Finders to Builders - A UX Research Show

Kate shares her journey of writing the book, how it evolved with the changes in the industry from 2020 to 2022, and the core ideas around scaling research. She discusses the importance of operations beyond just headcount, how to embed value into the organisation, and the necessity of actionable strategies. Key takeaways include the concept of research teams as both finders and builders, systems th...

This time we explore the infamous "D" word that divides opinion in the research world. Tina and Kathleen share their extensive experience in research, from socializing research within organizations to demystifying the process of democratization. We explore the challenges and benefits of involving non-researchers in the research process, the importance of organizational readiness, and the...

Hey everyone, Julian here. In this episode, I dive into the rapidly changing world of AI. Now, I’ll be the first to admit—I’m not an AI expert. But like many of you, I’m trying to make sense of the hype, the reality, and what it all means, especially for researchers. Throughout the episode, I share my thoughts on why it’s important to stay curious but also skeptical. 01:29 – Introduction 02:08 – W...

Join me in this episode as I sit down with two amazing guests, Nikki and Chris, to dive into the world of content creation. Nikki is a user researcher and founder with a passion for horror fiction, while Chris runs the creator businesses UX Playbook and Backlog. We explore their journeys, the importance of creating content, overcoming challenges, and tips for getting started. From the pitfalls of...

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 a...

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 s...

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, co...

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 misalignmen...

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...

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. 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, emp...

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 resea...

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 efficien...

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...

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 s...

Today we're joined by Caitlin Sullivan, a consultant who has focused on startups and scale-ups since 2018. Caitlin shares her passion for product-market fit research and outlines the challenges and approaches to managing research in early-stage companies, emphasizing the importance of moving fast and democratizing research within the team. Caitlin also delves into the impact of AI on user research...

In this episode of 'From Founders to Builders,' we delve into the intricate world of product discovery, a framework widely embraced in the product space. We analyse its premise, the importance of operational efficiency, and the pitfalls of a wrong execution. How do researchers come into play? How can we get involved? Find out this and more on this episode. (00:00) Introduction (01:15) Defining Pro...

Enter Yao Adantor, a seasoned UX researcher and the founder of Research Bookmark. Yao shares his journey in UX, offering key insights on the evolution and future directions of UX research. We delve into the importance of building bridges between UX and business stakeholders, and strategies for aspiring researchers. Additionally, learn about the upcoming UXConf 2024 and how attending could benefit...

Workshops can change your game. It can help you align teams, move projects forward and take your insights that extra mile into the product. In this episode, I explore how workshop facilitation changed my career and why everybody should learn this skill. (00:00) Introduction to Workshop Facilitation (01:12) The Essence and Impact of Facilitation (02:12) A Personal Journey into Facilitation (08:52)...

In this talk with Odette Jansen, we cover topics such as: - Being the first UXR in a company - Being a neurodivergent leader - Neurodivergence in the workplace - Conducting research and neurodivergence - Tips for new UXRs Timestamps (00:00) Welcome to the Show: Introducing Odette Janssen (00:31) Odette's Journey in UX Research (02:07) Challenges of Being the First UX Researcher (04:44) Transitioni...

In this episode, we discuss repositories: - Why are repositories useful? - What are the common misconceptions? - 5Cs to build a repository Timestamps: (00:00) Welcome to the Research Repository Deep Dive (00:11) The Buzz Around Research Repositories (00:45) Why Repositories Matter and Common Misconceptions (04:14) Introducing the 5Cs Framework for Building a Repository (05:15) Deep Dive into the 5...

In this talk with the always amazing Ruby Pryor, we cover topics such as: - UXR and strategy - Research and AI - Continuous Discovery Timestamps (00:00) Welcome to the Show: Introducing Ruby (00:39) Meet Ruby: A Journey from Psychology to UX Research (01:47) The Unplanned Path to UX Research (02:20) Discovering UX Research in Singapore (03:08) The Evolution of a UX Researcher (05:49) The Importanc...

In this first episode, I go over the reasons why I decided to start this podcast: - What's the future of UXR? - What's so special about first UXRs? Timestamps (00:00) Welcome to From Founders to Builders (00:18) Introducing the Show's Purpose and Audience (00:52) Episode Formats and Expectations (02:10) Personal Background and Motivation (04:05) The Future of UX Research: Challenges and Opportunit...