1. Gregg Bernstein of MailChimp

January 7th, 2015

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Welcome to the debut episode of Dollars to Donuts. Today’s guest is Gregg Bernstein, who manages customer research at MailChimp. We discuss how MailChimp uses research to uncover new product opportunities, how the right research artifacts can best provide value to different internal audiences and how humility is an essential soft skill for successful researchers.

We research people and we try to better understand what would make them happy, what would fit into their lifestyle, what would fit into their day-to-day. We don’t go out with an idea for a product in mind. – Gregg Bernstein

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Praise for Dollars to Donuts

I’ve been listening to your podcast since I started doing UX Research two years ago, and it’s been hands down the best resource for me. It’s provided inspiration and best practices and helps me feel plugged into the broader research community. Thank you so so much. You’re a gem and an incredible asset to the global research community.

Stephen Rothermel, UX Researcher, Zoho Corporation

These interviews are well worth the time for anyone interested in: (a) the craft of UX or design research, (b) the growth and development of research groups or professions within an organization, and (c) the culture of research within an organization. As a master ethnographic interviewer, Steve Portigal lets his interviewees steer the conversation into the most fruitful and engaging areas for them to talk about. The result is a fascinating tour through quite diverse organizations and ways of organizing research.

Dan Perkel, Design Lead, IDEO

This might just be THE most important podcast! This podcast and the work Steve Portigal is doing is pushing our industry forward! I’m a HUGE fan – and I’m personally grateful for his investment in the research community

Ellie Kemery, Head of UX Research, SAP Concur

A must listen for any UX researcher. Steve really knows how to interview people – he always has the right follow-up question. The podcast is great for the content and for observing interviewing style. As an agency person it’s great to hear what’s going on in enterprise UX research.

Dan Berlin, SVP, Experience Research, Mad*Pow

Finally, a UX research-themed podcast! Not only do you get to hear fascinating stories about how research is being integrated into these companies, but you get to hear the master interviewer himself, Steve Portigal, in action!

Sara Cambridge, Senior User Experience Researcher, Google

Dollars to Donuts is quickly becoming my favorite UX podcast. Fantastic perspectives on doing great user research.

Genevieve Conti, Content Strategist/Information Architect, University of Missouri

Excellent resource for UX researchers! As a former academic researcher who has just transitioned to UX research, Dollars to Donuts is an incredibly valuable find! I can’t imagine a better way to learn about how UX research is done than by talking to the people who head up research in some of the most innovative companies out there. There are lots of courses and articles out there on UX research, but Steve’s interviews with practitioners give a much-needed focus to how companies are solving real-life problems and taking advantage of the opportunities made possible with high quality research. I eagerly wait for each new episode!

jrward47

Multiple light bulb moments! Suddenly, UX research made a lot of sense to me.

Kyjean Tomboc, Copywriter and Content Development

Really well done. Great insights for user researchers/UXers.

Samantha Ryan, User Onboarding & Optimization, Optimal Workshop

If you’re a UX researcher this podcast is an absolute must.

Sinéad Cochrane, Senior Product Researcher, Intercom

Stuffed full of practical insights. Eyeroll count: 0.

Fred Beecher, Sr. Manager of Experience Design Operations, Best Buy

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