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Madel Leal
UX Researcher + Data - Latina in Tech - Open to both full-time and interim opportunities!
Professional Background
Madel Leal is an enthusiastic and agile social impact professional with a rich background in UX research, strategy, and design. With an evident passion for leveraging technology to enhance social innovation, Madel has honed her craft by immersing herself in understanding user needs through a variety of research techniques. With a career that beautifully intersects social work and technology, she has become a relentless advocate for improving the human experience through effective design and research practices.
Madel's professional journey began at UCLA, where she contributed as both a Project Coordinator and a Mobilize Program Coordinator at UCLA Center X. In these roles, she demonstrated her ability to manage projects effectively while also ensuring that educational technologies were tailored to meet the needs of diverse populations. This experience solidified her foundation in closely analyzing user interactions and outcomes, proving her mettle in the field of user experience.
Education and Achievements
Madel Leal's educational background is as impressive as her career. She pursued her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Michigan, where she acquired vital skills that bridge the gap between social issues and technology solutions. Additionally, she completed a Master of Science at the University of Michigan - School of Information, equipping her with advanced expertise in information science, research methodologies, and user experience. Her educational journey also includes time spent at the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles, further enriching her understanding of the intersection of technology and social impact.
Her commitment to lifelong learning and development enables her to stay on the cutting edge of UX design and research. This strong academic foundation underpins her exceptional proficiency in various qualitative and quantitative research methods, which she employs creatively to address complex problems.
Skills and Expertise
At the core of Madel Leal’s expertise are her skills in UX research and design. She utilizes a diverse array of research methods including interviews, heuristic evaluations, A/B testing, and usability testing. This breadth of knowledge allows her to create insightful personas and scenarios, crafting user journeys that are not only intuitive but also inclusive.
Her design skills complement her research acumen. Madel is proficient in industry-standard tools such as Sketch, Figma, Balsamiq, and InVision. These skills are integral in translating research insights into user-friendly designs that resonate with target demographics. Furthermore, her familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud and data visualization software like Tableau adds another layer to her ability to communicate effectively through design.
On the tech front, Madel possesses intermediate programming skills in Python, as well as fundamentals in HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and SQL. Her knowledge extends to tools like QGIS for spatial analytics, and Flask for web applications, showcasing her versatile skill set that merges design with functional technology. As a native Spanish speaker, Madel is also capable of conducting research and creating designs that cater to Spanish-speaking audiences, reflecting her commitment to accessibility and user-centric design.
Madel Leal stands out as an agile social impact enthusiast who believes in technology's potential to address societal challenges. With a rich background in UX research and design, combined with her education in social work and information science, she is well-prepared to take on projects that require a deep understanding of user needs and a strategic approach to design. Madel’s journey is a testament to her dedication to making technology a force for good.
