Insights Unlocked UserTesting

In this episode, Nathan Isaacs talks with Mamuna Oladipo, VP of Product at Shopify, about building trust within an organization.

Episode web page
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The Human Insight Summit (THiS) PROMO Code
The Human Insight Summit (THiS) is headed to Austin, Texas, this October 28-30. THiS is our annual, in-person customer conference dedicated to helping organizations understand their customers by showing and sharing, first-hand, the possibilities of using human insight across the business. Get $100 off your registration with the podcast listener code: UNLOCKED. Learn more or register.
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Episode Description: In this insightful episode of Insights Unlocked, we sit down with Mamuna Oladipo, the VP of Product at Shopify. Mamuna shares her wealth of experience from her journey through various tech roles and companies. She delves into the crucial topic of building trust within cross-functional teams and offers practical advice on networking within a company. Whether you’re a product manager, UX designer, or an executive, Mamuna’s insights on leadership and team dynamics are sure to resonate and provide valuable takeaways.

Key Themes and Ideas:
Introduction to Mamuna Oladipo:
Mamuna introduces herself and shares her background in tech, highlighting her roles in design, product management, engineering, data, and research.
Building trust in teams:

The importance of building trust slowly and steadily.

Tips on how to genuinely understand team dynamics and create personal connections.

Emphasizing one-on-one meetings and being fully present to build strong relationships.

Networking within a company:

Mamuna’s strategy for building a robust internal network by meeting different people and seeking further introductions.

The significance of maintaining these relationships and periodically checking in.

Leadership concerns and strategies:

Key concerns for leaders, including team impact and alignment with company goals.

The necessity of continuous communication and staying deeply involved in team activities to prevent misalignment.

Proactive steps to ensure teams stay on track and avoid long-term issues.

Advice for leaders:

The importance of knowing your team members and understanding their challenges and workflows.

How this understanding drives both individual and team impact, aligning efforts with broader organizational goals.

Notable Quotes:

"Take the time to learn and understand your team, understand the dynamics. Understand how you can differentiate, just how the team has been operating."

"Building a network within the company is vital. You need to have connections to understand the company culture and gather insights."

"Ensuring continuous communication and staying ahead of potential issues by being deeply involved in team activities is crucial."

Episode Links:

Mamuna on LinkedIn

Shopify

UXDX

The First 90 Days


Join the Conversation: We’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode. Join the discussion on our social media channels or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.

In this episode, Nathan Isaacs talks with Parisa Bazl from Commvault Systems about building scalable design systems that unite developers and designers.

Episode web page
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The Human Insight Summit (THiS) PROMO Code
The Human Insight Summit (THiS) is headed to Austin, Texas, this October 28-30. THiS is our annual, in-person customer conference dedicated to helping organizations understand their customers by showing and sharing, first-hand, the possibilities of using human insight across the business. Get $100 off your registration with the podcast listener code: UNLOCKED. Learn more or register.
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In this episode of Insights Unlocked, we sit down with Parisa Bazl, Head of UX at Commvault Systems, at a UX conference in New York City. Parisa shares her expert insights on creating scalable design systems that work seamlessly for both designers and developers. She delves into the importance of clear frameworks, the challenges of scaling in large enterprises, and the role of AI in design. Additionally, Parisa discusses the significance of diversity in tech and her efforts to create opportunities for underprivileged youths in the industry. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on bridging the gap between design and development, and the human-centric approach to technology.

Key Themes:
Scalable Design Systems:

Importance of frameworks in scaling design systems.

Utilizing object-oriented development to organize patterns and components.

Reducing the need for constant guidance between designers and developers.

Challenges in Scaling:

Addressing the resource disparity in design teams.

Strategies to meet demands without extensive handholding.

Importance of clear standards and empowering teams.

Starting with Key User Flows:

Focusing on specific use cases before abstracting patterns.

Creating a reference system for future use cases.

Overcoming Resistance:

Speaking developers’ language to ease workload concerns.

Ensuring designers understand their ongoing role amidst standardized systems.

Role of AI in Design:

Potential for automation in design decisions.

Emphasizing the human aspect of technology.

Using AI as a tool to deliver better user experiences.

Diversity in Tech:

Importance of diverse viewpoints in technology design.

Creating pathways for non-traditional candidates.

Parisa’s involvement with a program training underprivileged youths in technical skills.

