Rachel Puvvada on Anthro to UX with Matt Artz

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Rachel Puvvada speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. She first unknowingly discovered anthropology in high school through an ethnography project exploring cultural identity. This sparked her interest in studying people and cultures, leading her to earn a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Georgia. To position her for a career after college, Rachel took on ethnographic projects, created an online portfolio, and landed a UX research internship at SiriusXM. Now, as a UX researcher at Independence Pet Group, Rachel leverages her anthropology background while emphasizing continuous learning and curiosity. Passionate about helping others, she shares her less common path from an undergrad to UX to inspire other anthropology graduates.
About Rachel Puvvada
Rachel Puvvada recently earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia. She is now a UX Researcher at Figo Pet Insurance, leading as the sole member of the user experience research team. Before this, she interned as a Product and UX Researcher at SiriusXM, where she tested product designs, synthesized data, and shared insights with cross-functional teams. As a recent graduate in a new UX role, Rachel is committed to providing guidance and mentorship to individuals entering the field with similar educational backgrounds.
Key Moments
00:00:59 Rachel's interest in anthropology and cultural identity
00:04:20 Rachel's experience in the anthropology program at the University of Georgia
00:07:00 Discovering UX research and deciding on a career path
00:09:30 Considering the need for an advanced degree in UX
00:11:00 Rachel's journey of breaking into the field without a master's or PhD
00:12:00 Building a portfolio with ethnographic projects and real-world experience
00:12:56 Importance of real-world experience and managing stakeholders
00:13:00 Applying to entry-level UX research jobs
00:12:56 Real-world experience and job search struggles
00:14:43 Difficulty breaking into the field with a bachelor's degree
00:15:24 Landing an internship at Sirius XM
00:16:00 Learning usability tests and specific UX research methodologies
00:16:58 Challenges of being a team of one and relying on mentors
00:18:11 Continuing to learn and explore new methodologies
00:19:00 Finding resources through online readings and mentor relationships
00:20:14 Encouragement for job seekers to persevere and stay curious
00:22:37 Joining user research meetups and groups for networkin

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Rachel Puvvada speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. She first unknowingly discovered anthropology in high school through an ethnography project exploring cultural identity. This sparked her interest in studying people and cultures, leading her to earn a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Georgia. To position her for a career after college, Rachel took on ethnographic projects, created an online portfolio, and landed a UX research internship at SiriusXM. Now, as a UX researcher at Independence Pet Group, Rachel leverages her anthropology background while emphasizing continuous learning and curiosity. Passionate about helping others, she shares her less common path from an undergrad to UX to inspire other anthropology graduates.
About Rachel Puvvada
Rachel Puvvada recently earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia. She is now a UX Researcher at Figo Pet Insurance, leading as the sole member of the user experience research team. Before this, she interned as a Product and UX Researcher at SiriusXM, where she tested product designs, synthesized data, and shared insights with cross-functional teams. As a recent graduate in a new UX role, Rachel is committed to providing guidance and mentorship to individuals entering the field with similar educational backgrounds.
Key Moments
00:00:59 Rachel's interest in anthropology and cultural identity
00:04:20 Rachel's experience in the anthropology program at the University of Georgia
00:07:00 Discovering UX research and deciding on a career path
00:09:30 Considering the need for an advanced degree in UX
00:11:00 Rachel's journey of breaking into the field without a master's or PhD
00:12:00 Building a portfolio with ethnographic projects and real-world experience
00:12:56 Importance of real-world experience and managing stakeholders
00:13:00 Applying to entry-level UX research jobs
00:12:56 Real-world experience and job search struggles
00:14:43 Difficulty breaking into the field with a bachelor's degree
00:15:24 Landing an internship at Sirius XM
00:16:00 Learning usability tests and specific UX research methodologies
00:16:58 Challenges of being a team of one and relying on mentors
00:18:11 Continuing to learn and explore new methodologies
00:19:00 Finding resources through online readings and mentor relationships
00:20:14 Encouragement for job seekers to persevere and stay curious
00:22:37 Joining user research meetups and groups for networking
00:24:39 Translating anthropological language into UX research language
Recommended Links

Rachel Puvvada's Website
Rachel Puvvada on LinkedIn