Vandana K. UX Researcher
Summary
- Experienced UX Researcher with 5 years in mixed-methods research, data science, and software engineering. Leverages a technical background to advocate for user needs in innovative B2C products.
- Expertise in leading end-to-end user research practices, with a proven track record in SaaS product development for diverse sectors, including hosting, finance, and social impact.
- Spearheaded quantitative and qualitative research, including surveys, user interviews, and A/B testing, leading to data-driven decision-making and product improvements.
- Successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and designers, to integrate user insights into product roadmaps, resulting in enhanced customer-centric features and strategic product offerings.
- Proficient in using research tools and technologies such as Looker, Pendo, SUPR-Q evaluation, and natural language processing to conduct comprehensive user research and analysis.
- Experienced in implementing design thinking methodologies and conducting ideation workshops to drive innovation in product development.
- Native English.
Work Experience
Senior UX Researcher - WP Engine
Sep 2022 - May 2024
Summary: Led end-to-end user research practice for SaaS hosting product, resulting in substantial revenue growth and user base increase.
Responsibilities:
- Established and led end-to-end user research practice for SaaS hosting products for Next.js WordPress developers through generative research studies, enabling a 30% growth in annual recurring revenue.
- Collaborated with product managers, developers, go-to-market, and designers, to translate complex product goals and questions into research studies, driving informed product development and strategy.
- Analyzed quantitative and qualitative data, utilizing Looker for data visualization, and evaluating KPIs and X benchmarks to generate multi-faceted user insights that improved data-driven decision-making.
- Delivered actionable insights via storytelling and visual presentations to provide recommendations to incorporate user needs and pain points into product roadmap and strategy.
- Developed the initial customer journey map by integrating feedback from customer support and user interviews, identifying and addressing key bottlenecks, which enhanced the user experience.
- Led and facilitated cross-functional workshops to integrate user insights into product development, resulting in enhanced customer-centric features and a 300% growth in user base.
- Facilitated iterative, evaluative concept testing to manage change & uncertainty impacting 180,000 users, resulting in minimal disruption and maintaining high customer retention levels.
- Spearheaded quantitative surveys, user interviews, and Pendo A/B testing to discover issues with product adoption, resulting in new pricing and discoverability initiatives, facilitating 400% increase in adoption.
- Executed discovery research through surveys and user interviews to identify new customer segments, resulting in a new specialized product offering and a pipeline of 1000 prospective customers.
Technologies: Looker, Pendo.
Volunteer UX Research Lead - Clearviction
Apr 2022 - Oct 2022
Summary: Directed a volunteer team to establish a UXR practice for targeting users with low-tech usage and educational attainment for go-to-market strategies.
Responsibilities:
- Led a team of 7 UX researchers to establish a UXR practice and develop a go-to-market strategy.
- Synthesized data from SME interviews, ethnographic research, and surveys to assess the needs, frustrations, and behaviors of target users with low-tech usage and low educational attainment.
- Implemented Clearviction’s first SUPR-Q evaluation benchmark to monitor continuous releases.
Technologies: SUPR-Q evaluation, SME interviews.
R&D UX Researcher - Charles Schwab
Mar 2019 - Aug 2022
Summary: Facilitated the research and development of new concepts using tech innovations for the improvement of retail banking and financial services.
Responsibilities:
- Utilized design thinking to define new problem spaces, research, ideate, and produce new concepts leveraging innovative tech for Schwab’s retail banking, brokerage, and financial planning customers.
- Pioneered ideation techniques and workshops, enabling engineering teams to develop innovative technology solutions with strong product-market fit.
- Conducted user interviews and technical feasibility for automated grant approval with natural language processing, reducing approval time by 90%, and allowing donor-advised funds offering to triple in 2 years.
Technologies: Natural Language Processing, Ideation Techniques.
Education
- Master of Science, Analytics
Georgia Institute of Technology - Online
Aug 2020 - Dec 2026 (Expected) - Bachelor of Science, Computer Science/Finance
Northeastern University - Boston, MA
Sep 2014 - Dec 2018