# Vera Schulz > Technical UX Researcher & Product Strategist | Bilingual (German & English) | AI & ML Product Expertise | Accessibility (A11Y) | Data-Driven Design & Workflow Optimization Location: San Francisco, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/veraschulz Senior UX Researcher & Product Manager | AI, ML & Accessibility Advocate | Data-Driven Product Design I thrive at the intersection of curiosity and execution; turning complex data, interviews, and prototypes into products that resonate with users and stakeholders alike. For 5+ years, I’ve partnered with founders, executives, and engineers to make informed product decisions, accelerate adoption, and improve usability across fintech, health tech, climate, and AI domains. I specialize in: - Mixed-method UX research (qualitative + quantitative) - Conversational AI & agent-like interfaces - Accessibility & inclusive design (WCAG / A11Y / POUR) - Complex systems & dashboard usability - Onboarding, retention, and engagement optimization - Research Ops, product strategy, and cross-functional alignment I help teams move fast, focus on high-impact decisions, and ensure research drives products that succeed in the real world. ## Work Experience ### UX Researcher & Product Manager @ Stealth AI Startup Jan 2025 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area Product launched on App Store: https://heypenny.ai/ - Spearheaded foundational UX research and heuristic evaluations to uncover trust barriers, simplify onboarding, and optimize dashboard usability. - Leveraged expertise in conversational UX and agent-like systems to improve interaction clarity and boost user engagement. - Translated user feedback, A/B testing, and visual design findings into rapid product iterations and strategic roadmap decisions. - Conducted competitive and market analysis to shape design. - Enabled fast, focused progress by prioritizing high-impact features and applying lean product management principles. ### UX Researcher and Designer - Freelancer UX Expert @ Callistemon Insights Jan 2018 – Present | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States - Since my junior year of undergrad, I’ve grown from a freelance UX consultant into a seasoned professional, partnering with diverse clients in clean energy, health tech, gaming, AI, and diversity-focused recruiting. I specialize in user research/ design that creates accessible, intuitive, and impactful experiences, helping products succeed & users thrive. Clients include: Heart I/O (heartio.ai) HealthTech: Led UX research, design, and strategic product planning to refine physician dashboard discovery and usability. FarmtoFlames Energy (ftfenergy.com) Clean Energy: Led UX and accessibility enhancements, driving increased user engagement and retention. Thrasio(thrasio.com) E-commerce & Consumer Goods: Analyzed 200+ customer reviews to extract qualitative insights, improving product visibility and user engagement. Xogo(myxogo.com): Assistive Technology: Conducted WCAG-based research to optimize accessibility for users with motor disabilities, improving UX KPIs and ROI. Biocognon (biocognon.com): Biotechnology & Nanomedicine: Helping revamp their website, digital presence, and UX strategy to better showcase their nanobody discovery platform. SparkGeneration (sparkgenerations.com): Diversity & Inclusion Recruiting: Collaborated on UX research for a platform empowering first-gen students & professionals of color. Backbone (backbone.com): Gaming & Hardware-Software: Supported user research and usability testing for integrated gaming products, driving intuitive design improvements. CloudCode AI (Now AkiraDocs - https://akiradocs.ai/)– AI & Developer Tools: Provided UX strategy and research to streamline AI-powered development tools. Qoodle.AI (https://www.qoodle.ai/): AI & LLMs: Established design language and branding; created a high-fidelity user flow prototype, refining the experience based on user feedback. NotHotDog (Now April - https://tryapril.com/): Agentic AI: Conducted a heuristic evaluation to assess the product UX. ### Senior UX Researcher (Client Engagement: Grand Studio × Exelon) @ Design Humans™ Jan 2026 – Jan 2026 | San Francisco Bay Area Partnered with Grand Studio to support research efforts for a national public utility serving the Midwest and East Coast (Exelon). Partnering with Grand Studio to support research for Exelon, improving enterprise compliance and governance workflows. Co-led 50+ stakeholder interviews across regulatory, operational, and engineering teams to understand compliance tracking and escalation workflows. Contributed to research strategy, synthesis frameworks, and client deliverables in a highly regulated enterprise environment. ### Senior UX Researcher @ K12 Jan 2025 – Jan 2026 | San Francisco Bay Area Led end-to-end user research to guide the building and launch of an early-stage product in the education space, informing product strategy and key decisions during a critical growth phase. Key Contributions: - Synthesized insights from 120+ users across interviews and surveys to identify core friction points and high-impact opportunities. - Partnered cross-functionally with product, design, and engineering to translate research into actionable product improvements. - Identified a critical mobile experience breakdown; redesigned the flow, resulting in a 300% reduction in time-on-task and reframing the issue as a conversion opportunity. - Uncovered misalignment in targeting strategy, informing campaign consolidation, and a strategic growth pivot. - Evaluated feature timing and prioritization, preventing approximately one month of unnecessary development effort. This role required entrepreneurial thinking and lean research execution—balancing qualitative and quantitative methods, usability testing, and rapid iteration to guide decisions and validate direction efficiently. ### UX Researcher & Product Analyst @ Kutumb Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | India - Led user research and recruiting for an AI-powered dating app MVP, conducting 40+ in-depth interviews to refine user flows. - Designed and iterated multiple prototypes in Figma, refining the onboarding flow, which is now being implemented. - Audited and structured large datasets in Airtable, enhancing content organization, data retrieval, and reporting accuracy. - Developed reporting workflows, ensuring data consistency for internal teams. - Delivered UX strategy and rapid prototyping support for an LGBTQ Dating app and AI Baby Care Simulator, validating UI concepts and accelerating design iterations. ### Sole UX Researcher and Analyst @ Datacor, Inc. Jan 