The UX Research Powerhouse
Foundations of Strategic UX Research Leadership
UX research has outgrown its usability-testing roots. Today, it is one of the most powerful forces for shaping products, reducing risk, and driving business strategy. Yet too often, researchers stepping into leadership roles are left without the tools, frameworks, or guidance to make that leap with confidence.
In this groundbreaking guide, Dr. Emmanuelle Savarit draws on two decades of experience building and leading research teams across industries to show how UX research can become a strategic powerhouse. Blending practical frameworks with candid lessons from the field, she maps out how to:
Transition from individual contributor to impactful leader
Build high-performing research teams and scalable operations
Align research with business goals and KPIs
Earn credibility at the executive table
Navigate politics, underperformance, and organisational silos
Evangelise insights and make research indispensable across the company
Lead your first 365 days with clarity, confidence, and impact
CHECKLISTS.
CANVASES.
365 DAYS LEADERSHIP ROADMAP.
Alongside checklists, canvases, and a full first-year leadership roadmap, this volume also includes a bonus chapter on AI, drawing lessons from past digital transformations to show how UX research must lead in shaping ethical, human-centered AI adoption.
Both a practical playbook and a manifesto, The UX Research Powerhouse is the essential guide for research leaders who want to move beyond tactical delivery into lasting influence.