Gloria Osardu, Ph.D., is an industry-agnostic senior business executive with over 16 years of extensive experience driving business strategy with insights. She has successfully led UX/customer insights and analytics teams, providing the right research, data, insights, and opportunities to leaders. Gloria ensures that business decisions and product prioritizations are made with accurate information and customer insights.

Throughout her career, Gloria has built, led, and scaled research and insights teams consisting of researchers, analysts, operations managers, and UX/CX insights experts. She has driven strategy at renowned global companies including Fortune 100 organizations, public sector entities, as well as startups.

Currently serving as the head of global product experience research at Gusto, Gloria is responsible for setting and executing a compelling vision and strategy for customer and user insights. Her teams deliver insights and customer empathy programs which derisks and drive the design and build of best-in-class Payroll and HR solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Before this role, Gloria also held leadership positions in global research teams across various industries such as SaaS, Education, Finance/Fintech, and Public Sector.

Gloria firmly believes that durable business and customer insights derived from thorough research are crucial in today's era of big data decision-making processes and AI-driven innovation. This approach helps de-risk business decisions as well as expand perspectives around the user experience. Gloria is passionate about promoting fair, ethical, and accessible practices in the field of research and advocates for building technology innovation for ALL. Outside work, Gloria spends time exploring the world, building the next generation of researchers + creatives, and spending time with her family.

In this insightful interview, Gloria O-B Osardu, Ph.D. shares her journey into the field of UX research and design. She discusses how she got started and provides valuable advice for those aspiring to leadership roles. Osardu defines strong UX research leadership, highlighting key principles like fostering collaboration, managing diverse perspectives, and building high-performing teams. She delves into her decision-making process for major research initiatives and strategies for upholding diversity and inclusion. Osardu also touches on balancing business objectives with user needs, and where she sees UX research heading with the rise of AI. Finally, she shares a glimpse into her daily life as a leader, how she continues learning and growing, and recommends books and people that inspire her in this space.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more.

If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge.

This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Aditi Sharma is an award-winning design executive passionate about inclusive, ethical, sustainable, and human-centered innovation. She is the recipient of the prestigious 'Dr. Sarojini Naidu Award' from the Govt. of India, '40 under 40' award from Business Elite, 'Woman Who Builds' award by Globant, and was named an inspirational woman in STEM by the Authority Magazine. As a lecturer at Pratt, Aditi curated one of the top ten UX programs offered in the United States. Aditi is a published design practitioner, is regularly invited to share her thought leadership across print, keynotes, and podcasts, such as for CampaignLive, Business Insider, AI & Data Analytics Network, Interaction Design Association, Brave UX, Authority Magazine, Inclusive Design Association, Customer Experience Network, Finance Magnates, South by Southwest (SXSW), and Product-Led Alliance (PLA) to name a few. As the Head of Design & Research at Amazon, Aditi manages a global team that leads the customer experience for 30+ Fintech products to help track revenue, usage, costs, and forecasts for AWS. Previously, as the Head of Payments Design/ Executive Director of Digital Experience Design at J.P. Morgan & Chase, Aditi set up a global design practice to build intelligent enterprise Fintech platforms. Prior to that, at Accenture Interactive, she strategized and executed customer-centric design engagements for clients such as Walmart, DuPont, and Cargill. She continues to explore the dynamism of creativity to deliver customer outcomes at the intersection of human excellence, business profitability, and technical innovation.

Today, we're diving into Scaling Design teams with Aditi Sharma. Aditi will share her journey into design, tips for scaling design teams, and her vision for the future of design. Stay tuned for insights on aligning teams, hiring strategies, and managing feedback loops. We'll also explore how Aditi approaches challenges and stays inspired in her daily routine. Get ready for an insightful conversation with Aditi Sharma on the Nodes of Design podcast!

Books Recommendations

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Find Your Why by Simon Sinek
Think Again, Adam Grant

Creative Confidence, David and Tom Kelley

Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more.

If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge.

This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Keywords: Design teams, design hiring, scaling design teams, design thinking, Amazon Design, Design systems, Design leadership

With over two decades of experience in arts, design, culture, education, and nonprofit sectors, Ruki Neuhold-Ravikumar brings a unique perspective and passion for reimagining the future of creative learning and practice.

A proven administrator, award-winning designer and educator, and globally respected thought leader, Ruki has served as the President & CEO of the Kansas City Art Institute, Acting Director of Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, and the Acting Under Secretary of Education at the Smithsonian Institution (at-large) in Washington, D.C.

Originally from Chennai, India, she received her MFA in graphic design from Iowa State University and BFA in the history of fine art and drawing and painting from Stella Maris College in India. She also has executive education certificates in business from Yale University and Harvard University and a certificate in museum studies from Northwestern University.

Ruki has served in multiple leadership roles for the American Institute of Graphic Arts, and in 2015, she was named an AIGA Fellow by the Oklahoma Chapter for her advocacy and leadership as a design educator. She is featured in films, podcasts, and interviews. She has won numerous awards and recognitions, including the 2021 Design Achievement Award from the Iowa State College of Design, and was the commencement speaker at Iowa State University's Fall 2023 Ceremony.

In this episode, we'll delve into how Ruki's background in design has shaped her approach to leadership, problem-solving, and societal development.

We'll also discuss the importance of teaching design as a life skill, the role of design in addressing complex social issues, and how design thinking can prepare future generations for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Additionally, Ruki will share her insights on the evolution of design thinking with AI and how design can contribute to sustainability and environmental consciousness.

We concluded the show with Ruki's recommendations for her three favorite books and the people who inspire her the most in the design space.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more.

If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge.

This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Keywords: Design as a life skill, Design Thinking, Design for Sustainability, Design for AI, Creativity, Industry Insights, Design Challenges