This week’s guest is all about curiosity, craft, and community. We were introduced by Kevin (thank you, Kevin!), and I’m so glad we connected. Sophie brings a really thoughtful perspective on UX research. From navigating early career uncertainty to mentoring the next generation.
The resources links and mentions in this podcast are VERY good, so I highly recommend checking them out (see all listed with links below).
What we talk about
How Sophie went from a background in chemical engineering to discovering UX research at a London tech startup
The journey from scheduling user interviews to becoming a UX Researcher at British Gas
What great research looks like (and when not to do it!)
Her passion for surveys and how to craft them properly
Hosting community events that blend UX, music, and mentorship
Tips for getting into public speaking and building confidence as an early-career professional
Our guest
Sophie Aldebert
Current Role: UX Researcher at Centrica
Supports 6 product teams across web, account, renewal, and strategy
Uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods to help teams understand user needs and make better decisions
Location: London (originally from France)
Passions & Interests: UX, community, mentoring, music (listening and playing — especially piano)
She wears many hats. Along with her role as a UX Researcher she also works on:
Events & community building
Hosts a charitable UX networking event that combines community, mentoring, and music (think piano covers of Castle in the Sky and Succession) over wine and cheese
Actively mentors 1:1 and through programmes at UCL and King’s College
Has spoken at universities, networking events and conferences to raise early-career voices in the industry
Sophie’s path to now
Studied Chemical Engineering but found it too removed from people
Moved to London for a second Master’s in Science, Tech & Society
Took a graduate job at CORD (a tech startup), working in growth, customer support, and product
Discovered UX research by accident — Googled it and knew immediately it was for her
Started hands-on and admin-heavy, but wanted more space to grow her craft
Joined British Gas over two years ago where she’s been able to deepen her research experience and impact
Learnings
Surveys: done well
Sophie loves surveys, but says they’re often misused as a quick validation method
It’s all about reaching the right people, asking the right questions, minimising bias, and analysing results properly
Research methods
Moderated vs unmoderated — Sometimes you guide users live; sometimes they test on their own
User interviews & tTesting — Understand behaviours and usability with real scenarios
Competitor analysis — Draw inspiration from others
Data collaboration — Don’t forget what your org already knows — check in with other teams
Tools
Miro — Planning, ideation, collaboration
PowerPoint — Reporting insights in an engaging way (yes, really)
UserZoom — For video tagging and quote extraction
Reduct — video editing software
Tips & tricks
Know when not to do research; context is everything
Learn independently: tons of free resources on YouTube and podcasts
Be organised. Use templates and document your process
Surround yourself with curious, eager learners
Getting into public speaking
Start small: unis, local events, even remote talks
Be proactive and pitch yourself with a clear subject and takeaways
Reach out to people who inspire you, most are happy to help
Prepare well and do dry runs
You’ll get better each time
People remember how you made them feel more than what you said. Just be yourself
Sophie uses no notes to feel more natural
Applying for UX Research roles
Portfolio? Not always necessary ,if asked, keep it simple
A solid CV is crucial, use proper methods language, share your thought process, and highlight impact
Have case studies ready in a slide deck format
Even if no one asks for it; keep a personal research portfolio for you
Resources
Day-to-day tools
Notion — For personal admin and organisation
Google UX Certificate — Great for grasping foundational concepts and avoiding bias
Nielsen Norman Group — Gold standard for UX research content
Testing platforms with great resources
UserTesting
Maze
Books
Interviewing Users by Steve Portigal
Surveys That Work by Caroline Jarrett
Job search inspiration
UX researcher from Google “Aona Talks” on Youtube (Aona Yang on Linkedin), who shares career tips on YouTube (she swears by them!)
Shout outs
Miranda Seidl — Senior Product Designer at Universal Music, Founder of PD Ladies
From chemical engineering to UX research at Centrica, Sophie’s story shows how curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to learn can shape an unexpected career in tech. If you’re interested in research, mentoring, or building your confidence in the industry, this one’s for you.
