Amanda Di Dio, VP of Partnerships and Operations at Optimistic Design, discusses the challenge of balancing user needs with technological constraints in product development.

She shares her approach of treating users as active stakeholders, involving them in co-creation and continuous decision-making to shape product visions, prioritize features, and validate solutions.

👉 If you have any tips on fantastic speakers from across the globe, feedback, or any questions, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to geekspodcast@uxtweak.com

🔎 Do you want to know more? Check out this episode at:

https://www.uxtweak.com/podcast/amanda-di-dio-user-needs-and-technological-capabilities

Episode highlights

00:03:09 - User needs and technological capabilities

00:07:45 - Example of co-creation with users

00:15:00 - Conversations with users and stakeholders

00:19:06 - Conversations with technical teams

00:22:32 - Lessons from Amanda's practice

00:27:19 - Importance of continuous learning

About our guest, Amanda Di Dio

Amanda is an experienced delivery strategist and program lead known for her expertise in collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

She has a proven track record in strategizing, planning, and executing research strategies, as well as designing and delivering digital experiences across multiple industries.

Amanda is currently the VP of Partnerships + Operations at Optimistic Design. Lately, Amanda's focus has been on the education sector, where she has developed key partnerships with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Khan Academy, MDRC, and USC Shoah Foundation.

Additionally, she supports edtech organizations in integrating equity-centered approaches into their product R&D processes, playing a crucial role in their growth, support, and capacity building.

🔎 Where to follow Amanda

LinkedIn

👉 Did you know that UXtweak also offers a series of webinars packed with practical knowledge for UX professionals? Check out the episode with Stéphanie Walter, where she talks about overcoming the challenges of enterprise UX: https://www.youtube.com/live/d9p4ShC_fMA?si=eYEl_S0UErpJiT4B

About this podcast:

Welcome to UX Research Geeks, where Tina Ličková, a researcher and strategist, talks with researchers from around the globe about topics that matter to them.

🐝 Brought to you by UXtweak, an all-in-one UX research software. Start your research for free at: https://www.uxtweak.com/ 👈

🐝 Where to follow UXtweak:

LinkedIn / Instagram / YouTube / Facebook / Twitter

Olivia Ponedel, a meticulous product designer, discusses her experience of working at different startups and acting as a middleman to bridge the gaps between product, sales, and engineering teams and users. She shares how research in startups requires flexibility, close collaboration, and finding ways to connect user insights to business priorities to have an impact on product decisions.

👉 If you have any tips on fantastic speakers from across the globe, feedback, or any questions, we’d love to hear from you too. Reach out to geekspodcast@uxtweak.com

🔎 Do you want to know more? Check out this episode at:

https://www.uxtweak.com/podcast/olivia-ponedel-using-user-insights-to-bring-teams-together

Episode highlights

00:01:23 Olivia’s background

00:03:06 Olivia’s role in Finix Payments

00:08:11 Research methods and prioritization

00:18:44 Reflections on UX research

00:21:32 Closing thoughts

About our guest Olivia Ponedel

Olivia is a meticulous product designer with deep experience bringing user empathy and clarity to complex systems—from consumer fintech and enterprise logistics to payment processing workflows. At the time of this recording, she led the design of no-code payment tools at Finix Payments, helping drive the company’s expansion from software platforms to direct merchants. Olivia now works at Meta, where she leads design for effective business communications in the advertiser experience.

🔎 Where to follow Olivia

LinkedIn

👉 Did you know that UXtweak also offers a series of webinars packed with practical knowledge for UX professionals? Check out the episode with Stéphanie Walter, where she talks about overcoming the challenges of enterprise UX: https://www.youtube.com/live/d9p4ShC_fMA?si=eYEl_S0UErpJiT4B

About this podcast:

Welcome to UX Research Geeks, where Tina Ličková, a researcher and strategist, talks with researchers from around the globe about topics that matter to them.

🐝 Brought to you by UXtweak, an all-in-one UX research software. Start your research for free at: https://www.uxtweak.com/ 👈

🐝 Where to follow UXtweak:

LinkedIn / Instagram / YouTube / Facebook / Twitter

Hannah Knowles, a senior UX Researcher with over 10 years of experience in the field, discusses freedom in UX research. She talks about achieving flexibility in UX research, what it means to do things your own way, and how to have fun while doing UX research. She gives great practical advice on organizing research processes, adjusting frameworks for more effective research, and building relationships with other teams.

👉 If you have any tips on fantastic speakers from across the globe, feedback, or any questions, we’d love to hear from you too. Reach out to geekspodcast@uxtweak.com

🔎 Do you want to know more? Check out this episode at:

https://www.uxtweak.com/podcast/hannah-knowles-freedom-in-ux-research

Episode highlights

00:00:34 Hannah’s journey into UX research

00:04:23 Defining freedom in UX research

00:11:36 Breaking the rules in UX research

00:21:03 Dealing with boredom in research

00:22:54 Automating and gamifying recruitment

00:24:36 Adopting to constraints and stakeholder management

00:31:43 Integrating research into daily activities

00:31:43 Changes in public sector research

00:37:44 Being bold and practical in research

00:40:08 Final thoughts

About our guest Hannah Knowles

Hannah is a UX researcher with over a decade of experience helping product teams make smarter, faster decisions. She has a thing for working on public sector services, the grittier the better, and nothing is grittier than healthcare (especially women's health).

