel’s creation, including navigating legal and security requirements, coordinating with marketing teams, and aligning with product and design stakeholders.

We also dive into:

The pivotal moment that led Jessica to pursue UX research

Why BECU chose to create its own panel over traditional recruiting methods

Lessons learned in onboarding and coaching panel participants

How the panel supports a culture of member obsession at BECU

Tips for keeping participants engaged—and studies filled fast

Key metrics used to evaluate panel success

Jessica also offers advice for other organizations thinking about building their own custom panels, from setting realistic expectations to creating inclusive and positive participant experiences.

Resources & Links:

Connect with Jessica Schultz on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-schultz-05187a48/)

BECU (https://www.becu.org/)

Connect with Becky Wright on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-w-795b29124/)

Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4d2nCOx

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Got a question? Want to recommend a guest? Or do you want to tell me how the show can be better? 

Send me a voice message via email at [email protected]

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In this episode, UserTesting’s Lija Hogan sits down with Jim Kalbach, Chief Evangelist at Mural and author of The Jobs to Be Done Playbook, to discuss how the “Jobs to Be Done” framework can transform UX and business strategy in today’s growth-focused world. Jim unpacks how this mindset helps teams align around real customer needs and bridge the gap between design and business outcomes. He also shares insights on leveraging AI as a tool to enhance—not replace—human-centered research.

Jim reflects on his career journey, his passion for experience mapping, and how reframing UX from a cost-saving function to a growth driver can earn teams greater influence in their organizations. Plus, he explains why empathy shouldn't stop at the customer—UX teams need to understand their business stakeholders just as deeply.

Key takeaways:

Resources & Links:

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/3YTrCuW

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Got a question? Want to recommend a guest? Or do you want to tell me how the show can be better? 

Send me a voice message via email at [email protected]

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In this episode of Insights Unlocked, UserTesting CMO Johann Wrede chats with Udi Ledergor, former CMO and current Chief Evangelist at Gong, and author of Courageous Marketing. Udi shares why bold, differentiated marketing beats "best practices" every time—and how marketers can unlock extraordinary results by giving themselves permission to stand out.

Drawing from his own nontraditional career path from magician and musician to marketing leader, Udi explains why simply following industry norms creates a "sea of sameness." He unpacks strategies for building trust with sales, the critical importance of aligning marketing metrics to real business outcomes, and how to thoughtfully invest in brand marketing—even when budgets are tight.

Whether you're just starting out or leading a large marketing team, this episode offers candid, actionable advice for becoming a more courageous marketer, building iconic brands, and driving measurable impact.

Why following marketing "best practices" leads to ordinary results

How courageous marketing stands out and drives growth

Practical tips for building trust and alignment between marketing and sales

How to measure brand investments creatively when ROI isn’t immediate

Smart ways to manage marketing experiments with limited budgets

Career advice for marketers at every stage—from entry-level to CMO

Resources & Links:

Connect with Udi on LinkedIn

Udi’s new book: Courageous Marketing

Udi’s website

Gong

Connect with Johann Wrede on LinkedIn

Learn more about Insights Unlocked: usertesting.com/podcast

What you'll learn:

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4400s9a

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Got a question? Want to recommend a guest? Or do you want to tell me how the show can be better? 

Send me a voice message via email at [email protected]

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In this episode of Insights Unlocked, Jason Giles, VP of Design at UserTesting, chats with Andrew Hogan, Head of Insights at Figma, about the evolving role of design in the AI era. Fresh off the release of Figma’s 2025 AI Report, Andrew shares key takeaways from a survey of 2,500 designers and developers using AI in product development.

The conversation covers how teams are shifting from experimentation to evaluating AI’s real-world impact, why design is more crucial than ever for AI-powered products, and how successful teams are navigating the contradictions of rapid innovation. They also dive into the rise of agentic AI, the ongoing productivity vs. quality debate, and why tight design-dev collaboration is becoming non-negotiable.

Whether you're building the next-gen user experience or exploring how AI fits into your workflow, this episode is packed with insights on making AI work for your team and your users.

What you’ll learn:

Resources & Links:

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4jHDYyu

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Got a question? Want to recommend a guest? Or do you want to tell me how the show can be better? 

Send me a voice message via email at [email protected]

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PROMO CODE for this episode with Section's Greg Shove: USERTESTING30

The code is good for Section courses and memberships.

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In this episode of Insights Unlocked, Michael Domanic, Head of AI at UserTesting, sits down with Greg Shove, CEO of Section, to unpack what it truly means for businesses to embrace AI transformation. Greg shares his personal “aha” moment with generative AI, how it led him to pivot Section into an AI-centric business school, and why every executive should view AI as a strategic thought partner—not just a tool for marketers and engineers.

