Upasna Bhandari, PhD
Research And Insights
Singapore
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven Senior Product and Customer Insights Manager with extensive experience in UX research, product development, and consumer insights. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, drive strategic research initiatives, and deliver actionable insights to optimize end-to-end customer experiences. Passionate about leveraging innovative methodologies to continually raise the bar and achieve customer-centric excellence.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
UX Research Manager
Foodpanda (Delivery Hero) APAC
1 2022 - 12.2023
- Orchestrated and empowered a diverse research team across 10+ APAC countries, fostering a collaborative environment to enhance food and grocery delivery experiences.
- Developed a comprehensive prioritization framework identifying 100+ high-impact research opportunities, leading to significant user feedback acquisition.
- Led a team of 6 UX Researchers, delivering 25+ research projects ranging from tactical to strategic scopes, influencing critical product metrics and driving key improvements.
Product Research Lead
Development Bank of Singapore (DBS)
08.2019 - 01.2022
- Spearheaded 20+ impactful UX research initiatives across various product lines, driving major product revamps and successful market research efforts.
- Managed the annual research roadmap, aligning research activities with the product pipeline and providing essential training to senior management on the importance of user research.
UX Research Manager
Moneysmart Group
04.2019 - 08.2019
- Formulated precise research questions at critical stages of product development and conducted large-scale research projects informing short, mid, and long-term product strategies.
- Guided and managed a high-performing team of 20 product managers, designers, researchers, propelling customer journey mapping exercises to gain profound insights into user interactions with products and services, thereby facilitating data-driven improvements for enhanced user experiences.
Senior Product Researcher
Moneysmart Group
06.2018 - 03.2019
- Shaped and demonstrated expertise in formulating precise research questions at critical stages of product development, ensuring 100% strategic alignment across 3 distinct markets - Singapore, Hong Kong, and Indonesia and guided the team towards data-informed decision-making processes.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Information Systems -
National University of Singapore
Singapore 01.2014 - 04.2018
Masters of Technology in Computer Application - undefined
Delhi Technological University
Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science - undefined
Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU)
Skills
Prioritization Frameworks
Product Development
Training and Advocacy
Customer Journey Mapping
Strategic Research Initiatives
Operational Research Optimization
Customer Satisfaction Research
Team Leadership
Data Analysis
Project Management
Market Research
A/B Testing
Leadership Experience
Co-Organizer
UX South East Asia Conference Singapore
Mar 2018 - Dec 2020
- Championed the organization of UXSEA, facilitating hands-on workshops and achieving remarkable year-over-year growth in event participation.
Speaker
UX 360 Conference
Dec 2013 - Dec 2024
- Delivered compelling talks on leveraging strategic research for user-centric product development and building research culture in startups.
Education:
Research Publications
- Effects of Interface Design Factors on Affective Responses and Quality Evaluations in Mobile Applications
- Understanding The Impact of Perceived Visual Aesthetics on User Evaluations: An Emotional Perspective
- Understanding Visual Appeal and Quality Perceptions of Mobile Apps: An Emotional Perspective
- Mobile App Preferences: What Role Does Aesthetics and Emotions Play?
- Role of Emotions and Aesthetics in ICT Usage for Underserved Communities: A NeuroIS Investigation
Timeline
Product Research Lead
Development Bank of Singapore (DBS)
08.2019 - 01.2022
UX Research Manager
Moneysmart Group
04.2019 - 08.2019
Senior Product Researcher
Moneysmart Group
06.2018 - 03.2019
Doctor of Philosophy in Information Systems -
National University of Singapore
01.2014 - 04.2018
UX Research Manager
Foodpanda (Delivery Hero) APAC
1 2022 - 12.2023
Masters of Technology in Computer Application - undefined
Delhi Technological University
Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science - undefined
Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU)