Leader in research, accessibility, and human behavior

Passionate advocate for inclusion and accessibility (the ‘A’ in DEIA) with 5+ years as an ERG lead and 6+ years managing teams. I worked closely with the DEI Leader to start/lead the AccessABLE ERG and push key changes through that were scaled across the business. Trained as a researcher, I come to conversations looking for authenticity and bring information back to stakeholders to change minds and hearts. Spearheaded inclusive practices in my last 2 organizations and brought in previously unheard voices.

Experience

Hinge Health | Senior Manager - UX Research and AccessABLE ERG Lead | Apr 2021 – April 2023

•       Established and led the AccessABLE Employee Resource Group supporting employees with diverse abilities in the workplace.

•        Developed and executed quarterly, company-wide, virtual programming on accessibility, disability and inclusion.

•        Created a more inclusive workplace by championing the addition of Closed Captioning on all company meetings in Zoom.

•        Championed accessibility and WCAG training by LevelAccess for all RnD. Acted as program liaison to set parameters, find budget, identify a planning team and schedule programs for maximum attendance.

•        Managed all research operations including $500k budget, hiring, participant and data privacy, vendor selection, process standardization, and tool selection and usage.

•        Successfully partnered with legal, to implement standards and guidelines for privacy and safety to be used in user research resulting in greater trust our members and easier recruiting.

•        Engaged with and presented to stakeholders from CEOs to individual contributors resulting in greater visibility and impact for the team’s work.

•        Built a top-tier UX research team of 6 members who ran 70+ studies, and drove product change in 2022 and established the vision, direction and working model for the team.

•        Spearheaded, and collaborated on project work across 25 product pods, impacting work across the product portfolio.

•        Collaborated with matrixed partners to ensure success across channels (Clinical, Marketing, and Commercial).

 

 

April 2018 to March 2021, Senior UX Researcher > Senior UX Research Manager • Dexcom

•    Initiated a program for accessible design by facilitating trainings, guidelines and inclusive user testing.

•    Brought in experts from Level Access to train the design team on how to design for accessibility. In adults with diabetes, 11% have low vision. Understanding how to design for low/no vision was critical for this consumer group.

•    Initiated a survey of Dexcom customers to capture the percentage of customers with disabilities. This data was added to the existing demographic data to create a more complete picture of our members.

•    Partnered with an audio designer to create a soundscape so that blind users would have access to their glucose trends.

•    Piloted user testing to better understand the challenges of blind users when pairing their Dexcom applicator to the app. This resulted in increased contrast on text and better touchpoints on the physical product. 

•    Conducted validation testing with users over age 70 on the receiver hardware. Key insights that impacted future product development included the confusion of a product with buttons in a mostly touchscreen world and a lack of understanding of the symbols on the device.

•    Managed vendors who ran competitive analysis, journey mapping and qualitative research to inform our Type 2 and Pregnancy programs.

•  Worked in a cross-disciplinary team to research and strategically identify and define target customers, new products, and features to win in the marketplace using the Design Thinking process.

•    Responsible for combining all user + business + technology needs to drive future portfolio recommendations to the business.

 

Dexcom | Senior UX Researcher/ UX Research Manager and Accessibility ERG Lead | Apr 2018 - Mar 2021

  • Initiated a program for accessible design by facilitating trainings, guidelines and inclusive user testing leading to designs being accessible from the start rather than waiting to be caught in an audit.

  • Wrote, proposed and presented an organizational plan to create inclusive products and services.

  • Conducted contextual interviews with blind individuals and translated their needs to product requirements.

  • Initiated a survey of Dexcom customers to capture the percentage of customers with disabilities, driving home the importance of accessible design.

  • Piloted user testing to better understand the challenges of blind users when pairing their Dexcom applicator to the app. This resulted in increased contrast on text and better touchpoints on the physical product. 

  • Conducted validation testing with users over age 70 on the receiver hardware and impacted future development based on key insights.

  • Successfully worked in a cross-disciplinary team to research, strategically identify and define target customers, new products and features to win in the marketplace using the Design Thinking process.

  • Achieved objectives through independent judgment when managing internal and external agencies and when setting design strategies. Managed all user, business, and technology needs to drive future portfolio recommendations.

 

Janna Kimel Consulting | Research Lead | Aug 2016 - Apr 2018

•   Designed and led field research for enterprise smart eyewear, Intel’s ReconJet Pro Augmented Reality Glasses, to integrate research findings into a leading-edge product for a new market. 

  • Conducted competitive analysis to inform the design of the award-winning New Balance Smart Watch.

Cambia/Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield | Sr. UX Researcher / Consumer Experience Manager | Aug 2011-Aug 2016

•    Managed a team of champions across the organization to ensure the voice of the consumer was represented on projects to optimize existing systems including accurate coding and faster Medicare reimbursement.                              

•   Shaped framework for UX testing with the digital team resulting in more frequent and reliable user insights.

•   From research design to implementation and analysis, I conducted contextual research with four key stakeholder groups informing the redesign of Regence.com. Partnered with designers to implement key findings. 

 

third brain studio, llc | Founder/Chief Experience Officer | Jan 2008-Aug 2011                                                                                        

•    Provided end to end research for clients including Microsoft, Providence Health and Services, Ziba, OMSI, Market Strategies, NeoDyne, SeaGate. 

 

Intel Corporation | Intern/Design Researcher | June 2005-Jan 2008

•    Employed qualitative methods to re-imagine home life for/with seniors by creating simple, smart objects which allow them to stay in their homes longer, including  the Intel Health Guide.

 

Education

Dare to Lead, Leadership Training, Portland, OR

Bill George on Self-Awareness, Authenticity and Leadership, LinkedIn

Masters of Industrial Design - Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA

Certificate – Archeworks School for Socially Responsible Design, Chicago, IL

Bachelor of Arts, Theater/Costume Design - Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

 

Leadership

2019-2021    Co-Chair Portland A11y meetup for Accessibility

2012-2015    Board Member, Rose Villa Senior Community

2008-2010    Adjunct Faculty Portland Art Institute

2006-208      IDSA Vice Chair

Awards and Recognitions

•       Patented an apparatus to maintain a continuous connection of a cellular device to a sensor network.

•       Patented a mobile medication device.