The Optimal Path

Oct 22 2024 36 ep. 35 mins 42
The Optimal Path Podcast artwork

The Optimal Path is a podcast about user research and product decision-making, brought to you by Maze. Explore how today's leading organizations leverage user research to inform better product decisions. Each episode uncovers the ideas and approaches used to unlock continuous insights—and the optimal path for product success. Subscribe to The Optimal Path newsletter to be the first to know when new episodes launch: https://maze.co/podcast/.

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Mastering product decisions through risk and reversibility with Dalia El-Shimy | Wise

Oct 22 2024 46 mins  
Dalia El-Shimy, Director of UX Research at Wise, presents a framework for navigating product decision-making with confidence—from daily product decisions to the most complex and high-risk scenarios. Dalia shares how to classify decisions based on their level of risk and reversibility, along with questions and tactics to help determine the type of research or insights needed to be

Accelerate learning and build the right products with Michael Margolis | Google Ventures

Oct 08 2024 43 mins  
Michael Margolis, UX Research Partner at Google Ventures, breaks down the Bullseye Customer Sprint methodology and how it helps startups quickly identify what to build and who to target. Learn how to use the “5 and 3 in 1 formula”—five bullseye customers, three prototypes, in one day—to accelerate learning and de-risk product decision-making.

Connecting research impact to business outcomes with Devin Harold | Ex-Capital One

Sep 24 2024 47 mins  
Devin Harold, former Head of Design Research for Financial Services at Capital One, joins host Ash Oliver to discuss the challenges of connecting user research to business outcomes, how to effectively track and communicate the value of research, and why the future of the industry lies in driving customer-centricity across the entire business.

Becoming a customer-centric, experience-led organization with Jehad Affoneh | Toast

Jun 27 2024 42 mins  
In this episode of The Optimal Path, Jehad Affoneh joins host Ash Oliver to discuss what it means to be customer-centric at Toast, the difference between being design-led and experience-led, and the role of UX research in shaping customer-centric cultures and experiences.

The role of qualitative research in product innovation with Hannah Anokye | Intuit

Jun 13 2024 30 mins  
In this episode of The Optimal Path, Hannah Anokye joins host Ash Oliver to discuss her work on the Intuit Futures Team and the role of qualitative research in exploring emerging technologies, understanding users' needs, and identifying opportunities for new product developments.

Maximizing the potential of secondary research with Nick Stiles | IBM

May 30 2024 29 mins  
Nick Stiles, User Researcher at IBM, discusses the power of secondary research, also known as desk research, in making informed decisions, and why it is the “unsung hero” of research. Nick shares strategies for synthesizing secondary research findings into actionable insights for product teams and emphasizes the importance of storytelling and journalistic techniques in driving

A framework for product decision-making with Ravi Mehta | Outpace

May 16 2024 43 mins  
In this episode of The Optimal Path, Ravi Mehta talks to Maze about connecting user research to product strategy and integrating effective product decision-making frameworks.

Scaling research through democratization with Reggie Murphy | Zendesk

May 02 2024 40 mins  
In this episode of The Optimal Path, Reggie Murphy joins host Ash Oliver to discuss how Zendesk scaled UX research, elevating the practice from a supporting function to a strategic partner to the business.

The evolution of user research with Dave Hora | Dave’s Research Co.

Apr 17 2024 37 mins  
In this episode of The Optimal Path, Ash Oliver discusses the future of user research with expert Dave Hora. From his beginnings in research back in 2011 to his key roles at companies like Plangrid and Instacart, Dave has been at the forefront of driving innovation through research. Now, he's here to share his thoughts on what’s next for user research—discussing the growing dem

The power of workshops in product development with Paige Bennett | Affirm

Apr 04 2024 36 mins  
In this episode of The Optimal Path, host Ash Oliver and Senior User Research Manager Paige Bennett explore the vital role of workshops in product development. Paige shares her experience facilitating workshops in the fintech industry, plus best practices for measuring success and co-creating with cross-functional partners and customers.