By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Stepping into a UX Research leadership role is exciting—and daunting. The first 90 days can set the tone for your credibility, influence, and the impact your team delivers. Here’s a roadmap for making those early months count. The First 90 Days as a UX Research Leader Day 1–30: Listen, Learn, Build Trust Goals: Understand the business context and product strategy. Build relationships with key stakeholders (product, design, engineering, e

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader “The art of leadership is not giving answers, but asking the right questions.”    In UX research, autonomy isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. When leaders shift from issuing directives to posing thoughtful questions, they unlock deeper insight, stronger ownership, and scalable impact. Why Autonomy Matters in UX Research UX researchers thrive when they’re trusted to explore, adapt, and innovate. Autonomy fuels: Methodological rigor : Resear

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Layoffs are among the most difficult challenges any leader will face—especially in a field like UX research, where trust, empathy, and human connection are the cornerstones of the discipline. When researchers are impacted, leaders must balance organizational realities with care for their people. Leading well during these moments can define your leadership legacy. 1. Acknowledge the Human Impact Behind every role is a person with a story,

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Meetings can either be a powerful force for alignment and inspiration—or a frustrating time sink. For UX Research leaders, striking the right balance in team meetings is crucial. Done well, they foster connection, sharpen research craft, and align the team with organizational goals. Done poorly, they drain energy and enthusiasm. This post outlines best practices, recommended structures, and guidance on how often to hold UX Research team

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader One-on-one meetings are one of the most powerful tools a UX Research Leader can use to build trust, support growth, and keep a pulse on both team health and project outcomes. Yet, too often, these meetings turn into status updates or routine check-ins rather than meaningful conversations. Here’s how to transform your 1:1s into valuable, intentional sessions that drive both personal and professional growth. 1. Set the Right Foundation Bef

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader As someone who’s built and scaled UX research practices across global organizations, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring researchers at every level. One of the most important—and often most misunderstood—conversations is about promotion. If you’re thinking about leveling up, here’s what I want you to know before you ask me for a promotion. This isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s about demonstrating readiness, strategic impact, and...

UX Research has long been the quiet powerhouse behind great products. But too often, researchers find themselves on the sidelines—brought in too late, under-leveraged, or misunderstood. Getting a seat at the table isn’t just about visibility; it’s about influence, timing, and trust. Here’s how UX Research can move from reactive support to strategic leadership. Getting UX Research a Seat at the Table: 1. Speak the Language of Decision-Makers Executives don’t always speak “rese

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Being a small UX research department in a sprawling organization can feel like steering a kayak in a sea of cargo ships. You’re nimble, strategic, and often under the radar—but your impact can be profound. Whether you're a team of one or a lean group of three, your role is critical in shaping user-centered decisions across the enterprise. Here’s how to thrive, influence, and scale your impact—even when your headcount is small. 1. Embrace

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Becoming a UX Research Leader is more than just managing projects and guiding researchers—it’s about inspiring excellence, creating impact, and raising the standard for what research can achieve within an organization.  While meeting expectations keeps the wheels turning, exceeding them builds trust, earns influence, and shapes the future of the discipline. 1. Champion Strategic Alignment To exceed expectations, you must go beyond execut

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader As a UX research leader, your role isn’t only to nurture talent—it also includes holding your team accountable  when standards aren’t met. Disciplining researchers can feel uncomfortable, especially in a field centered on empathy and collaboration. However, addressing performance or behavioral issues with fairness and transparency is critical for maintaining a strong research culture. 1. The Importance of Accountability in Research UX re

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Leading a team of UX researchers goes far beyond assigning studies and reviewing reports. It’s about cultivating practice, craftsmanship, and culture —while ensuring meetings are purposeful and productivity thrives. A well-managed UX research team doesn’t just produce insights; it becomes a trusted partner that drives product direction and user-centered innovation. 1. The Role of a UX Research Leader In Managing UX Researchers Managing U

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader As UX research teams grow, leaders face an important challenge: how do you measure and demonstrate the value of research without reducing people to vanity metrics?  Tracking researcher performance and team outcomes helps align research with business goals, ensures career growth for researchers, and makes a strong case for continued investment in UX research. Here’s a breakdown of what to track, how to track it, and best practices for doi

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader For non-profits, every dollar and every hour of staff time matters. Unlike corporations that measure ROI (return on investment) through revenue growth and market share, non-profits focus on impact, efficiency, and mission outcomes . Yet UX research—often seen as “nice to have”—can deliver significant ROI by helping organizations better serve their communities, donors, and volunteers. Here’s how non-profits can quantify the ROI of UX rese

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader UX Research has come a long way in just over two decades. In 1999, the internet was still in its early growth phase, mobile devices weren’t mainstream, and many companies were just beginning to explore the concept of “usability.” Fast forward to 2025, and UX Research is a highly specialized, data-driven discipline at the heart of product strategy. Let’s take a journey back to 1999 and compare how UX Research looked then versus today. UX

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader UX Research (UXR) is one of the fastest-growing fields in design and technology. As businesses strive to deliver seamless user experiences, researchers play a crucial role in uncovering user needs, behaviors, and motivations. If you’ve ever been curious about how people interact with products—or you’ve wanted to make technology more intuitive—UX Research might be the perfect career path. But where do you start? Here’s a clear roadmap for

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience research shapes how products meet real user needs. Senior UX researchers carry the responsibility of guiding teams with insights that improve design and functionality. Yet, even experienced professionals can fall into common traps that limit their impact. Recognizing these pitfalls helps senior researchers sharpen their approach and deliver stronger results. Senior UX researcher reviewing user feedback data Overlooking th

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience research often feels like a costly endeavor, requiring expensive tools, professional testers, and extensive resources. But what if you could gather valuable insights without spending any money? This post explores practical ways to conduct UX research on a tight or nonexistent budget. You will learn how to tap into free resources, leverage your network, and use simple methods that deliver meaningful results. Collecting use

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Presenting UX research findings to executive stakeholders can be challenging. Executives often have limited time and focus on high-level outcomes rather than detailed data. To make your research impactful, you need to communicate clearly, highlight key insights, and connect your findings to business goals. This post explains how to present UX research results effectively to executives, ensuring your work influences decisions and drives p

Making the jump from being a hands-on UX researcher to managing a UX research team changes everything. It is not just a new job title but a shift in how you think, what you focus on, and how you measure success. Instead of producing research yourself, your role becomes about helping your team deliver their best work and shaping the bigger picture. This change can feel overwhelming at first. The skills that made you a great researcher are still important, but now you also need

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When product owners doubt the value of UX research, teams often face roadblocks that slow progress and reduce product quality. UX research provides critical insights into user needs, behaviors, and pain points. Without it, products risk missing the mark, leading to wasted resources and frustrated users. This post explores common challenges when product owners undervalue UX research and offers practical ways to address them. Team collabor