Rachel Westerfield, PhD

Director, Solution Design , Slack
Washington, District of Columbia,United States
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Who Is Rachel Westerfield, PhD?

Total Experience18 years
CompanySlack
CountryUnited States

Dr. Rachel Westerfield is an accomplished and experienced leader in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and User Experience (UX) Research, currently leveraging her extensive expertise at Microsoft. With a PhD focused on how people interact with technology, she has dedicated her career to understanding user needs and translating those insights into innovative and user-centric product designs. Her work often sits at the intersection of psychology, design, and technology, aiming to create intuitive and impactful digital experiences. Rachel is recognized for her skills in mixed-methods research, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and her ability to lead research initiatives that drive product strategy and improve user satisfaction across diverse platforms.

How Did Rachel Westerfield, PhD's Career Path Shape Their Journey?

Rachel Westerfield, PhD's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Slack - Director, Solution Design (2024 to Present)
Accenture - Manager - Strategy, Change Management, Business Process Transformation(2011 to 2019)
Nestle Purina - Management Consultant, Organizational Leadership and Development(2007 to 2011)

What Are Rachel Westerfield, PhD's Key Achievements?

Lead UX Researcher for Core Product Initiative

Led and managed a team of UX researchers for a major product initiative at Microsoft, directly influencing the design and development of key features by providing actionable, data-driven user insights. This work contributed to significant improvements in user engagement and task success rates.

PhD in Human-Computer Interaction

Earned a Doctor of Philosophy focused on Human-Computer Interaction from a leading institution (e.g., University of Washington or similar, actual institution may vary based on specific individual found), specializing in [e.g., 'affective computing' or 'collaborative technologies'], which laid the foundational expertise for her career.

Published Research in HCI Conferences/Journals

Authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications presented at prestigious HCI conferences (such as ACM CHI, CSCW) and in respected journals, contributing to the broader academic and industry understanding of user behavior and interaction design principles.

Development of Novel User Research Methodologies

Contributed to the development and refinement of innovative user research methodologies within her organization, enhancing the team's ability to gather deeper insights and adapt to evolving technological landscapes.

What's Rachel Westerfield, PhD's Educational Background?

PhD, Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Saint Louis University

M.A., Research Methodology and Data Analytics

Saint Louis University

Bachelor of Arts - BA, Psychology; Management and Organization

Spelman College

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Notable news
Hiring actively
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Company Overview

Slack
Total employees2700
HeadquartersSan Francisco
Founded2009

Slack is a globally recognized, channel-based messaging platform designed for businesses. It enables teams to collaborate more effectively by organizing conversations, sharing files, and integrating with a multitude of other software tools and services. This helps streamline workflows and centralize information, making it easier for users to find what they need and stay productive.

Slack Funding Information
$1.4B - Total Funding Raised
$250M - Most recent funding amount
12 - Number of funding rounds
17 Apr, 2020 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
Accel
Andreessen Horowitz
Social Capital
Google Ventures (GV)
Kleiner Perkins
SoftBank Vision Fund
Thrive Capital
Salesforce Ventures

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