More About Me.

I'm an experienced User Research leader and former startup executive. I'm in my element when I'm enabling companies to make better decisions and find product-market fit through research.

I started my career in applied research at Facebook after completing a PhD in Communication, with a focus on the Sociology of communication technologies and social media.

I've held research leadership roles at larger companies (Meta, Tripadvisor) as well as startups (Buoy Health, Material Bank). In addition to research leadership roles, I've also led Product and Content teams - always ensuring the right insights are available to drive strategy.

I specialize in building impactful research practices from the ground-up and combining the rigor of PhD level research with the reality of fast moving environments and growing teams.

I have taught University courses on new technology, and sporadically speak on the topics of women in tech and research leadership.

For 15 minutes I was the world's foremost expert on selfies, and once interviewed Miley Cyrus.

Download Resume

Professional Experience

2023-2024

Material Bank

Senior Director, Research & Interim Head of Product

Led the centralized product team (Product Management, Operations, Analytics, Research) on an interim basis and managed the global UX and Market Research efforts. Conducted mixed methods research.

2020-2023

Buoy Health

Senior Vice President, Research & Content

Core Executive team member with responsibility for driving strategic decision making and growth of UX KPIs through leadership of Research, Content, and Product Marketing functions.

Vice President, Research & Insights

Led Buoy’s research initiatives and built out a research team encompassing product insights (UX Research), marketing/branding insights, and new ventures/incubating products.

Head of User Research

Founded a research capability at a pre- product-market fit digital health startup. Lead multi-method foundational research projects on both customer and end-user needs.

2015-2020

Tripadvisor

Director, Research (Head of Global Research Team)

Led Tripadvisor’s global UX and brand research team. Responsible for research across the product lifecycle – from exploratory to usability and optimization. Founder/Chair of Women@Tripadvisor.

Associate Director, Research

Grew the research team. Developed research tools and scaled research capabilities to meet growing demand and increasing focus on user experience.

Senior Manager, Research

Created and led the research function. Conducted foundational projects to inform strategy, partnered with product teams, and introduced UX measurement and tracking.

2012-2015

Meta (Facebook)

Research Manager

Managed the Pages research team through partnership with product management, design, engineering, content strategy, and analytics leads. Amplified the global research team impact through hiring, impact audits, and tools improvement.

UX Researcher

Researched the Facebook user experience through qualitative (usability, interviews, groups, diary studies) and quantitative (surveys, behavioral data analysis) methods. Focused on Engagement, Groups, Public Content, Friend Sharing, and the Youth segment.

2006-2012

Forrester Research

Senior Research Associate

Wrote reports and presented research on information technology leadership to clients. Conducted surveys and interviews with tech leaders, analyzed and visualized results.

Teaching

2015

University of California, Berkeley

Instructor: Sociology of Virtual Community and Social Media

Taught an Undergraduate/ Master's level lecture course on social media & society. Topics included: Theoretical foundations, social network sites & social capital, information dissemination and social influence, and more.

2011

University of Pennsylvania

Instructor: New Media & Community Life

Taught a discussion-based virtual class on new media and society. Topics included: Relationship formation, communication technologies & public spaces, youth & media, and more.

Education

2012

University of Pennsylvania,

Annenberg School for Communication

Ph.D., Communication

Dissertation: "Friends in All the Right Places: Social
Best paper awards: International Communication Association, Association of Internet Researchers, American Sociological Association

2005

Slade School of Fine Art,

University College London

Certificate, Alternative Foundation

Mixed Media
Drawing

2005

Tufts University

B.A., Sociology, summa cum laude

Phi Beta Kappa
The Sociology Prize
Women's Crew Captain