She worked her way up the chain to be head of research, but she just couldn’t keep away from the hustle of a product team. Instead, she’s focused on how to scale down UX research methods so even the leanest teams can get some insight.

Her mantra? Good research comes in small packages.

🔎 Where to follow Hannah

LinkedIn

👉 Did you know that UXtweak also offers a series of webinars packed with practical knowledge for UX professionals? Check out the episode with Stéphanie Walter, where she talks about overcoming the challenges of enterprise UX: https://www.youtube.com/live/d9p4ShC_fMA?si=eYEl_S0UErpJiT4B

About this podcast:

Welcome to UX Research Geeks, where Tina Ličková, a researcher and strategist, talks with researchers from around the globe about topics that matter to them.

🐝 Brought to you by UXtweak, an all-in-one UX research software. Start your research for free at: https://www.uxtweak.com/ 👈

🐝 Where to follow UXtweak:

LinkedIn / Instagram / YouTube / Facebook / Twitter

Chui Chui, a cross-cultural researcher and strategist, discusses how to do cross-cultural research and why simply hiring a local research agency in the new market might not be the best approach. Chui Chui also shares practical tips and exercises on how to get buy-in from your stakeholders.

👉 If you have any tips on fantastic speakers from across the globe, feedback, or any questions, we’d love to hear from you too. Reach out to geekspodcast@uxtweak.com

🔎 Do you want to know more? Check out this episode at:

https://www.uxtweak.com/podcast/chui-chui-tan-mastering-cross-cultural-research

Episode highlights

00:01:32 - Cross-cultural research and strategy

00:03:33 - Case study: A dating app in Japan

00:06:37 - Understanding cultural ecosystems

00:14:21 - Cultural activation toolkit

00:21:50 - Practical tips for cultural research

00:25:16 - Challenges in cross-cultural research

00:29:38 - Planning and recruitment considerations

00:39:58 - Conclusion and resources

About our guest Chui Chui Tan

Chui Chui Tan is a cross-cultural strategist, advisor and author of Research for Global Growth: Strategies and Guidance for Cross-Cultural Insights. For over two decades, she has helped companies like Spotify, Netflix, Fiverr and Bumble expand and thrive in more than 50 markets, not by simply translating content but by culturalising their product strategies, proposition and growth plans through deep cultural and market intelligence.

She works closely with product and UX teams to uncover the hidden cultural assumptions in design and decision-making, helping them build experiences that resonate globally and feel local everywhere.

Chui Chui also advises at board and C-suite level, guiding leadership teams through international growth, cross-market complexity and culturally-informed innovation so products and businesses don’t just scale, they land.

🔎 Where to follow Chui Chui

LinkedIn

👉 Did you know that UXtweak also offers a series of webinars packed with practical knowledge for UX professionals? Check out the episode with Stéphanie Walter, where she talks about overcoming the challenges of enterprise UX: https://www.youtube.com/live/d9p4ShC_fMA?si=eYEl_S0UErpJiT4B

About this podcast:

Welcome to UX Research Geeks, where Tina Ličková, a researcher and strategist, talks with researchers from around the globe about topics that matter to them.

🐝 Brought to you by UXtweak, an all-in-one UX research software. Start your research for free at: https://www.uxtweak.com/ 👈

🐝 Where to follow UXtweak:

LinkedIn / Instagram / YouTube / Facebook / Twitter

Tadeas Adamjak discusses the most common objections to UX research and how to overcome them using understanding, communication, and persistence. He stresses the importance of building alliances and maintaining regular conversations with stakeholders.

👉Note: This conversation is based on our Dealing with Resistance in UX Research report.

👉 If you have any tips on fantastic speakers from across the globe, feedback, or any questions, we’d love to hear from you too. Reach out to geekspodcast@uxtweak.com

🔎 Do you want to know more? Check out this episode at:

Episode highlights

• 00:01:36 – Meet the Head of Growth at UXtweak
• 00:01:48 – Challenges in UX research
• 00:04:52 – Common objections and their impact
• 00:07:55 – Top objections to UX research
• 00:10:16 – Best strategies to overcome objections
• 00:14:43 – Tips for effective UX research
• 00:28:51 – Leveraging AI in UX research

About our guest Tadeas Adamjak

Tadeas Adamjak is a CX/UX consultant and Head of Growth at UXtweak, a UX research platform that supports hundreds of research, product, and design teams worldwide. He is also one of the team members behind industry initiatives, including the 'Dealing with Resistance to UX Research' report, 'AI in UX Research' report, and Research Recruities: Award for the Best Recruiting Stories.

