So, Mark, Jessica and I paired these questions with recommendations for how to build a practice, setting the course for what is now a strong UX presence in the firm. We have gone from three to over 50 UX practitioners now. And once that holistic practice was running and proving a lot of value, we made a case for standing up a more focused discipline and established UX Research across the firm. It was about five years ago when I stepped into the role of Director of Kin + Carta’s UX Research practice.
We hired and grew individuals with many different experiences, which helped us build a truly cross-discipline practice and a unique community that is still strong today. Bringing that level of talent in the door and having the opportunity to learn from these folks will forever be some of my most rewarding experiences. And now that I've moved over to the strategy practice, I'm incredibly proud that one of my first hires, Cate Kompare, has stepped into the role of leading the Research practice.
Now, as a part of strategy, I get to create the space to see the big picture and connect the dots beyond purely product development. As a practice, we’re learning what it takes to help our clients make some of the bigger bets while also being more confident in doing so. It’s important that they see and feel the impact of this area, as it’s a catalyst of our expanded success. I think user research is a big part of this work, and I love that. I don't feel like I've left research behind, rather, I'm building on top of it. And to me, that's a great opportunity to be back in learner mode and be comfortable with not knowing everything.