Jan 2024 – Jun 2025 · 1 yr 5 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Aug 2021 – Dec 2023 · 2 yrs 4 mos

• As Vahan grew to add a new business line, I built the research team to cater to the expanding mandate whilst re-enforcing research rigor.
• Directed design innovation sprints, leading to the development of 6 unique features such as earned wage access and microcredit, which increased user retention by 60%.
• Led longitudinal churn studies for the staffing business, which identified key levers that improved week-on-week retention to 75% (best in the industry).
• Surveyed small/medium recruiters, used insights to shape Q4 product roadmap, leading to improved user satisfaction.
• Built and led a research team to expand insights across 3 product lines, driving user-focused strategies for jobseeker and recruiter products.

Apr 2020 – Jul 2021 · 1 yr 3 mos

• Joined Vahan as the 1st UX Researcher at the seed stage to establish a research practice and user-centric product development.
• Analyzed funnel data to find problems, designed and tested 7 chatbot flows, reducing drop-off and improving job applications. Worked closely with engineering and marketing teams.
• Built a continuous research practice, crafted templates, and trained PMs/designers, reducing feature evaluation and discovery time by 50% and accelerating product cycles.
• Mapped workflows of recruitment firms to identify a major point of friction, leading to improved internal processes and tracking, improving candidate placement by 35%.

Sep 2019 – Mar 2020 · 6 mos · New York City Metropolitan Area

• Conducted research for NYT's Audience Insights team to improve ux flows of news and lifestyle sections.
• Led unmoderated and moderated usability studies, significantly enhancing digital experiences for 8 user flows on the NYT App, including the 2020 Election News and The Weekly.
• Conducted discovery and evaluative research studies to uncover insights on leisure reading, which led to reinventing The Weekender feature for younger audiences.

Sep 2018 – Dec 2019 · 1 yr 3 mos · New York City Metropolitan Area

• While studying I took up two academic positions at The New School. I worked as a research assistant for the Journalism Department and as a Teaching Assistant in the Sustainable System Course for the Parsons School of Design.
• Conducted secondary research, trends research and systems analysis for the Journalism Department, resulting in complex systems map and foresight workshops.
• Developed curriculum, managed in class activities & gamified learning experiences for sustainable systems course at Parsons School of Design.

Feb 2015 – Jul 2017 · 2 yrs 5 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

• Worked with senior leadership to drive companywide cross-functional initiatives in business strategy and product development.
• Developed a reader feedback system between readers, sales teams and newsroom, which influenced strategic editorial and business decisions. Feedback included town halls, focus groups, user interviews with readers, vendors and advertisers across 5 cities.
• Led the delivery of 4 design projects by managing and aligning design consultants and internal stakeholders.

Oct 2012 – Dec 2014 · 2 yrs 2 mos · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

• Designed and managed projects at a bespoke architecture firm developing industrial, residential, and institutional projects.
• Designed and managed 4 projects end-to-end. The design process included observational studies, stakeholders interviews; prototyping, iterating the architectural design & project management.
• Projects: Eco-resort, luxury homes, factories for Automotive Industries, in South India.