My story
My first memory with technology is from when I was seven, sitting in front of a Commodore, programming it to draw a rabbit out of circles. The idea that I could draw something without even touching a pencil completely blew my mind.
I’ve always been curious about how people think and make decisions, so I studied sociology. Honestly, I learned more about social behavior from Malcolm Gladwell’s books than from my university courses, but it gave me a solid background in data analysis. After a brief stint in academia, I realized it wasn’t the right pace for me—I needed faster and real-world impact. So I went for an MBA and eventually discovered User Experience (UX). That’s when everything clicked. I applied to UX Studio, landed a job as a UX Researcher, and for the first time, I felt like I was in the right place doing the right thing.
The culture at UX Studio was supportive and built on transparency, flat hierarchies, and honest feedback, which inspired me to take ownership of my work and contribute my best. That’s why I decided to stay with them.
I’ve worked on widely used products like HBO Max and LogMeIn (now GoTo, a leading B2B SaaS) as an integral part of the product team. But what drives me isn’t how fancy the product is; it’s about what it’s meant to do—learning from each experience and seeing its positive impact. I’m most proud of my work with the World Food Programme, where we reduced budget approval times by 50%, accelerating critical food assistance to 150 million people affected by conflict and disaster.
Work Experience
2015- Now
Lead UX Researcher
UX Studio
I led end-to-end research activities on over 20 digital products, covering all stages of the product life cycle, as an integrated part of cross-functional teams. Managed and scaled Research Operations including recruitment and research repositories. Presented the insight and ideated on new solutions.
Scaled the team from 12 to 18 designers and researchers, introducing a UX competency framework to help them grow individually and as a team. By creating a flexible, transparent, and professional environment, we earned the Lovable Workplaces Award.
2018-now
Team Mentor and Lecturer
Moholy-Nagy Open University
Provide online lectures and workshops on qualitative and quantitative UX research methods.
2017 April - June
User Experience Designer
PwC New Zealand
Run design sprint with two PwC experience designers for the Foodstuffs team. Developed a high-fidelity prototype within 2 days and conducted 10 usability tests. We achieved significant usability improvements and +67 NPS in a week for an MVP app, focusing on gestures, onboarding, and navigation.
While expecting my first son, I said yes to teaching on UX courses, partly out of a fear of missing out, something many women experience in their careers. Little did I know that parenting and mentoring would teach me more about storytelling, empathy, and problem-solving than I ever imagined.
I like to demystify UX and show a practical, simple approach that helps UX researchers and designers start learning by experimenting and grow from sharing their experience.
Beyond work
What we do outside of work plays a significant role in how we approach our professional lives. I believe maintaining a healthy balance is crucial for creativity. Here are a few of my personal interests that support my mental health and shape my work:
Reading: I love getting lost in books written by contemporary Hungarian authors and Haruki Murakami before sleep. Their storytelling often sparks new perspectives for my work.
Sport: I'm a distance runner, and I'll keep going as long as it makes me happy. It’s a peaceful time to reflect. I do Pilates or HIIT at least three times a week. Movement keeps me energized and in motion.
Sketching: I’m passionate about sketching, even though I’m not a pro. I enjoy turning my kids' scribbles into little animals, which brings a sense of creativity and playfulness to my life.
I enjoy spending time with my family, laughing with my kids, and playing role plays with their LEGO set, led by them. I love showing them the beauty of life, even when it’s unpredictable, right now, here in New Zealand!
And whenever I can I love to listen to Nicolas Jaar music.
