Cohort 5

Maximize impact and influence business outcomes through intentional research 

Meghan Wenzel

Business Influence for UX Researchers

As a researcher, you may feel misunderstood or undervalued. You may be tired of teaching others what you do and and why they should care. I know I have. It can feel like usability testing is all people know about "Research". Show them the value of Research, don't just tell them about it. By focusing your energy on the most impactful projects, doing high quality research, and building strong cross-functional partnerships, you'll build trust and win your colleagues' respect and understanding. This course will help you level up and become a more effective and influential researcher. Class 1:- Discern how tactical and strategic research differ- Identify strategic research opportunities within your organization Class 2: - Explore frameworks to prioritize your projects for maximum impact- Develop, refine, and share a research roadmap Class 3:- Explore case studies of successful collaboration- Practice triaging different data sources to increase validity and usefulness ﻿Class 4:- Gain strategies to tailor information to your audience and their unique goals and contexts- Translate insights into recommendations that your leadership and teams can digest and act on

Help your organization make better decisions

Researchers doing solid tactical or design focused work who want to increase the scope and impact of their work

UX professionals who want to collaborate cross functionally to increase the value, relevancy, and validity of research

Mid-level researchers who want to do more leadership and strategy work

Who is this course for

What you’ll get out of this course 

Stop doing siloed, decontextualized research that falls apart in the multifaceted world We'll use frameworks to consider the larger business context, product goals, and team priorities to tailor research and recommendations to have both short and long term impact

Consider the larger business, organizational, and team contexts

Stop doing great research, sharing it once, and then moving on to the next project We'll practice considering your audience's perspective and needs in order to focus your insights and recommendations to spur action

Effectively tailor information to increase influence

Stop only doing narrow, tactical UX research We'll review case studies to gain proven strategies to win over stakeholders, demonstrate clear value, and build a strategic mindset within your company

Change the perception of Research to be a strategic partner

<ul><li>Review examples of tactical vs. strategic research</li><li>Identify strategic research opportunities within your organization</li><li>Practice implementing proven strategies to champion strategic research and gain buy-in across your organization</li></ul> At the end of session 1, you'll have developed a plan to identify and champion strategic research within your org

Move from tactical to strategic research

<ul><li>Workshop research approaches, goals, and methods for strategic projects within your organization</li><li>Explore frameworks to prioritize your time and only work on the most important things</li><li>Draft a research roadmap for your upcoming work</li></ul> At the end of session 2, you'll have a research roadmap and process to prioritize the most important projects

Plan and prioritize strategic research

<ul><li>Review and discuss case studies of effective cross-functional collaboration</li><li>Practice combining quantitative, qualitative, attitudinal, and behavioral data</li><li>Develop a plan to collaborate cross-functionally on a key strategic project at your organization</li></ul> At the end of session 3, you'll have a plan to collaborate with stakeholders on a key project

Collaborate cross-functionally to maximize impact

<ul><li>Review examples of research syntheses and discuss best practices for resharing research</li><li>Hone your storytelling skills and practice reframing research based on your audience</li><li>Workshop a schedule and plan to share research at key inflection points to shape product/business strategy</li></ul> At the end of session 4, you'll know how and when to reshare research

Package and share research to increase influence

Course syllabus

What people are saying

Meet your instructor

Shift to strategic researchInteractive lecture and small group break-outs to workshop, practice, and share ideas as we learn them.

July 8, 2025

Plan and prioritize strategic researchInteractive lecture and small group break-outs to workshop, practice, and share ideas as we learn them.

July 11, 2025

Collaborate cross-functionally to maximize impactInteractive lecture and small group break-outs to workshop, practice, and share ideas as we learn them.

July 15, 2025

Package and share research to increase influenceInteractive lecture and small group break-outs to workshop, practice, and share ideas as we learn them.

July 18, 2025

Course schedule

This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects

Active hands-on learning

You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams

Interactive and project-based

Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you

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About this course

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