04 Nov The Faces Behind Fluent: Kelly Sheehan
As part of Fluent Research’s 20th anniversary celebration, The Faces Behind Fluent highlights the people whose experience, ideas, and perspectives have helped shape our company. This week, we’re featuring Senior UX Researcher Kelly Sheehan, whose path to Fluent began with a former colleague’s recommendation and a conversation with our team that clicked right away.
With a PhD in cognitive development, Kelly brings a deep interest in how children think, solve problems, and learn. She enjoys being involved in every stage of research, from designing studies and interviewing participants to analyzing data and collaborating with clients. A highlight was the PBS Dicey Escape project, which combined her interest in children’s learning with the opportunity to conduct research in person alongside colleagues she was meeting face-to-face for the first time.
Get to know Kelly in our latest Q&A, including what her dissertation taught her about getting unstuck, why she describes Fluent as “intentional,” and her plans to get back on rollerblades.
Kelly, What inspired you to join Fluent Research?
I was actually referred to Fluent by a previous colleague of mine who is now a client of Fluent. She had great things to say about the work Fluent does, especially in the kids and media space. I met Allison and Dan for an informal chat, and we clicked! I knew I would be a great fit on the team.
What’s your role at Fluent, and what does a typical day look like for you?
I am a senior UX researcher. One of the best parts of being a researcher at Fluent is you get to have a hand in all parts of the research process. I get to work on instrument design, moderating interviews or diaries, analyzing data, writing reports, and working directly with clients. You really get to “own” the research process, which gives you the ability to manage and execute research in a way that feels right to you. For me, that means being highly communicative with clients, ensuring research instruments and reports go through multiple iterations, and having silly conversations with my colleagues behind the scenes 🙂.
What’s been your most memorable project or moment at Fluent?
I loved working on the PBS Dicey Escape project, and it was memorable for several reasons. First, the study itself was personally interesting to me, as we were investigating the impact of playing a math game on kids’ learning. Second, we had a large Fluent team working on this project and we did the evaluation in person with kids. It was the first time since I began working at Fluent that I got to meet my colleagues in person, and it was fun to be on site doing the testing with them. Lastly, we worked really hard on the analyses and reporting, and it was really rewarding to see the report come together in a way that would impact the development of a game that would help kids learn.
What’s your favorite part of working at Fluent, Kelly?
I love the people I work with – both my colleagues at Fluent and our clients. Everyone at Fluent is so interesting and bright! When our project team has to problem solve or handle a difficult situation, they are always willing to help. I also think we have some of the best clients. They are smart, treat us as collaborators, and work on cool projects. They make the research we do fun and interesting!
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
I did my PhD in Cognitive Development, but my dissertation spanned areas like problem solving, symbolic thinking, and creativity. My research found that if you give 3 year olds a break during a task they typically fail. They’ll be more successful after the break compared to before. This is largely because young kids get stuck in certain ways of thinking (like adults), but taking a break can help them get unstuck and consider alternative solutions, increasing the likelihood that they’ll be successful. I always remind myself to give myself a quick break if I’m feeling stuck!
What’s a book, movie, or podcast you’d recommend to everyone?
I read the The Catcher in the Rye in high school and many times since. It’s such a powerful coming of age story, and the writing in first person was powerful to read as a young person.
What’s your go-to productivity hack?
I try to schedule my most mentally demanding work in the morning and easy tasks for the afternoon when I have less energy. This allows me to check more things off the list. And of course, to take a break if I’m feeling stuck or frustrated.
If you weren’t in research, what career would you have pursued?
I think about this all the time, mostly because I love research so much, I don’t know what I would be doing if I couldn’t be a researcher anymore! But if I couldn’t be a researcher anymore, I would maybe pursue a career in behavioral analysis. I’m a parent of two young kids, so I constantly find myself thinking about ways to reinforce positive behavior (and reduce negative behavior).I could see myself working with kids and designing interventions to help them deal with difficult behaviors. Alternatively I think it would be fun to do something completely different from research, like being an interior designer, or something more creative (despite my lack of creativity).
How do you see Fluent evolving in the next 20 years?
Whether it’s five years, 20 years, or more, I always see Fluent adapting to meet our clients where they are. The research questions, tools, and methods might change, but I see Fluent as being a reliable and steady go-to provider for strategy and insights. Additionally, I can see Fluent expanding and providing services we don’t yet offer, like training, education, and proprietary data. Our team is incredibly bright, curious, and driven. I’m excited to see where the next 20 years or so takes us!
What’s one word you’d use to describe Fluent Research? Why?
Intentional. The people we are and the work we do is thoughtful but also rigorous and disciplined. We’re intentional about the work we do for clients but also about our relationships with each other and helping each other succeed.
What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?
Going out to dinner with my family, our local farmer’s market on Friday evenings, and binge watching The Office or Parks and Rec once the kids go to bed.
What’s your favorite snack or drink to have while working?
Coffee is a must, but I also love Aloha protein bars, pretzels and hummus, and seltzer water.
Kelly, what’s a hobby or activity you’re passionate about outside of work?
My husband bought me rollerblades for my upcoming birthday, so I’m excited to re-learn how to rollerblade and hopefully not break any bones!