How it started
Entrepreneur, photographer, and now UX researcher and designer - I’m always on the lookout for new adjectives to my growing skillset. I earned these titles early in life, photography passing down to me naturally as a hobby and part time career. While entrepreneurship was gained during my undergrad by working with start-ups and using that experience to found my own venture. For a year, I ran a personalized gifting company, which, marked my introduction to the world of human-centered research and product design.
I quickly learnt that if you ask why, the what will follow. And so, I developed an innate desire to understand the principles underlying human decision making, which drew me to the field of behavioral science. My initiation in this field started with a bachelor’s in Economics, with a minor in Psychology from Fergusson College and the foundation was cemented with a master’s degree in Behavioural and Decision Sciences from The University of Pennsylvania.
I quickly learnt that if you ask why, the what will follow. And so, I developed an innate desire to understand the principles underlying human decision making, which drew me to the field of behavioral science. My initiation in this field started with a bachelor’s in Economics, with a minor in Psychology from Fergusson College and the foundation was cemented with a master’s degree in Behavioural and Decision Sciences from The University of Pennsylvania.
UPenn afforded me with a plethora of opportunities to hone my interests. A highlight was working on a Design Challenge for Microsoft’s People Analytics team, helping them analyze employee productivity. To cap it off, for my capstone, I collaborated with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations, analyzing the social influencers that affect hygiene practices in India and developing behaviour change interventions.
How it's going
Drawing from these experiences, I’ve gained an understanding of how to analyze behavioral trends and social norms to implement change effectively for organisations. I also learned how to design, develop, and implement behaviorally inspired policies and conduct research using R to help guide decisions.
Always on the lookout for the next opportunity, I’ve participated in multiple Design Challenges in association with Netflix and Amazon to deliver an application prototype customized to the needs of the defined end-user. Created over multiple iterations using Adobe XD and Illustrator, the end application showcases design thinking principles that I applied to derive relevant user behaviour insights. Coming out of this challenge, my ability to create a unique user experience in a fast-paced work environment has grown by leaps and bounds.
Where it's headed
I’m currently on the lookout for my next adventure in the world of UX research and design!