Winning Together

Sonal Srivastava is a seasoned UX researcher with over 15 years of experience working across diverse industries, including Amazon, Meta, Instacart, and Blizzard. Based in Seattle, Sonal holds a double Master's degree in Social Psychology from the University of Delhi and Human-Centered Design from the University of Washington, Seattle. Her passion lies in guiding companies in harnessing the full potential of user research for creating delightful products as well as developing the next generation of UX researchers. Her global experience—having lived and worked across continents from India and Ghana to China and the USA—has cultivated her deep understanding of cultural nuances. This, combined with her vast experience spanning from dynamic startups to established corporate giants, has honed her skills in effective stakeholder management and crafting bespoke UX research strategies. When she's not conducting research or writing, Sonal can be found exploring new places with her husband and two adventurous daughters. She has a passion for experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, is an ardent wildlife enthusiast, and actively works towards advocating for wildlife conservation.

1. Introduction, 2. Who Are (Your) Cross-Functional Partners and Why Is Their Buy-In Important?, 3. Mistakes That UX Researchers Make With Cross-Functional Partnerships, 4. Simple Strategies for Effective Cross-Functional Collaboration, 5. Advanced Strategies for Effective Cross-Functional Collaboration