Anuja Kulkarni

CEO

India13 yrs 2 mos experience

Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

Led high-performing team at Microsoft Teams.
Expert in user-centered design and product research.
Advised startups and coached upcoming researchers.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a B2C UX Researcher with a strong focus on user insights and product strategy.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

User ResearchProduct ResearchInsight Generation

Other Skills

1:1 in depth interviewsApplied ResearchCocreation WorkshopsCognitive ScienceCommunicationConcept DesignConcept DevelopmentConsumer InsightConsumer ResearchContextual InterviewsDesign ResearchDiary studiesEthnographyField StudiesFocus groups

About

Seasoned researcher bringing scalable insights to build meaningful consumer and enterprise products for billions of Users. I've worked on products at a global scale covering markets from APAC, EMEA to the United States, and LATAM. I have helped shape several 0-1 bets aligning business strategies closer to the needs of the users. Currently I lead an excellent high performing team that shapes the future of Microsoft Teams and Copilot and is transforming the product into something our users would love - one day at a time! In my free time I advise startups, I coach upcoming researchers and speak at forums inside and outside of Microsoft.

Experience

13 yrs 2 mos

Total Experience

2 yrs 7 mos

Average Tenure

4 yrs 2 mos

Current Experience

Microsoft

3 roles

Principal Research Manager

Promoted

Sep 2025 – Present · 8 mos

Sr UX Research Manager

Aug 2023 – Oct 2025 · 2 yrs 2 mos

I lead IDC Research for Microsoft Teams and Copilot. With a 5 people UXR team, we cover grounds for Microsoft Teams (Search, Notification & Activity, Discovery, Mobile Core & extensibility, Calendar, Growth) and Microsoft Copilot

CommunicationUser ResearchProduct Research

Sr UX Research Lead/Manager

Mar 2022 – Aug 2023 · 1 yr 5 mos

Uber

2 roles

UX Researcher [Leading Rider Growth, Core- Activities]

Feb 2021 – Mar 2022 · 1 yr 1 mo

Lead researcher for Rider Growth & Activities [All markets - US&C, EMEA, APAC, LATAM]
> I helped in unlocking new growth opportunities and optimizing existing Rider funnels.
> Identify ways to support and grow all rider activities on the platform
(I worked closely with Data function to deliver highly actionable insights on both the workstreams)

CommunicationUser ResearchInsight Generation

UX Researcher [new bets]

Nov 2018 – Jan 2021 · 2 yrs 2 mos

> Strategised and executed end-to-end research projects for different markets
> Conducted foundational, generative, and evaluative studies that informed roadmaps new growth bet products like UberBus, Carpool, and others
> Co-initiated and lead a trend-forecasting program to build forward-looking thematics for 2020 and beyond
> Responsible for mentorship and development of 3 research interns globally
> Collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders like GPM, PM, PMM, Marketing, Operations, DS, Design, and engineering

Cognitive ScienceApplied ResearchField StudiesCommunicationProduct ResearchUser Research

Accenture

2 roles

UX researcher | Team lead

Jun 2017 – Nov 2018 · 1 yr 5 mos

Communication

Sr UX Researcher

Jun 2016 – Jun 2017 · 1 yr

Role:
> Led and owned research across different verticles including conversational UI. Directed various products and service integrations through their full development cycles.
> Advocated research practice across stakeholders to build shared user empathy and engagement with the research program
> Newsroom articles: Worte article series to broadcast research and design learnings, methods and processes for broader stakeholders and leadership teams
Key projects include:
> Chat and Voice interface/chatbot, Talent Management
(Highlights: Both the projects won Brandon Hall awards Gold and Silver)

Communication

Tata elxsi

Researcher | Industrial Design

Jun 2014 – May 2016 · 1 yr 11 mos

Tata Elxsi is a global design and technology services company providing solutions across various industrial domains.
Role:
> Worked across domains like FMCG, mass transport systems, education, trends and automobiles with a keen focus on consumer-led research.
> Trained junior researchers and project interns for delivering larger projects and supported building research pitches for maintaining a healthy project pipeline
Key projects:
> Led Kochi metro research end to end: Ethnographic understanding of travel and commute needs to guide the design strategy for integrated mobility solutions [Brand, Experience, digital platform [Mobility app], Spl focus: Accessibility ]
> Drove the Asian Paints trends forecast project: India centric consumer trends that can shape lifestyle directions.
> Automobile HMI: With leading Japanese OEM to guide next directions for HMI based on rigorous industry HMI benchmarking [Infotainment systems]
(Highlight: Kochi metro won IF design award in the field of Service Design)

Unilever

2 roles

Research and Design consultant

Jan 2013 – Jun 2014 · 1 yr 5 mos

Research and Design Intern

Jan 2013 – Jun 2013 · 5 mos

Led pan India research for India launch of a Tea brand: As a part of the project, I’ve worked closely with India’s RnD beverage teams’ under the mentorship of consumer technical insights lead. The project focussed on delivering insights and ideas for India-launch of an existing (global) product.
Informed market positioning for new consumer acquisition, insights that helped curb churned consumers and contextualize the product for the market