Rosenverse

This video is only accessible to Gold members. Log in or register for a free Gold Trial Account to watch.

Log in Register

Most conference talks are accessible to Gold members, while community videos are generally available to all logged-in members.

Theme 1 Intro

Gold
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 • Advancing Research 2026
Share the love for this talk
Theme 1 Intro
Speakers: Jemma Ahmed
Link:

Summary

In this talk, Gem reflects on the challenges faced by the knowledge and product fields amid fast-paced technological, economic, and informational upheaval. Referencing Maggie Gyllenhaal's film The Bride as a metaphor, she highlights how many find themselves in unfamiliar, overwhelming worlds not of their own making. Gem insists that professionals — including researchers, designers, and product thinkers — face a choice: adapt superficially to the noise or stand firm on their core identity as sensemakers and advocates. She emphasizes that small acts of defiance, encapsulated in the phrase 'I would prefer not to,' empower individuals to reclaim agency and clarity. Despite pressures such as the rise of AI, data overload, and organizational shifts, the core essence of this work remains: interpreting information with clarity and advocating for the people behind the data. Gem introduces fellow speakers like Dana, Kurt, Tara, Jared, and Kelly who will expand on these themes including democratization, AI’s impact, and intergenerational dialogue. Ultimately, Gem urges the audience to root themselves in their values and confidently say 'I would prefer not to' as a way to cultivate resilience and purpose in uncertain times.

Key Insights

  • The current knowledge ecosystem is overloaded with signals, mixing opinion with evidence, which demands sharper sensemaking skills.

  • Small, quiet acts of defiance like saying 'I would prefer not to' reclaim personal and professional agency.

  • Core identity as sensemakers and advocates remains stable even as the environment and tools evolve rapidly.

  • The rise of AI and technology introduces new challenges but also underscores the enduring need for human-centered advocacy.

  • Holistic sensemaking, integrating research, design, product, and systems thinking, is increasingly valuable amidst changing organizational roles.

  • Advocating for the human experience behind data is essential and perennial, not a luxury.

  • Facing macroeconomic and technological upheavals requires doubling down on foundational principles, not capitulating to noise.

  • The phrase 'I would prefer not to' symbolizes a thoughtful refusal to surrender values to external pressures.

  • Interdisciplinary skills position professionals to lead adaptation without abandoning core professional identity.

  • Community and shared dialogue, exemplified by upcoming speakers like Dana and Kurt, are key to navigating this moment.

Notable Quotes

"I would prefer not to is the kind of world many of us find ourselves in right now."

"Every time we say, I would prefer not to, we reclaim a little bit of agency."

"Defiance is not loud or theatrical; it is bravery and clarity."

"We are sensemakers. No matter what data we are given, we make sense of it."

"Advocating for human experience is not a luxury. It is essential, and it is perennial."

"Our job is to make sure the people making decisions actually listen."

"The skills we hold are exactly the skills that this moment requires."

"Anchor yourself in what you know to be right and true."

"Holistic sensemaking matters."

"I would prefer not to reduce human understanding to shallow sound bites."

Ask the Rosenbot
Dave Hoffer
UX Job Search AMA #2 with Joanne Weaver and Dave Hoffer
2025 • Rosenfeld Community
Gillian Salerno-Rebic
Redefining Speed and Scale: How Accenture’s GrowthOS Uses AI-Simulated Insights to Reduce Risk and Accelerate Innovation
2025 • Designing with AI 2025
Gold
Ian Swinson
Designing and Driving UX Careers
2016 • Enterprise UX 2016
Gold
Dan Saffer
Why AI projects fail (and what we can do about it)
2025 • Rosenfeld Community
Alla Weinberg
People Are Sick of Change: Psychological Safety is the Cure
2023 • DesignOps Community
John Calhoun
Two Sides of the DesignOps Coin: Teams Ops and Product Ops
2024 • DesignOps Summit 2020
Gold
Saara Kamppari-Miller
DesignOps for Inclusive Design and Accessibility
2022 • DesignOps Community
Sam Ladner
Data Exhaust and Personal Data: Learning from Consumer Products to Enhance Enterprise UX
2016 • Enterprise UX 2016
Gold
Gretchen Anderson
Scaling the Human Center
2017 • Enterprise Experience 2017
Gold
Chris Govias
Perspectives on Civic Design
2021 • Civic Design Community
Vitorio Miliano
Don’t call it AI: Turn words into numbers with quantitative ethnography
2026 • Advancing Research 2026
Gold
Tamara Hale
War Stories LIVE! Tamara Hale
2020 • Advancing Research 2020
Gold
Peter Levin
Solve a Problem Here, Transform a Strategy There: Research as an Occasion for Expanding Organizational Possibility
2024 • Advancing Research 2024
Gold
Benjamin Real
Maturity Models: A Core Tool for Creating a DesignOps Strategy
2021 • DesignOps Summit 2021
Gold
Kelly Dern
AI as a Design Partner: How to Get the Most Out of AI Tools to Scale Your Process
2023 • DesignOps Summit 2023
Gold
Bria Alexander
Welcome
2024 • Enterprise Experience 2020
Gold

More Videos

Jim Kalbach

"There are no mistakes in jazz, just missed opportunities."

Jim Kalbach

Jazz Improvisation as a Model for Team Collaboration

November 6, 2017

Louis Rosenfeld

"We look to work with authors we like and enjoy being around because writing a book is a long, collaborative journey."

Louis Rosenfeld

Coffee with Lou: Should You Write a (UX) Book?

March 7, 2024

Catt Small

"Keeping your craft sharp, learning new tools like auto layout in Figma, and challenging yourself help maintain relevance."

Catt Small Micah Bennett Brian Carr Jessica Harllee

What's Next for ICs: Exploring Staff and Principal Designer Roles

February 22, 2024

Marieke McCloskey

"If you’re a person who studies people, then you’re a person who understands data."

Marieke McCloskey

User Science: Product Analytics & User Research

March 11, 2021

Llewyn Paine

"Even if you’re not doing facial recognition, storing face and voice data is under growing legal scrutiny."

Llewyn Paine

[Demo] Deploying AI doppelgangers to de-identify user research recordings

June 5, 2024

Joshua Noble

"Qualitative research really poses questions; quantitative methods let you investigate those questions rigorously."

Joshua Noble

Casual Inference

October 6, 2023

Sara Logel

"We need to think about who we’re sharing with, how they might react, and what motivates them."

Sara Logel

Your Colleagues are Your Users Too

March 29, 2023

Bria Alexander

"We made a very intentional choice to build in five minute breaks after every talk based on feedback and experience."

Bria Alexander Louis Rosenfeld

Welcome

January 8, 2024

Sam Proulx

"When you design for the edges, you make things better, more fluid, more customizable for everyone."

Sam Proulx

Online Shopping: Designing an Accessible Experience

June 7, 2023