Aryn Korpalski reminds us that research is as much about human connection π€ as it is about dataβand why hospitality, curiosity, and thoughtful service are the real secrets to impactful insights π―.
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Episode Chapters:
00:00 β Why In-Person Magic Canβt Be Replicated Virtually
00:30 β Welcome and Introduction
02:00 β Meet Aryn Korpalski
03:06 β Musical Theatre, Sports, and Finding Confidence in Rugby
10:00 β Growing Up in Denver and Becoming a Chicagoan
14:42 β Curiosity, Hospitality, and the Work of Fieldwork
18:20 β Complex Briefs and Protecting Participant Trust
22:55 β Global Research and Partnering with Competitors
27:30 β Preparing for the Next Thing: AI and Data Quality
35:11 β Baking Accessibility Into Every Project
40:30 β Making Research Emotionally Accessible
44:01 β Beyond Insights: Community and Connection
47:23 β The Power of Observation Rooms
51:30 β Gathering Intentionally and Leadership Energy
56:00 β Why Making βYesβ Matter Builds Trust
1:09:05 β Closing Reflections and Where to Find Aryn
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Who is Aryn Korpalski?
Aryn is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Services at Fieldwork, a company trusted worldwide for in-person research facilities, digital capabilities, and global recruitment services.
She has:Β
β Led Fieldworkβs corporate operations and strategic client partnershipsΒ
β Managed research projects across diverse industries and culturesΒ
β Advocated for participant-first experiences and inclusive research practicesΒ
β Embraced hospitality as a guiding principle in research operations
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Find Aryn Korpalski here:
LinkedIn β https://www.linkedin.com/in/arynkorpalski/
Fieldwork β https://www.fieldwork.com/
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ποΈ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Β
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK Β
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween
Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
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Follow Brave UX for more great content!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ Β
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/
======
Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ Β
The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/
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1:13:32
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1:13:32
Changying (Z) Zheng - Connecting Teams Through Ops
Changying (Z) Zheng brings calm thinking to DesignOps β showing how clarity, storytelling, and ruthless prioritisation help design teams thrive .
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Episode Chapters:
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00:00 β Why Design Needs to Prove Its Value
00:30 β Welcome and Introduction
02:30 β From Graphic Design to Design Ops Leadership
05:40 β Running a Dairy-Free Dessert Business and Learning Calm Leadership
10:00 β Leading Without Drama and Seeing Multiple Perspectives
13:00 β Design Ops as Service Design for Design Teams
16:00 β Storytelling, Outcomes, and Speaking the Language of Business
18:45 β Earning and Keeping a Seat at the Table
21:00 β Moving from Ticket Taking to Strategic Design Work
26:00 β Saying No Kindly and Introducing Office Hours
32:00 β People, Process, and Platform as Core Pillars
36:00 β Becoming the Connective Tissue Across Orgs
42:00 β Growing Into Product Ops at Cloudflare
55:00 β Communication as the Connective Tissue of Ops
1:10:00 β A Two-by-Two Framework for Career Development Β
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Who is Changying (Z) Zheng?
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Changying (Z) Zheng is a Director of Product Operations at Cloudflare, where sheβs scaled the operational backbone of one of the internetβs most recognisable infrastructure companies .
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She has: Β
Started as a team of one and built thriving design and research operations Β
Worked in agencies, higher education, and at companies like Akamai, VMware, and Nasdaq Β
Founded and ran her own retail business Β
Delivered talks at The DevOps Conference and DesignOps Summit, shaping how people understand DesignOps in technical environments
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======
Β
Find Changying (Z) Zheng here:
Β
LinkedIn β https://www.linkedin.com/in/changyingz/
Website β https://www.changyingart.com/
Β
======
Subscribe to Brave UX
Like what you heard? Β
ποΈ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Β
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK Β
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween
Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
======
Follow Brave UX for more great content!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ Β
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Β
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/
======
Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ Β
The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/
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1:14:29
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1:14:29
Jake Burghardt - Stop Wasting Research
Jake Burghardt explores why so much research goes unused , why timing matters more than tools , and how to transform insights into real impact for teams and strategy .
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======
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Episode Chapters:
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00:00 β Why Careers Shouldnβt Hinge on One Team
00:30 β Welcome and Introduction
01:27 β Jakeβs Work at Amazon and the Intersection of Ops
03:00 β Early Days: Patents, Psychology, and Consulting Work
05:46 β Becoming a Generalist Across Disciplines
08:05 β The Rise of Research, Design, and Product Ops
10:12 β Writing Stop Wasting Research and the Story Behind the Title
13:45 β Timing Research to Influence Planning Cycles
16:52 β Who Can Reduce Research Waste in Large Orgs?
21:14 β Root Causes of Research Waste: Preparation, Motivation, Integration
27:09 β The Challenge of Prioritising Insights
31:30 β What Competitors Would Pay to Know You Forgot
36:32 β Tools, Repositories, and Making Insights Stick
42:00 β Practical Ways to Promote Overlooked Insights
1:03:00 β Closing Reflections and Where to Find Jake
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Who is Jake Burghardt?
