Mikaela Gonzaga
Design Researcher | Human-Centered Systems | @ Meta
- Role
- User Experience Researcher at Meta
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Mikaela Gonzaga
Hi! I’m Mikaela. My background is in Design Research and Strategy. I help organizations understand where their real value lives and how to deliver it.I’m a creative systems thinker: I pull apart products, content, and experiences to understand how people actually make sense of them, where friction emerges, and where opportunity exists. I specialize in translating that understanding into clear product, brand, and business direction.My background spans design research, UX, consulting, and experience design. I’ve worked with Fortune 500 companies as well as founders, coaches, and growing businesses. I’m known for breaking the mold - doing my best work in spaces that are ambiguous, in transition, or undergoing reinvention, and helping teams find direction when the path isn’t obvious.🤖 I’ve also pioneered AI-enabled systems for research operations, product analysis, and insight impact - scaling how teams synthesize evidence, evaluate quality, and make decisions, while keeping human judgment at the center.I’m drawn to work where research shapes strategy, sharpens differentiation, and leads to outcomes that actually matter. Outside of work, I care deeply about creativity, self-improvement, and music. Born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, by Portuguese immigrants from the Azores—now based in Los Angeles. CliftonStrengths: Futuristic | Ideation | Individualization | Learner | Strategic
Experience
User Experience Researcher
Jan 2026 — Present
Facebook Feed · Meta AI · Discovery & Experiences
Education
University of Rhode Island
Minor, Business
University of Rhode Island
Minor, Leadership Studies
2014 — 2018
University of Rhode Island
Minor, Human Development and Family Studies, General
University of Rhode Island
Bachelor of Science (BS), Psychology; Concentration in Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience
2014 — 2018
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