Sara Riedel
UX Researcher & Leader | Mixed Methods, Product Discovery, Strategy & Insight Synthesis
- Role
- Head of Research at Zoco Design
- Location
- San Francisco, CA, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Sara Riedel
ABOUT ME Hi, I\'m Sara Riedel. I have 8 years of experience in UX—first as a Product Designer, now as a UX Researcher. I lead the research team at ZoCo Design, partnering with designers, PMs, engineers, and executive leadership to surface clear, actionable insights that shape product strategy, reduce risk, and improve user experience.I’ve led research across healthcare, retail, and digital services for organizations including CoverMyMeds, University Hospitals, Taskrabbit, Tractor Supply, and Highlights. I thrive in ambiguous, complex problem spaces and excel at translating user needs into opportunities, requirements, and decisions that product teams can confidently act on. WHY PEOPLE LIKE WORKING WITH ME:* I drive progress consistently, even in ambiguity.* I understand the business “why” and deliver clear, actionable insights.* I think in systems—anticipating what’s next and the downstream impact of every decision.* I’m confident in any room, tailoring insights to what designers, engineers, and executives need to act.* I take initiative and think proactively about opportunities and risks.* I welcome stakeholders, build trust, and work to understand the true heart of the ask.* I\'m naturally inquisitive, and I\'m likely just as excited about your project as you are. IMPACT* Driving User Adoption:\"This has been so helpful as we strive to answer the question of user adoption of our new platform. The rest of the leadership team is loving this.\" – VP of Product for a Healthcare Software Company* Derisking Decisions:\"None of us had this on our radar. This is a great insight, and we really appreciate you calling it out!\" – Director of Innovation for an American Insurance Company* Driving Cross-Functional Momentum:\"I admire your ability to move projects like this forward without being in the weeds of the business complexities. It\'s very impressive!\" – Sr. Researcher for a Healthcare Software Company KEY TOOLSMiro, Figma, UserInterviews, Dovetail, and Google Suite On a personal note, I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, before moving to Columbus to attend THE Ohio State University. Now I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and am loving every minute! I love reading, traveling, crocheting, and performing improv comedy—something which I think lends itself to skill development both personally and professionally.
Experience
Head of Research
Aug 2025 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US
Education
West Geauga High School
High School
2009 — 2013
The Ohio State University
Bachelor’s Degree, Design and Visual Communications, General
2013 — 2017
Skills
- Problem Solving
- Dreamweaver
- Illustrator
- Collaboration Solutions
- Poster Design
- Microsoft Office
- Adobe Illustrator
- Sketching
- Typography
- Social Media
- Indesign
- Photoshop
- Public Speaking
- Image Editing
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Logo Design
- Powerpoint
- Adobe Photoshop
- Graphic Design
- Group Work
- Digital Photography
Find verified contacts for anyone on LinkedIn
Unifers gives sales teams verified emails and direct dials, enriched profiles, and outreach that lands in the inbox.
Free plan included · No credit card required
This profile is compiled from publicly available professional sources. Unifers is not affiliated with or endorsed by LinkedIn. Request removal of this profile.