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Jake Burghardt is a veteran of the research, product, and design worlds, helping organisations close the gap between what they know and what they act on. His upcoming book, *Stop Wasting Research*, offers a new framework for turning insights into action.
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======
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Find Jake Burghardt here:
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LinkedIn β https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeburghardt/
Blog β https://medium.com/integrating-researchΒ
Newsletter β https://www.integratingresearch.com/newsletter
Book: Stop Wasting Research β https://www.integratingresearch.com/#book
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======
Β
Subscribe to Brave UX
Like what you heard? Β
ποΈ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Β
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK Β
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween
Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
======
Follow Brave UX for more great content!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ Β
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Β
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/
======
Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ Β
The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/
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1:05:39
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1:05:39
Ehab Bandar - Designing a Life of Creative Freedom
Ehab Bandar shares why creative freedom, curiosity, and human connection matter more than ever in design β exploring how resilience, adaptability, and gratitude shape a lasting career in UX .
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Episode Chapters:
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00:00 β Designing with First Principles in Mind
00:45 β Welcome and Introduction
02:10 β Meet Ehab Bandar
04:20 β From Architecture to Design Strategy
07:05 β Founding Big Tomorrow and Its Mission
10:40 β Learning from Corporate Clients and Early Struggles
14:00 β Why Culture Shapes Every Design Decision
17:45 β Balancing Human Needs and Business Demands
22:18 β The Role of Design in Tackling Climate Change
27:00 β Shifting From Growth at All Costs to Responsible Growth
31:42 β Why Designers Must Think Like Futurists
36:15 β Systemic Design and the Power of Long-Term Thinking
41:00 β Teaching Organizations to See the Bigger Picture
46:20 β Why Leadership Needs a Broader Design Lens
52:05 β Building Resilience in Times of Uncertainty
57:30 β Closing Reflections and Where to Find Ehab
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Who is Ehab Bandar?
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Ehab Bandar is a seasoned UX design leader and independent consultant whose career spans fintech, real estate, hospitality, and beyond .
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He has:
Led design teams for clients like Airbnb and Charles Schwab Β
Founded Bigtable, a design and innovation consulting firm Β
Shared insights through *The Experience Architect* newsletter Β
Taught graduate design courses at the Academy of Art University
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======
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Find Ehab Bandar here:
Β
LinkedIn β https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehabbandar/
Bigtable β https://bigtable.co/
Website β https://www.ehabbandar.com/
Substack β https://ehabbandar.substack.com/
Β
======
Subscribe to Brave UX
Like what you heard? Β
ποΈ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Β
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK Β
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween
Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
======
Follow Brave UX for more great content!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ Β
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Β
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/
======
Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ Β
The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/
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1:08:37
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1:08:37
Chetana Deorah - From Silicon Valley to Soulful Design
Chetana Deorah explores what it means to step off the career treadmill , rediscover creativity beyond metrics , and build a life rooted in connection, community, and courage βsharing why the most meaningful design often begins within .
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Episode Chapters:
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00:00 β Growing Up in a Sheltered Business Family
00:30 β Welcome and Introduction
02:11 β Meet Chetana Deorah
03:24 β Opening with a Poem by Sri Aurobindo
04:30 β Leaving Silicon Valley and Returning to India
07:30 β Life and Purpose in Auroville
12:00 β Yoga as Union, Not Just Asana
13:34 β Leaving India to Resist Cultural Norms
17:38 β The Marriage Path She Refused
20:16 β Her Fatherβs Rebellious Influence and Strength
25:00 β Seeing India Change While Living Abroad
29:00 β Asking: βIs There Another Ladder to Climb?β
33:01 β From Busyness to Learning How to Do Nothing
42:54 β Creativity and Community Projects in Auroville
50:00 β Rethinking Money, Growth, and Human Unity
57:30 β Lessons From Silicon Valley on Bravery and Growth
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Who is Chetana Deorah?
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Chetana Deorah is a seasoned design leader, educator, and community builder whose career bridges tech, creativity, and social impact .
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She has:
Led product design at Netflix, Scribd, Yahoo, Pivotal Labs, and Pentagram Β
Shaped global digital experiences for hundreds of millions of users Β
Founded community projects in India focused on art, sustainability, and human connection Β
Chosen a new path outside Silicon Valley to explore soulful, human-centered design
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======
Β
Find Chetana Deorah here:
Β
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetanadeorah/
Β
======
Subscribe to Brave UX
Like what you heard? Β
ποΈ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Β
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK Β
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween
Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/
======
Follow Brave UX for more great content!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ Β
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Β
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/
======
Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ Β
The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/
Welcome to the Brave UX with Brendan Jarvis podcast, your go-to destination for exploring the intersection of UX research, design, and product. Do you share a passion for developing and launching products that deliver superior and ethical experiences? If so, join your host, Brendan Jarvis, as he talks to industry and thought leaders in UX, product management, and product design. Get inspired and informed, and challenge yourself to become a better leader and think outside the canvas, both in what you do and occasionally in who you are.