EXPERIENCE

UX RESEARCH & STRATEGY CONSULTANT | OCT 2020 - PRESENT

I specialize in designing research strategies that uncover deep user insights and transform them into actionable frameworks and stories to enable teams to make strategic decisions and improve user experiences with measurable outcomes. My work spans B2B and B2C audiences across big tech ecosystems, healthcare, medical technologies, productivity platforms, digital publishing, and SaaS solutions.

Demonstrated Impact

• Research-Informed Marketing Strategy: Conducted research to shape 2025 planning for MedTech software, delivering prioritized recommendations for messaging, channel optimization, and HMWs to drive adoption.

• International Cross-App User Insights: Collaborated on a two-country study across platforms, identifying shopping journey pain points to inform feature improvements and enhance cross-app engagement and awareness.

• Strategic Product Integration: Delivered research-backed recommendations to guide a self-publishing platform product merger, aligning digital positioning for holiday and long-term growth goals.

• Scalable Digital Enhancements: Conducted research to improve accessibility and engagement for a PE-backed healthcare organization’s digital platforms, creating a foundation for operational scalability.

• Foundational Discovery Research: Delivered insights to guide new product direction and inform future strategies for research services SaaS company.

• Research Leadership: Mentored and coached 70+ emerging researchers across industries, advancing methodologies, building confidence, and driving impactful research outcomes.

Clients: Google, Butterfly Network, EVP Eyecare, Blurb, Lyssna, StudioInto, Curiosity Tank

GOOGLE via ANSWERLAB | SENIOR UX RESEARCHER | FEB 2022 – MAR 2024

Embedded Qualitative Research, strategized on and led initiatives that enhanced subscribed-to email experiences for 1B+ users. Collaborated with cross-functional teams to transform complex qualitative data into actionable recommendations, guiding design decisions, driving feature optimizations, and LLM-based innovations.

• Spearheaded multi-phase research combining diary studies with concept testing, requiring prototype customization and AI model analyses. Outcomes directly informed new product designs, feature optimizations, and roadmaps.

• Led a series of diary studies for Gmail’s first Rich UI feature, utilizing live user experiments with users’ log data. Achieved user-informed design changes, launch approval, and increase in user engagement.

• Managed and ran the first cross-product study, integrating user and merchant (Organic Marketers) feedback to refine and validate a multifaceted visionary concept.

NATURAL RETREATS | OCT 2016 – MAY 2020

DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES | JAN 2019 – MAY 2020

• Strategically aligned creative output with revenue targets and business goals, optimizing team collaboration and efficiencies for a luxury vacation rental company in 16 US markets with 750+ accommodations.

• Led creative team of seven and managed external agencies and 20+ freelance creatives.

• Oversaw the design & direction of projects from concept to launch to increase quality lead volume by 21% across multiple portfolios.

• Co-led development, launch, and execution of national rebrand.

• Developed operational practices & brand standards for photography, resulting in a 38% increase in high-end product recruitment and contributing to a 15% increase in average nightly rate.

• Established national guest experience standards, harmonizing operational needs with branded guest journey touch points.

SR. MARKETING MANAGER | OCT 2016 – JAN 2019

Oversaw integrated marketing strategies for ten vacation rental, lodging, outfitter, and transportation operations. Managed team responsible for implementing the marketing mix for direct and channel partners, generating over $34 million in annual revenue.

• Monitored KPIs to adjust and optimize SEM, email, organic and paid social campaigns for a 21% average increase in traffic across all digital channels, growing direct web sales for the region by 18%.

• Established partner relationships with CVB, Chamber, and hospitality groups to attain tourism insights to adjust promotions and campaign targeting that drove a 34% increase in leads.

QUALITY BIKE PRODUCTS | APR 2014 – JUN 2016

SALSA CYCLES ACTIVATION MANAGER | MAY 2015 – JUN 2016

Responsible for brand activation in California and the Southwest. Marked increase in brand awareness, dealer engagement, and sales through innovative events, the cultivation of brand experts, and engaging social media content.

• Conceived, planned, and executed all aspects of marketing and educational events for the territory, with on average 3x growth in event attendance and consistent 30% increase in post-event sales.

• Led social media growth through impactful content creation: Instagram followership increased 220%–12k to 26.6k in 6 months.

ACCOUNT MANAGER | APR 2014 – APR 2015Grew profitable sales across QBP’s distribution and brand business. Managed and supported business relationships with bicycle retailers in two distinct territories.

• Instrumental in stabilizing & strengthening significant partnerships in a high-profile territory ($10M) with 4% annual growth.

• Top performing territory in multiple categories: Overall QBP sales growth (14%), Model Year Goal (109%)

PHOTOGRAPHER | WWW.PEPELNJAK.COM | 2008 – 2012

Award-winning conceptual documentary photographer dedicated to long-term, immersive projects that explore the complexities of human nature and our relationships to each other and our environments.

ALMA LASERS LTD | CLINICAL EDUCATOR | | 2005 – 2007

Oversaw 20 premier west coast plastic surgery and dermatology clinics participating in an FDA study of a cutting-edge radio frequency-based medical device for a successful FDA approval.