Ann M. Aly
Human-Centered Design Expert, Strategist, and Mixed-Methods Researcher

Professional Trajectory

How did I grow and develop as a Senior UX Researcher at Agile Six?

Example of a graphic I made showing two ways to pilot a product or service

Example of a graphic I made showing two ways to pilot a product or service

Contract Work

  • Patients over Paperwork (October 2019-May 2020)

    • Research on opioid lock-in programs contributed to rule change CMS-2020-0072

  • CMS OIT HCD (May 2020-July 2021)

    • Contributor on high-visibility initiatives at CMS, including Exit Improvement Program, Open Studio, and Workforce Resilience Upskilling

    • Led a successful testing and heuristic evaluation series for Experience HCD site at CMS, including training, norming, and interrater reliability calculations

    • Recognized by our client as an expert in metrics, HCD, upskilling, and qualitative/quantitative methods

    • Co-created and piloted the first HCD Apprenticeship at CMS, which pairs 2 federal employees with an HCD Expert for 6 weeks for hands-on mentoring

Graphic I made summarizing Deep Work styles to discuss with colleagues

Graphic I made summarizing Deep Work styles to discuss with colleagues

Internal development at Agile Six

  • Interviewed UX candidates and co-revised interview questions for researchers

  • Spearheaded internal Inclusion Initiative, including internal survey/debrief, communal channel to share resources, assisting executive core with selecting a consultant, and integrating DEI with Teal

  • Morale-boosting activities: fall contest (with Hayley Evans, weekly watercooler topic, hot sauce swap, snail mail)

  • Gear swap: Sixers can trade tech gear to facilitate sharing, reduce waste, and reduce spending

  • Assisted on several RFIs and RFPs in my knowledge domains

  • Peer learning and mentoring, including 1:1 career/project advice, lunch and learns (ie Metrics workshop in April 2021 with Hayley Evans), internal book club

  • Autonomous learning (typically 1 book per month on topics related to human-centered design, behavioral change, work culture, and reducing bias)

  • Chair of DSC Operations committee, Q1-Q2 2021

Professional development and upskilling

I am mindful to balance my professional development with both a variety of topics (such as Agile, research, and fieldwork) and roles (participant, facilitator, committee member).

Growth as a UXR