Human-Centric Approach:

Keeping the focus on human experiences in technology.

Adapting to the ever-evolving tech landscape.


Guest Bio: Parisa Bazl is the Head of UX at Commvault Systems, specializing in enterprise software applications for data protection, cybersecurity, and cyber resiliency. With a strong background in UX design and a passion for bridging the gap between designers and developers, Parisa brings valuable insights into creating scalable and effective design systems.

Episode links:
Commvault Systems: Commvault
Parisa’s LinkedIn: Parisa Bazl

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LinkedIn: Insights Unlocked
Twitter: @InsightsUnlocked
YouTube: Insights Unlocked

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In this Insights Unlocked episode, T. Rowe Price’s Alex Wilson explains why you should take a business-centric approach to managing your design system.

Episode web page
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The Human Insight Summit (THiS) PROMO Code
The Human Insight Summit (THiS) is headed to Austin, Texas, this October 28-30. THiS is our annual, in-person customer conference dedicated to helping organizations understand their customers by showing and sharing, first-hand, the possibilities of using human insight across the business. Get $100 off your registration with the podcast listener code: UNLOCKED. Learn more or register.
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In this Insights Unlocked episode, Toast’s Jehad Affoneh describes the ‘pulling the thread’ methodology to solve complex problems.

Episode web page

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The Human Insight Summit (THiS) PROMO Code
The Human Insight Summit (THiS) is headed to Austin, Texas, this October 28-30. THiS is our annual, in-person customer conference dedicated to helping organizations understand their customers by showing and sharing, first-hand, the possibilities of using human insight across the business. Get $100 off your registration with the podcast listener code: UNLOCKED. Learn more or register.
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Episode Description:
In this insightful episode recorded at the UXDX conference in New York City, host Nathan Isaacs talks with Jehad Affoneh, the Chief Design Officer at Toast, to delve into an innovative methodology his team employed to enhance the customer experience for Toast's 100,000+ restaurant customers.

Toast is a restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

Key Themes:


Pulling the Thread Methodology:

Addressing complex problems by finding the right thread in a tangled ball of yarn and pulling it to untangle the complexity.

Steps to Implement:

Identify pain points from both customer and internal perspectives.

Find themes within these pain points to locate scalable solutions.

Test these solutions with a cohort of customers to validate effectiveness.

Challenges in the Restaurant Industry:

Restaurants operate in fast-paced, high-stress environments with frequent technical issues.

Reflections on the Journey:

The rewarding nature of working at Toast, making daily impacts on real people and communities.

The satisfaction of seeing long-term projects come to fruition and positively affect customers.


Additional Resources:

Toast website

UXDX Conference

UserTesting


Subscribe and Follow:
Don't forget to subscribe to the Insights Unlocked podcast for more expert insights and tips on designing digital products that people love. Follow us on LinkedIn for updates and more content.

In this enlightening episode of Insights Unlocked, host Nathan Isaacs sits down with Karen Hawkins, Principal of Accessible Design at Level Access, during the UXDX conference in New York City. Together, they dive deep into the world of digital accessibility, exploring why it remains a critical yet often overlooked aspect of design. Karen shares valuable insights on how companies can create inclusive digital experiences and the importance of accessibility in today's digital landscape.


Link to this episode's web page
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The Human Insight Summit (THiS) PROMO Code
The Human Insight Summit (THiS) is headed to Austin, Texas, this October 28-30. THiS is our annual, in-person customer conference dedicated to helping organizations understand their customers by showing and sharing, first-hand, the possibilities of using human insight across the business. Get $100 off your registration with the podcast listener code: UNLOCKED. Learn more or register.
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Episode Description:
In this enlightening episode of Insights Unlocked, host Nathan Isaacs sits down with Karen Hawkins, Principal of Accessible Design at Level Access, during the UXDX conference in New York City. Together, they dive deep into the world of digital accessibility, exploring why it remains a critical yet often overlooked aspect of design. Karen shares valuable insights on how companies can create inclusive digital experiences and the importance of accessibility in today's digital landscape.

Key Themes & Takeaways:
Introduction to Digital Accessibility:

Karen introduces herself and her role at Level Access.

The discussion opens with an overview of digital accessibility and its importance in ensuring everyone can execute tasks efficiently, regardless of their abilities or characteristics.

