Work with Steve

User Research

Do you have nuanced or complex questions about your users? Perhaps high levels of pressure or internal politics are preventing you from making progress. Or maybe it’s the difficulty of the problem you’re trying to solve itself. In any of these cases, the consequence is the same: You’re not gaining the insights you need into your users’ behavior, beliefs, and attitudes. And, of course, without a deep understanding of your customers, it’s nearly impossible to design and build products that delight—and succeed. I’m one of the best-known and respected names in user research (I literally wrote the book on the topic), bringing over 20 years of experience to the table. If you’re looking for a top-notch partner who can help you execute a tough assignment, get in touch to discuss how I can help.

Maturing Your Research Culture

If you have a sneaking suspicion that research in your organization is not where it should be, but you’re getting stuck or lacking clarity on how to move forward, I can help. In a highly collaborative process, I can conduct investigative and strategic activities to uncover opportunities, articulate the gaps precisely, and offer tailored solutions for how we can address them, including research skills training, planning sessions, mentorship for individuals or teams, or serving as a thought partner for research leaders.

Research Skills Training

Do you have a finite and well-defined need, like uplevelling skills, developing a shared language around user discovery, or gaining actionable tactics for conducting more effective customer interviews? In these cases, I offer research skills training for teams of all sizes. We’ll work together to define the appropriate format, length, and focus of your learning experience.

Bespoke Facilitation

I’m always curious to learn about whatever problem you’re facing—whether it’s storytelling, team alignment, research planning, soft skills, creativity, or something else—so don’t be afraid to reach out for an initial conversation with me. I can work with you to precisely identify the gap or issue and design a bespoke solution, whether it’s leading a workshop, facilitating a cross-functional problem-solving session, or creating any other type of learning moment.

Corporate Speaking Engagements

Looking for someone to deliver a keynote, participate in an Ask-Me-Anything session, or engage in a fireside chat with your leaders? I regularly speak on topics like research skills, the impact of user research on business, innovation and product development, optimizing research influence, and more. Check out some of my past talks here, but don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have a specific topic in mind.