Ellie Brim
UX Researcher · Meta
Seattle, WA
In My Own Words
I LOVE USER EXPERIENCE AND DESIGN RESEARCH. Setting a course and a strategy to solve a mystery. Blazing a trail through uncharted territory. Understanding people and what makes them tick. Rolling with unanticipated changes and surprises. Navigating ambiguity. Beating impossible deadlines. Generating solid data in both controlled settings and the real world. Making complex analysis easy to understand and actionable. FINDING THE STORY in a SEA OF INSIGHTS that INSPIRES HUMAN-CENTERED INNOVATION. MY PASSION lies at the intersection of PHYSICAL PRODUCT and the DIGITAL WORLD, strategy and brand, and in intentional, human-centered design that inspires a humanity-centered future. I thrive when I’m tackling a diverse landscape of challenges with varying degrees of complexity, driving both generative and evaluative research, and AM MOST IN MY ELEMENT IN THE FIELD. As an in-house team leader and a research consultant, I’ve helped billion-dollar brands, Fortune 500 companies, and start-ups, create innovative product and experiences that connect with WHAT MATTERS MOST to the PEOPLE THEY SERVE.
Think we might be a good fit? Let’s connect! Email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you!
AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Design Research | Field Research | Human-Centered Design | Innovation + Experience Design | Brand + Product Strategy | Design Thinking | Product Research + Design + Development | Brand Experience | Consumer Insights + Market Research
Work Experience
UX Researcher
Meta2023 – 2024
Magnit @Meta. Manages end-to-end generative and evaluative international research, across the Signal Growth Pillar, with a focus on lead generation and omni-channel, to create world-class advertising products that connect people and businesses, and improve the consumer experience on Facebook.
UX Researcher
Meta2022 – 2023
Magnit @ Meta. Business Experiences - B2B, B2C, and B2B2C products: Meta Business Suite, Meta Ads Manager, Business Inbox in (Facebook) Messenger, WhatsApp in Meta Business Suite, and Instagram Direct. Conducts formative research to identify the right latent needs or problems in the world to tackle product solutions, iterative design research to mold early product ideas into testable prototypes, and creative evaluative research to improve and prepare those products for market.
Board Member
Diversity Center of Seattle2018 – 2022
Creating workplaces that truly work. We help organizations create diverse, equitable and inclusive (DEI) workplaces. When everyone in the workplace feels empowered to thrive and contribute, good talent stays. New ideas emerge. Business is better equipped to compete in today's multicultural, rapidly changing, global economy.
Diversity is acknowledging our unique authenticity.
Equity is inviting those previously excluded to the tables of decision-making.
Inclusion is being mindful of our humanity and when all are engaged, respected, and valued.
The Diversity Center of Seattle supports organizations ready to build work environments that foster trust, respect and productivity that support both individual and corporate values. We're not about one-off workshops to demonstrate compliance. We're about real change. We'll meet you wherever you are and design a path to not only take you to the next level, but create a culture that leads with lifelong learning and policy change to not only ensure your organization becomes diverse and equitable, but continually audits itself to remain that way.
If your organization is ready to build a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive culture, we're ready to help.
https://diversitycentersea.org/
Research Program Manager
Blueprint2021 – 2022
Product Management & Marketing Divisions - Developed and managed the Market Research Program to inform the Leadership Team and overall company vision of a comprehensive product roadmap and go–to-market strategy.
-Analyzed market segmentation, value proposition, signals and disruptors, and conducted competitive analyses. Industries included Business Intelligence, Data Virtualization, Enterprise Resource Management, Retail, Dining, Supply Chain Management, and Energy. -Synthesized insights, identified opportunities, and translated those into an actionable strategic framework.
Research & Strategy Program Manager - US Retail and CPG Enterprise, Microsoft
Blueprint Technologies2021 – 2021
Manage Microsoft's sub-vertical research program informing GTM strategy for the Retail & Consumer Goods launch of Microsoft Cloud for Retail. Commercial Cloud annual revenue is $143 billion, $53 billion in operating income, more than $60 billion in operating cash flow, and returns $35 billion to shareholders.
Founder: Innovation Strategist & Consumer Insights Researcher
Brim Consulting Group2018 – 2021
At Brim Consulting Group we specialize in leading market research efforts and successfully executing strategic business and concept development innovation for our clients. We bring new company concepts and products to market from the initial concept, fine tune business models, and contribute to the development of successful marketing and advertising campaigns through our data-driven market research.
From developing plan strategy, including brand positioning, messaging, and best practices to supporting the strategic planning for marketing and sales goals, we collaborate with your team to ensure a unified brand vision and voice across all media channels.
Business Consultant & Market Researcher
Collective Seven | Strategy, Branding, Marketing & More2018 – 2021
Leads market research efforts for the Business Consultancy division. Directs the strategy for successful positioning and increased brand recognition in the client’s industry through data-driven market research.
Brand Strategy & Business Development Consultant
The Freestand2018 – 2019
Develops the business development outreach plan strategy, including brand positioning, messaging, and best practices in effective partnership development. Supports the strategic planning for marketing and sales goals.
Sales Development Business Advisor
Smartsheet2017 – 2018
Engaged client relationships in 190 countries, distilling their organizational priorities, roadblocks, and goals, and directing a solution strategy leveraging the platform, that enabled them to realize their vision, and elevate their brand.
-Conducted research on prospective clients’ business model and role and led interviews with subject matter experts, to better understand their user behavior and functional questions about the product, identify opportunities and submit insights for the solution roadmap, and to maximize their user experience for their business challenges and goals. Evaluated how the platform's user experience aligned with their needs and business challenges, identified opportunities, and submitted insights for the solution roadmap.
-Curated and tailored targeted brand and product position messaging for a variety of industries: Food & Beverage, Marketing, Retail, Product Design and Development, Travel & Hospitality, Entertainment & Media, Energy, Technology, Healthcare, Higher Education, Finance, Government, Real Estate & Property Management, Construction & Engineering, and Trade & Manufacturing.
Design Insights Research - Field Research Analyst: Entire REI Co-op Brands Portfolio
REI2014 – 2015
Transformed REI’s field research program from an evaluative program, to an expanded holistic approach, that included ethnographical field and generative methodologies. Managed the field research program for all 5 brands within the Private Brands Portfolio. Product generated $8.3 billion profit in 4 years. Conducted REI's first global-level field research engagement, on Mt. Everest.
Defined the vision for the Co-op Brands’ Field Research Program and pioneered a best-in-class portfolio of research methodologies to push human-centered design, product innovation and product performance. Program specialized in ethnographic field research and participatory design, while also incorporating design research, subject matter expert interviews, stakeholder interviews, concept value testing, rapid prototype insights, focus groups, and competitive analysis.
Associate Product Research Engineer
Reebok2008 – 2012
Managed the remote, in-lab, and field research programs for Reebok’s high-visibility footwear product lines. Contributed to a €5,713 million profit, 22.4% increase in operating margin, and €1,297 million earnings for shareholders in 4 years.
Managed qualitative and quantitative fit and field research efforts, research participant recruiting and relationships with 700+ research participants per year, research engagement planning, implementation, analysis and translation of insights into actionable strategy for the design and development team. Ensured the implementation of research findings informed the final product design.
