Amy Wilkins is a sociology PhD with over 15 years of experience leading high impact qualitative research teams. She spent the first part of her career as a professor, where she published an award winning book and over 20 peer-reviewed publications. After leaving academia, she gained experience conducting product research for small start ups and through volunteer experience with Hack for LA, before taking a job as the Director of Insight at an integrated advertising agency. In that role, she managed and planned a portfolio of 7 market research and brand strategy accounts across the tourism, finance, utility, non-profit and healthcare verticals. She works cross-functionally across the agency to conduct, interpret and apply consumer and market research insights to develop strategic business insights. Her passion is research, and she would like to be in a position that allows her to do more research more of the time. Her strengths are in-depth interviews, focus groups, and contextual inquiry/ethnography, but she has a wide range of experience, including usability testing.