The User Research Strategist

From intake order-taker to the person who shapes the decision

Weekly tactics and workflows helping user researchers become more strategic and use AI, without trading away the depth or rigor of the craft

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Dear reader,

I’ve always wanted to be a boss b*tch and change the trajectory of a team, a business, or a product. I got into user research to change people’s lives for the better and, at first, I believed the only way to do that was to change customer’s lives. However, I quickly realized there was more to it. I screamed and shouted about user’s needs until I was blue in the face (really!), but became disappointed when no one seemed to care, to the point where I almost rage-quit tech.

I eventually understood that my work, especially if I wanted to be strategic, was beyond the user. I had to help my colleagues with what they cared about, help the business achieve it’s goals, in order to unlock the work we could do for users. This switch helped me get into the highly strategic work I do today. This newsletter was born out of sharing that work with you, of wrangling stakeholders, screaming over tough recruitment, huge amounts of frustration over an ignored report, disappointment over being passed on a promotion. I’m here to talk through that to you and to, first, help you through those struggles and, second, ensure you never feel alone in them. Because you aren’t alone.

If that sounds like your kind of reading, pour a cup of tea (or, hell, wine), and enjoy.

P.S.

Pull up your chair to that seat at the table