My background as both an interdisciplinary social scientist and an impact-oriented industry researcher allows me to pivot easily between foundational, tactical, strategic, and competitor research; to scope, plan, and execute both short-term and long-term projects; to juggle multiple studies at the same time (prioritizing therein), and to deliver deep insights on highly complex and ambiguous problems to stakeholders.
I approach qualitative research as an art, a science, and a responsibility. That is, as a means of investigation that requires simultaneous rigor, flexibility, creativity, integrity, and advocacy on behalf of research participants.
My methodological expertise is in semi-structured and unstructured interviews, ethnography (online and in-person), secondary research (literature reviews), contextual inquiry, concept testing, diary studies, card sorts, task flows, user journeys, and document analysis.
Collaboration and communication are some of my superpowers. I have extensive experience working in as well as leading qualitative and mixed-methods research teams. I am a firm believer in bringing my cross-functional partners and stakeholders into the research process right from the beginning and keeping them in lockstep with me throughout my studies. In my career, I have mentored and trained countless junior researchers. In relationships with research partners, stakeholders, and mentees, I believe I have just as much to learn as I have to teach.
Here’s what some of my previous cross-functional partners have said about my work as a researcher (see full details in the ‘recommendations’ section of my LinkedIn profile)
“Zoe is an exceptional UXR partner with a proven track record of driving successful product launches and material business impacts. Her ability to deeply understand product direction and connect it with user insights has helped our team improve our product thinking and even pivot our directions multiple times, enabling us to avoid unnecessary churn and speed up time-to-market. She consistently involves team members in her research processes and shares user insights in a timely manner to facilitate meaningful discussions and help the team move quickly.”
“Zoe is a fantastic UXR partner! During our collaborations, Zoe crafts thorough research plans that reach the essence of what the product team is looking to uncover, and she communicates her findings through captivating storytelling. Zoe is a true thought leader.”
“Zoe and I worked together for nearly two years on the Creator Fandom team, and her research insights were invaluable to me as a Content Designer. Because of her research and how she shared it with our team, I was able to rethink how we explain our products to users to ensure they had the understanding necessary to be inspired to adopt and best utilize our products. Zoe was always fun to collaborate with, and her research findings and share-outs were always like gold for my work. She was a dream cross-functional partner.”
“Zoë is one of the best I've ever worked with. She approached her work with rigor and detail and always pushed the team to have the bigger picture in mind. Her storytelling abilities were so key in helping our team better understand our users' perspectives and you could always count on Zoë for creative, clear, and actionable recommendations. Zoë is also such a great collaborator - super proactive and always willing to jump in and help.”
“Working with Zoë on the creator team was a true privilege. She brought dedication and enthusiasm to every task, making collaboration a true delight. She also excelled at tackling complex problems and offering innovative, user-centric solutions. Always ready to help with challenges or provide insights during concept testing, she ensured the success of the whole team.”