Current State of Accessibility:

Despite existing laws and guidelines, accessibility issues persist, particularly simple ones like contrast problems.

Karen references Web Aim’s annual survey, which highlights recurring accessibility issues on top websites.

Challenges and Solutions:

The need for both grassroots efforts and top-down support to drive meaningful change in accessibility.

Importance of conducting audits focusing on people, processes, and tools to benchmark and improve accessibility.

Setting realistic, incremental goals for continuous improvement in accessibility practices.

Beyond Digital Products:

Accessibility extends to organizational culture and practices, including hiring and travel policies.

The discussion emphasizes that accessibility is a global issue, supported by laws like the European Accessibility Act and guidelines from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Resources and Personal Responsibility:

Karen recommends resources like the W3C’s introductory courses and Web Aim for those looking to learn more about accessibility.

The importance of individuals taking personal responsibility for creating accessible digital content within their organizations.

Call to Action:

Karen encourages listeners to connect with her on LinkedIn for further resources and insights on accessibility.

Final thoughts on fostering a culture of inclusivity and accessibility in every aspect of digital and organizational practices.

Connect with Karen Hawkins:
LinkedIn: Karen Hawkins (Note: Ensure you find the right Karen Hawkins, not the romance novelist!)
Additional Resources:

W3C Introductory Course on Accessibility

Web Aim

Episode web page
-----------------------
The Human Insight Summit (THiS) PROMO Code
The Human Insight Summit (THiS) is headed to Austin, Texas, this October 28-30. THiS is our annual, in-person customer conference dedicated to helping organizations understand their customers by showing and sharing, first-hand, the possibilities of using human insight across the business. Get $100 off your registration with the podcast listener code: UNLOCKED. Learn more or register.
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Special Offer
To celebrate her participation in the podcast, Caroline offers a 15% discount on her book "Surveys That Work" from Rosenfeld Media. Use the code CJFORMS24 at checkout, valid through July 2024.
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Episode Summary: In this episode of the Insights Unlocked podcast, hosts Nathan Isaacs and Mike McDowell are joined by Caroline Jarrett, a leading expert in forms and surveys. Caroline, the author of "Surveys That Work" and "Forms That Work," shares her extensive knowledge on designing effective surveys and forms that yield meaningful insights. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of her consultancy Effortmark, Caroline delves into best practices, common pitfalls, and the evolving role of AI in survey methodologies.
Key Themes:
Importance of interviews before surveys:

Caroline emphasizes starting with interviews to understand the vocabulary and concerns of potential respondents.

Interviews help refine survey questions and ensure they resonate with the target audience.

Focus on the Most Crucial Question(s):

The discussion highlights the need to identify and prioritize the most crucial questions in a survey.

Avoiding lengthy and overwhelming surveys helps maintain respondent engagement and yields more reliable data.

Iterative testing and design:

Caroline and Mike stress the importance of iterative testing in survey design.

Continuous refinement based on feedback ensures that surveys are effective and user-friendly.

Impact of AI on surveys:

The role of AI in surveys is explored, noting that while AI can enhance data processing, human oversight is crucial for interpreting complex responses.

Caroline shares her early experiences with AI in forms, providing a historical perspective on its development.

Practical tips for form design:

The episode includes practical tips for optimizing form design, such as placing confirmatory fields below the initial input fields to reduce errors.

Caroline advocates for avoiding placeholder text inside input boxes, as it can lead to confusion and mistakes.

Guest Information:


Caroline Jarrett on LinkedIn



Website: Effortmark



Social Media: Caroline is active on LinkedIn and Blue Sky, and occasionally checks Twitter as @CJForms.

Special Offer:
Caroline offers a 15% discount on her book "Surveys That Work" from Rosenfeld Media. Use the code CJFORMS24 at checkout, valid through July 2024.
Additional Resources:

Caroline's website provides access to various resources, including a free poster titled "Listen First, Ask Second."

For more insights, listeners can explore Caroline's articles and presentations on form and survey design.

Blog: 4 methods for designing truly engaging customer surveys


Connect with Us:


Nathan Isaacs: Senior Manager for Content Production at UserTesting


Mike McDowell: Senior Solutions Consultant at UserTesting, known for his UX research videos on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with the latest episodes and insights by subscribing to Insights Unlocked on your favorite podcast platform. Follow us on social media for more updates and behind-the-scenes content.