Jemma Ahmed

" Without ongoing, deep investment in our education, we risk losing credibility with increasingly methodologically fluent stakeholders. "

" Skin folk aren’t necessarily kinfolk — diversity doesn’t magically prevent inequitable research. "

" The relational dynamics of knowledge are shifting from hierarchical and linear to relational and plural. "

" The big question to ask in collaboration is: what is the main question you’re trying to answer and why does it matter? "

" Holding onto power too long might backfire because teams can make decisions without data, making you irrelevant. "

" Newness isn’t necessarily a new methodology—it can be a new way of looking at something familiar. "

" We need to treat people as people, not users, because they are not a utility or a commodity. "

" Each stage of growth brings different challenges for UX to overcome. "

" Perhaps we shouldn't even be moving beyond the concept of democratization but rethinking it altogether. "

" Redefining who researchers are can teach us new ways to share stories. "

" Collaboration is great but we must support teams moving toward a goal, not just theorizing endlessly. "

" We need more governance and rigor around methodologies rather than just democratization. "

" The project was scary and uncomfortable but has been totally worth it for faster, cheaper, and more customer-centric research. "

" We can’t expect all researchers to switch seamlessly across methods without training and time. "