What Teaching Taught Me About UXR
When I transitioned from public education into UX research, I carried a heavy doubt: would any of my skills as a teacher matter in this new field?
I spent 11 years teaching English in Brooklyn. I thought I'd left that world behind when I entered tech—but seven years into my UXR career, I now realize those teaching instincts never left. In fact, they’ve quietly shaped everything I do.
Here are six teaching skills that turned out to be cornerstones of my work as a UX researcher:
🧠 1. Asking the Right Questions
Getting teenagers to debate if Holden Caulfield was emo taught me that the quality of the question determines the depth of the conversation. That instinct translates directly to research. Asking good questions—whether in interviews, surveys, or stakeholder meetings—is make-or-break for generating insights that matter.
🌱 2. Spotting Early Signals
I had to notice when a disengaged student finally leaned in. That micro-shift was a clue, a green shoot worth nurturing. In qualitative research, spotting early signals and helping teams align around them is how you find (and grow) the opportunity.
📘 3. Backwards Planning
Great teachers plan with the end in mind. If the goal is a strong essay, you build the lessons piece by piece. In UXR, it’s the same: clear outcomes guide smart research design—and asking the right framing questions of your team strengthens the impact.
🔄 4. Embracing Iteration
Teaching is the ultimate iterative craft. What flops in first period might soar in second. UXR is no different. We learn fast, adapt, and try again—because we’re committed to getting it right for the people we serve.
🌐 5. Thinking in Systems
To support one student, you often have to understand their full ecosystem—home, school, community. UXR demands similar systems thinking. We’re mapping the complex intersections of tools, teams, and lives. It’s never just about one feature.
🎯 6. Staying User-Centered
Great teachers are student-centered. That clarity of purpose—this is about them—is something I carry into every research project. Scope, priorities, advocacy: everything becomes clearer when you stay anchored to who you’re doing this for.
Reflecting on this has been a reminder that our past careers don’t get left behind—they become the foundation for how we show up next.
If you’re a career switcher (or thinking about becoming one), I’d love to hear: what surprising skills have followed you into your next chapter