Enterprise SaaS
10 user research experts
These ten professionals have led user research inside the companies they worked for, as heads and directors of user and UX research. A reader can learn how companies build and run user research from the inside.
Professionals to explore
01—10Anna Howell
LinkedInExperience: Head of UX Research, Developer Infrastructure · Meta
Former Head of UX Research, Developer Infrastructure (2022–2024) and Head of UX Research, Responsible Innovation (2020–2022) at Meta. The profile says this person led a team focused on understanding software developers as users, and built a research function in the Responsible Innovation role. Former Principal UX Researcher, Developer Infrastructure at Meta (2024–2025).
Jocelyn Landau
LinkedInExperience: Director, Head of UXR Monetization, Business AI, Integrity & Support · WhatsApp
Director, Head of UXR Monetization, Business AI, Integrity & Support at WhatsApp since July 2026, where the profile says this person is responsible for leading the global UX research organization for WhatsApp monetization, business products, and integrity and support experiences. Former Senior Director, Head of Global Product UX Research, Data & Insights at Netflix (2021–2025).
Jyothi Venkat
LinkedInExperience: Global Head of Research & Strategy · OKX
Former Global Head of Research & Strategy at OKX (2023–2025), where the profile says this person built and led a cross-regional UX Research team across APAC, US and Europe, reporting directly to the CEO's office. Former Sr Director UX Research at Stash (2022) and Head of Ux Research and consumer Insights at Yahoo (2019–2021).
Kristen Guth
LinkedInExperience: Director, Head of User Research · Reddit, Inc.
Former Director, Head of User Research (2021–2022), Senior Manager, Head of User Research (2020–2021) and Principal of UX Research (2022–2023) at Reddit, Inc. Lead Senior User Researcher at Snowflake since March 2023. The profile cites experience developing and implementing a UX research strategy aligned with product and business goals, working with designers, product managers and developers.
Londa Overbeck
LinkedInExperience: Director of User Research · Lyft
Director of User Research at Lyft since November 2023. Former User Research Senior Manager (2021–2023) and User Research Manager (2019–2021) at Lyft. The profile says this person represents the research team as a core member of senior leadership and advocates a data-driven approach.
Margie Mateo Villanueva
LinkedInExperience: Head UX Research · Loom
Former Head UX Research (2022–2023) and Staff, Founding UX Researcher (2020–2022) at Loom, where the profile says this person joined as the founding researcher and built the function. Head of Research, Teamwork Collection at Atlassian since July 2025, and former Head of Research, Loom (Post-Acquisition) at Atlassian (2023–2025).
Nizar Saqqar
LinkedInExperience: Director, Head of User Research · Snowflake
Director, Head of User Research at Snowflake since May 2021. Former UX Research Manager, YouTube Fan Engagement and Social Distribution (2019–2021) and UX Research Lead, YouTube Posts (2018–2019) at Google, and former Head of Interaction Design & UX Research at BOLD (2015–2018).
Roy Opata Olende
LinkedInExperience: Head of UX Research · Zapier
Former Head of UX Research (2021–2024) and Head of Research Operations (2020–2021) at Zapier. Senior Manager, UX Research at Priceline since June 2026, and former Lead UX Researcher at The Browser Company (2024–2026). The profile says this person built the organizational infrastructure that makes research scale.
Sarah Davis
LinkedInExperience: Head of User Research · Cleo
Former Head of User Research at Cleo (2024–2025), where the profile says this person directed user and market research across business verticals, partnering with Product, Design and Marketing. Former Head of Research for Live at Spotify (2021–2024) and former Product Researcher at Shopify (2018–2021).
Sarah Gregory
LinkedInExperience: Director of User Research (Consumer) · Coinbase
Director of User Research (Consumer) at Coinbase since August 2023. Former Senior User Research Manager (2021–2023), User Research Manager (2020–2021) and User Research Team Lead (2018–2020) at Coinbase; the profile says this person founded and built the team.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's experience to your stage: someone who joined as a founding researcher suits questions about standing up a research practice from nothing, while someone who led a large research organization suits questions about team structure, research operations and influencing senior leaders. Also ask what kinds of products they researched, since consumer apps, developer tools and enterprise software call for different methods.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you decide which product questions research should take on, and which to leave to product teams?
- 02What did your first research hires look like, and how did the team structure change as it grew?
- 03How did you make sure research findings actually changed product decisions?
Reaching user research experts
How can I contact one of these user research experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Meta, WhatsApp and OKX, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach user research experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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