From experimenting with AI as a boardroom simulator to identifying organizational resistance, Greg gets real about what’s holding companies back from adopting AI effectively. He also offers practical advice for leaders navigating internal fears, outlines how businesses can build impactful AI pilots, and explains why creativity and experimentation are critical to unlocking AI’s full potential.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Resources & Links:

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4l9JDil

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Got a question? Want to recommend a guest? Or do you want to tell me how the show can be better? 

Send me a voice message via email at [email protected]

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In this Insights Unlocked episode, UserTesting’s Jason Giles sits down with Dane Howard, Vice President of Product Design at G2, for a powerful conversation on the intersection of storytelling, design leadership, and purposeful innovation. With a career that spans design leadership at Amazon, eBay, and Microsoft, Dane brings a wealth of experience—and a passion for creating human-centered experiences.

Dane discusses how G2’s visual customer journey map became a transformative internal tool, using storytelling metaphors like cities and theme parks to create clarity, alignment, and excitement across the organization. He also opens up about his personal “three-legged stool” approach to balancing full-time work, advocacy, and creative passion projects.

Whether you're a product leader, UX professional, or design enthusiast, this episode offers actionable insights into how to keep your work rooted in purpose and aligned with customer needs—while also making space for your own growth and creativity.

Resources & Links:

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4l9JDil

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Rate Insights Unlocked and write a review

If 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.

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In this episode of Insights Unlocked, we’re joined by Regina DeMars, Director of Content Marketing and Social Media Strategy at First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO). With over 167 years of history, FNBO is one of the largest privately held banks in the U.S.—but that doesn’t stop them from thinking innovatively about customer engagement in the digital age.

Regina shares how her team is transforming traditional banking touchpoints into rich, multi-channel experiences that prioritize customer trust, education, and community. From using employee storytelling to humanize financial topics, to tailoring content for platform-specific audiences, FNBO’s approach is as strategic as it is personal.

You’ll hear how Regina and her team:

Whether you’re in financial services or not, this episode is packed with practical ideas on how to scale content without losing your brand’s human touch.

Guest: Regina DeMars, Director of Content Marketing & Social Media Strategy, FNBO

Host: Cornelia Klimek, Group Product Manager, UserTesting

Producer: Nathan Isaacs, Senior Manager, Content Production, UserTesting

Resources & Links:

Episode web page: https://tinyurl.com/2b3dz2z8

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Rate Insights Unlocked and write a review

If 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.

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In this episode of Insights Unlocked, we explore the evolving landscape of omnichannel strategies with Kate MacCabe, founder of Flywheel Strategy. With nearly two decades of experience in digital strategy and product management, Kate shares her insights on bridging internal silos, leveraging customer insights, and designing omnichannel experiences that truly resonate.

From the early days of DTC growth to today’s complex, multi-touchpoint customer journeys, Kate explains why omnichannel is no longer optional—it’s essential. She highlights a standout example from Anthropologie, demonstrating how brands can create a unified customer experience across digital and physical spaces. Whether you’re a marketing leader, UX strategist, or product manager, this episode is packed with actionable advice on aligning teams, integrating user feedback, and building a future-proof omnichannel strategy.

✅ Omnichannel vs. Multichannel: Many brands think they’re omnichannel, but they’re really just multichannel. Kate breaks down the difference and how to shift toward true integration.

✅ Anthropologie’s Success Story: Learn how this brand seamlessly blended physical and digital experiences to create a memorable, data-driven customer journey.

✅ User Feedback is the Secret Weapon: Discover how continuous user testing—before, during, and after a launch—helps brands fine-tune their strategies and avoid costly mistakes.

✅ Aligning Teams for Success: Cross-functional collaboration is critical. Kate shares tips on breaking down silos between marketing, product, and development teams.

✅ Emerging Tech & Omnichannel: Instead of chasing the latest tech trends, Kate advises businesses to define their strategic goals first—then leverage AI, AR, and other innovations to enhance the customer experience.

💬 "Omnichannel isn’t just about being everywhere; it’s about creating seamless bridges between every touchpoint a customer interacts with." – Kate MacCabe

💬 "Companies that truly listen to their users—through qualitative and quantitative insights—are the ones that thrive in today’s competitive landscape." – Kate MacCabe

🔗 Learn more about Flywheel Strategy

🔗 Connect with Kate MacCabe on LinkedIn

🔗 Explore UserTesting for customer insights for marketers