Samantha Taylor Hodges

I didn’t start my career as a User Experience Researcher. I started my career in a classroom as an elementary school educator. As a teacher, I learned quickly that meaningful outcomes start with deep understanding. Every lesson required curiosity, empathy, structured observation and the ability to adapt in real-time based on what people truly needed, not what we assumed they needed.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I realized my young students needed an e-learning platform that they could access so they could continue their education remotely in a world that was not yet built for them. I developed a simple website where my students could log in to their Zoom room and their parents could find all information in a single location. Without realizing it, I was developing the very skills that define strong user researchers today.

That foundation naturally led me to UX research, where I now bring over five years of experience leading mixed-methods studies that inform product strategy and improve customer experiences. I approach research with both rigor and empathy, blending qualitative depth with quantitative evidence to uncover insights that drive confident decision-making. Known for being a thoughtful collaborator, I partner closely with product, design, and engineering teams to translate complex human behaviors into clear, actionable recommendations that create measurable impact.

What continues to motivate me is the opportunity to advocate for people at scale. My background in education shaped my belief that listening is one of the most powerful tools needed for change. That belief guides how I practice research today. Whether I am uncovering unmet needs, influencing product direction, or helping teams see their customers more clearly, my goal remains the same: design experiences that genuinely support the people they are built for.