Principal UX Researcher seeking new opportunities

KATE DANAJ

aducmx@r.postjobfree.com 408-***-**** https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-danaj55/

Based in Redondo Beach, CA (she/her)

Summary

As a researcher over the past 20+ years, it has been my true passion to help organizations understand the wants, needs, and wishes of real people -- who wake up each day and decide what to do, where to go, what to buy, and how to connect with each other. I consider myself privileged to share the consumer’s voice with my clients, bringing them insights that will help them build meaningful connections with their customers and users over time. My experience spans a myriad of topics including brand strategy, early-stage exploratory, concept/product development, user experience/UX, design, packaging, retail/shopping, customer journey, holistic marketing communication (messaging, promotion, advertising, social media), and much more. I am well-versed across many audiences, product categories, and business sectors including social media, technology, telecommunications, consumer packaged goods, retail, fashion, financial services, and travel/tourism - both domestically and internationally as well as in-person and virtually.

Experience

2017 – Late 2021 Principal UX Researcher at AnswerLab I worked closely with the design and project teams of a core set of Fortune 100 clients to help them optimize their consumer-facing websites and mobile applications. And, based on the AnswerLab company mission, I was privileged to leverage my user-experience research expertise toward a singular corporate goal: to help companies such as Amazon, Charles Schwab, Experian, Google, Meta, Twitter, and Walmart create experiences people love. I delighted my clients with my approachable, consultative, client-service excellence, creativity, insightful analysis, and story-telling reporting style.

2015 - 2017

Partner, Co-Founder at 747 Insights

While at the boutique market research firm 747 Insights, I brought a unique depth of youth- cohort expertise based on our vast experience consulting with the world’s leading brands and organizations across numerous product and service categories. In August 2017, we launched the groundbreaking national syndicated study, “Generation Nation: Values & Attitudes,” which examined the values and attitudes of all four generations, across an array of important facets of their lives, such as spending, media, relationships, and more.

2005 - 2015

Qualitative Research Director/Moderator at Ipsos

While at Ipsos, I served as both client-account lead and as moderator. Leading client engagement within Ipsos’ qualitative technology pillar, I quenched my passion for all things digital -- doubling annual sector revenue to $5 million, while achieving the highest year-over- year growth for the division in 2015. Key clients included Google, Instagram, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Verizon.

Prior to my team leadership, I served as a senior moderator, my expertise spanned all points on the development curve (initial needs assessment, product/feature development, brainstorming, trend scoping, UX/usability testing, branding, persona development, and advertising/messaging development) and across numerous audiences, product categories, and business sectors.

1998 – 2005

Senior Director/Moderator at TRU

As one of the original members of TRU -- the world's youth-research pioneer -- I had the unique position of working on both the nation’s top syndicated teen-focused study as well as hundreds of custom research initiatives. I was fortunate to play a number of roles at TRU, as a trend synthesizer, client lead, and qualitative moderator -- affording a deep understanding the life, lifestyle, and psyche of the various cohorts within the Millennial Generation.

Education

1994 - 1995 Masters Degree: Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Key course work in Consumer Insights and Research Methodologies Internship with CBS Television

1987 - 1991 Bachelors Degree: Communications/Journalism at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI Graduated Cum Laude; member of Alpha Sigma Nu, Jesuit Honor Society

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