2022 – Jan 2023 | Florham Park, New Jersey, United States - Directed 6+ foundational and evaluative research initiatives, improving the ERP system and reducing post-launch issues through quantitative and qualitative insights. - Prototyped, tested ERP, CRM, and accounting software workflows, improving usability and reducing friction in enterprise systems. Led 15+ interviews and 2 field studies at chemical plants, engaging with diverse stakeholders to optimize workflows, developing functional UI mockups that streamlined processes. - Created, maintained a UX research repository, enabling cross-functional teams to increase data utilization for decision-making. Presented findings to senior leadership, providing actionable strategies that improved product usability and customer satisfaction. Executed thorough market and competitive analysis for LabelCal, directly shaping product positioning and informing product positioning in the market - Executed contextual observations at chemical plants and conducted research with a cohort of 10 users, comprising 50% representation from key stakeholder groups, including accounting teams and CPAs, to ensure the ERP system effectively met critical organizational needs. - Engaged directly with C-suite executives, the Head of Product, and the Design Manager to streamline legacy software, greatly improving usability and reducing post-launch issues. ### User Experience Researcher & Analyst @ Sherwin-Williams Jan 2022 – Jan 2022 - Built and tested functional prototypes for the OEM paint ordering system, identifying UX friction and improving process efficiency. - Streamlined the paint ordering process, improving operational efficiency and driving seamless user experience across the system. - Worked closely with product and engineering teams to refine workflows, aligning UI design with usability insights. ### Digital Experience (UXR and UXD) @ PNC Jan 2021 – Jan 2021 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States - Partnered with the PNC Private Bank team to gain deep insights into wealth management and the financial services space. - Developed interactive prototypes in Sketch to improve onboarding for PNC’s wealth management platform. - Collaborated closely with the design and copywriting teams to craft clear, stress-reducing error messages that enhanced system status visibility, minimized user friction, and improved accessibility. - Conducted usability testing to ensure UI, copy, and accessibility (WCAG) compliance. - Presented research findings to senior stakeholders, influencing product iterations to improve user trust, system clarity, and reduced downtime. ### Analyst and Operations Intern @ 99 Tartans, LLC Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | Greater Pittsburgh Area - Conceptualized and created the visuals of the 99 Tartans logo, and the official angel syndicate account on Gust. - To connect closer with potential users: I curated a professional network of members, and strategized new member outreach and acquisition efforts via Linkedin and Gust. Conducted weekly search sessions lasting 3-2 hours on LinkedIn to find potential members and collaborators. Created a personal optimized system of finding and identifying individuals by using Excel and Linkedin in conjunction to evaluate and track interests and actions of potential connections. - Proofread and formatted startup's Operating Agreements and Convertible Promissory Notes. ### Mobile Discussion Platform; Community and Social Media Intern @ HashChat Jan 2016 – Jan 2016 | Greater New York City Area HashChat, now BuzzzChat - Website: http://www.hashch.at/ About: HashChat is a messaging platform that instantly transforms any hashtag into a conversation. From asking questions or discussing trends to meeting people or engaging followers, HashChat makes a hashtag the custom URL for any discussion. UX Tasks: - Conducted evaluative research by leading user interviews and think-aloud protocols with potential users to assess the accessibility and desirability of the product. - Managed content creation and audience engagement through creative marketing strategies, creating a unique and successful Pinterest channel. Utilized design-thinking approaches when conducting user research and framing experiments to play-test new approaches, resulting in deeper knowledge of user interactions and user engagement SEO & Marketing Tasks: - Fostered user community, through daily engagement & promotional efforts by identifying popular trends and topics. Created boards: Street Style Council & Food Fads, experimenting with various engaging and trending topics. Grew follower ~40 to ~1,988k - Exercised the role of HashChat marketing & user experience ambassador by monitoring the activity of current users, exposing individuals to the app's concept, and noting feedback of potential users. ### Operational and Promotional Intern @ German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Jan 2015 – Jan 2016 | Greater Pittsburgh Area - I promoted the newly opened GACC branch in Pittsburgh through different social platforms and events. I was partially in charge of event organizing, recruiting new members, and reaching out to existing members. I mostly expanded the GACC's network and worked on developing new innovative ways through events, to appeal to a broader member base. - Actively promoted the New GACC branch in Pittsburgh through events and different social platforms, primarily Facebook to improve audience engagement and reach. - Helped manage event logistics including the setup and promotion of GACC events like The Welcome Reception for Scope International USA, INC, Jürgen Trittin’s, Germany’s Former Federal Minister for the Environment, visit to Pittsburgh, PA, and the Executive Roundtable Series: Immigration Visas. - Exercised role as a welcoming receptionist at GACC social events and also an assistant to the president and vice president. ## Education ### Masters of Science in Integrated Innovation for Products and Services Carnegie Mellon University ### Bachelor of Arts - BA in Globalization & Technology Innovation Carnegie Mellon University ### Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations buildspace ### Bachelor of Arts - BA in International/Global Studies Chatham University ### Pre-College Program/ Cross Registered Student in Japanese, Design, Global Studies Carnegie Mellon University ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/vera-schulz-user-advocate - Website: https://verajschulz.me/ --- Source: https://flows.cv/veraschulz JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/veraschulz/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-08