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Karina van Schaardenburg

Director of Research at Opower

Karina van Schaardenburg is the Director of Design and Research at Opower, which is part of Oracle Energy and Water. In her role, she integrates design principles with psychological insights to encourage utility customers to adopt better energy practices, ultimately benefiting both the environment and consumer finances.12

Professional Background

Karina has over 15 years of experience in the technology sector, focusing on strategy, research, and design. Before joining Opower, she held various positions in user experience (UX) research at notable companies such as Lyft, Twitter, and Foursquare.13 Her work has emphasized the importance of user-centered design in promoting energy efficiency and customer engagement.2

Education

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowdoin College, where she developed a foundation in anthropology that informs her approach to design and research.3

Personal Insights

Karina has lived in eight different countries, which has likely enriched her understanding of diverse user needs and behaviors. She currently resides in San Francisco, California.13

Her contributions to the field include practical insights into setting up UX research practices, which she shares through platforms like LinkedIn.4

Highlights

Apr 11 · linkedin

It's frustrating to do UX Research in partnership with PMs who are overconfident OR underconfident. Overconfident PMs often treat UX Research like a box-checking exercise, without real curiosity or openness to change. Underconfident PMs often treat UX Research as a validation tool for micro decisions, and can have a hard time accepting that certain design standards can be applied confidently without new research. The best partners operating in the confidence sweet spot save research for the big questions, and then let the findings drive meaningful decision making.

Nov 23 · linkedin

So much has happened since I started at Oracle 4 years ago (2 offices, 2 apartment moves, 1 pandemic, 1 wedding (!) and 1 baby (!)). A lot hasn't changed though. I'm still excited to spend my work hours decarbonizing energy use with our utility partners, and our team is as caring as ever. Looking at this photo of my first day desk reminded me how special our culture is, and though some have left and others have joined, that team dynamic hasn't changed a bit.

Related Questions

What are some of Karina van Schaardenburg's notable projects at Opower?
How does Opower combine design with psychology to influence energy choices?
What was Karina van Schaardenburg's role at Lyft, Twitter, and Foursquare?
How has Karina's background in UX research influenced her work at Opower?
What are the key achievements of Opower under Karina van Schaardenburg's leadership?
Karina van Schaardenburg
Karina van Schaardenburg, photo 1
Karina van Schaardenburg, photo 2
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Location

San Francisco, California, United States