🔎 Where to follow Tadeas

LinkedIn

👉 Did you know that UXtweak also offers a series of webinars packed with practical knowledge for UX professionals? Check out the episode with Kevin Liang, where he talks about driving strategy in reactive environments.

About this podcast:

Welcome to UX Research Geeks, where Tina Ličková, a researcher and strategist, talks with researchers from around the globe about topics that matter to them.

🐝 Brought to you by UXtweak, an all-in-one UX research software. Start your research for free at: https://www.uxtweak.com/ 👈

🐝 Where to follow UXtweak:

LinkedIn / Instagram / YouTube / Facebook / Twitter

Bansi discusses her journey working with legacy systems, especially in healthcare and B2B. She dives into the tricky parts of updating old software, balancing the needs of users and businesses, and how to make things better without breaking what’s already working.

👉 If you have any tips on fantastic speakers from across the globe, feedback, or any questions, we’d love to hear from you too. Reach out to geekspodcast@uxtweak.com

🔎 Do you want to know more? Check out this episode at:

https://www.uxtweak.com/guides/podcast/bansi-mehta-legacy-systems/

Episode highlights

• 00:07:32 – Key traits of legacy systems
• 00:09:56 – Balancing Big Picture and Deep Research
• 00:17:21 – Aligning business and research goals
• 00:21:50 – The importance of edge cases
• 00:24:36 – Managing power users vs. novices
• 00:28:08 – Connect with Bansi on LinkedIn

About our guest Bansi Mehta

Bansi Mehta is a seasoned UX design leader with over 15 years of experience, having worked at Aims Digital, 3D PLM, and Cybage. In 2011, she founded Koru Technologies (rebranded as Koru UX Design LLP in 2017), aiming to bring consumer-grade UX to B2B and enterprise applications. What began as a vision to improve workplace UX has since evolved into a leading design agency specializing in B2B products and healthcare software solutions for North America. Bansi has led successful projects for clients such as eClinicalWorks, Redwood Software, and EasyHealth, using user-centered design to drive business success. Her mission is to craft meaningful user experiences that address complex business needs while improving daily user interactions.

🔎 Where to follow Basi

LinkedIn

👉 Did you know that UXtweak also offers a series of webinars packed with practical knowledge for UX professionals? Check out the episode with Kevin Liang, where he talks about driving strategy in reactive environments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZVm112Io4k&list=PLHN9Xnxn7kezRonCw0uACirsurAYEGhNA&index=9&ab_channel=UXtweak

About this podcast:

Welcome to UX Research Geeks, where Tina Ličková, a researcher and strategist, talks with researchers from around the globe about topics that matter to them.

🐝 Brought to you by UXtweak, an all-in-one UX research software. Start your research for free at: https://www.uxtweak.com/ 👈

🐝 Where to follow UXtweak:

LinkedIn / Instagram / YouTube / Facebook / Twitter

Su Milazzo talks about the role of operations in UX, especially where design and research operations overlap. She explains that operations work to reduce friction and improve workflows for internal teams, using empathy and change management to help them succeed.

👉 Note: We apologize for the recording quality, which has been affected by technical difficulties.

👉 If you have any tips on fantastic speakers from across the globe, feedback, or any questions, we’d love to hear from you too. Reach out to geekspodcast@uxtweak.com

🔎 Do you want to know more? Check out this episode at:

https://www.uxtweak.com/podcast/su-milazzo-building-effective-operations/

Episode highlights

• 00:03:02 - Defining Operations
• 00:12:17 - Empathy and Observability in Research Ops
• 00:21:01 - The Benefits of Ops
• 00:27:10 - The Need for Specialized Ops Roles
• 00:30:20 - What Makes a Good Design Ops Practitioner?
• 00:33:32 - Closing Thoughts

About our guest Su Milazzo

Su Milazzo is a design and product operations leader with over 10 years of experience driving change in UX and cross-functional operations. She has a proven track record leading global teams to create user-centered solutions for both internal and external clients.

Su specializes in blending design, strategy, and operations with a strong focus on empathy, inclusive practices, and collaboration across all levels of an organization.

🔎 Where to follow Su

LinkedIn

👉 Did you know that UXtweak also offers a series of webinars packed with practical knowledge for UX professionals? Check out the episode with Kevin Liang, where he talks about driving strategy in reactive environments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZVm112Io4k&list=PLHN9Xnxn7kezRonCw0uACirsurAYEGhNA&index=9&ab_channel=UXtweak

About this podcast:

Welcome to UX Research Geeks, where Tina Ličková, a researcher and strategist, talks with researchers from around the globe about topics that matter to them.

🐝 Brought to you by UXtweak, an all-in-one UX research software. Start your research for free at: https://www.uxtweak.com/ 👈

🐝 Where to follow UXtweak:

LinkedIn / Instagram / YouTube / Facebook / Twitter