Kristen Althizer

Lead end-to-end mixed-methods research across 40+ projects for enterprise and consumer technology clients, spanning AI products, two-sided marketplaces, AR/VR, and enterprise SaaS. Partner with product, design, engineering, and data science teams to scope research, execute studies, and translate findings into strategic frameworks and product direction that influence roadmap decisions at scale.

• ·Shaped Google's product strategy for AI-powered business tools, as measured by active adoption across multiple Google product teams, by synthesizing ~55 research reports to design a foundational user archetype framework for Google Merchant Center that mapped the full user landscape including AI agents as distinct user types.
• ·Built Google.org's understanding of their user base, as measured by Google.org returning for two additional research engagements, by conducting 28 in-depth interviews and developing three user archetypes that gave the organization a clear, shared picture of their audience.
• ·Defined how AI delivers meaningful value to knowledge workers, as measured by a publicly published white paper as lead author (2026) in partnership with Google, by leading a two-phase study with 27 neurodivergent knowledge workers combining qualitative interviews and a heuristic evaluation of 10 AI productivity tools.
• ·Shaped Amazon Rufus product strategy at concept stage, as measured by findings feeding directly into 12 successive product iterations (~90 participants total), by studying how shoppers built trust with an AI acting on their behalf and how mental models of agentic AI formed in real time.
• ·Informed enterprise product strategy for Google Workspace, as measured by supporting a platform migration of 10,000+ users, by leading a critical user journey study identifying friction points and adoption barriers.
• ·Led evaluative research for Meta Reality Labs across mixed, augmented, and virtual reality hardware and software including early-stage device prototypes.
• ·Led international research across the UK and Brazil, including direct management of a Brazilian research vendor.

Embedded product researcher on a multidisciplinary team building Second Step Elementary and Second Step SEL for Adults — evidence-based SEL programs now reaching 16.5 million children annually, recognized by the White House, U.S. Department of Education, JAMA, and CASEL. Led research across the full product lifecycle alongside PMs, designers, and engineers.

• ·Shaped product decisions across the full development lifecycle of two programs, by translating learning science research and qualitative user feedback into measurable evaluation criteria and actionable product insights.
• ·Led a team of ten contractor observers across multi-year, multi-site field studies, by establishing repeatable field protocols, conducting observer training, and building a research repository for knowledge sharing.
• ·Mentored and trained team members formally and informally in research methods, raising research quality across the team.
• ·Co-authored multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts contributing original research to the academic literature on social-emotional learning.