Lisa Lorene Galarneau

Current

Account Director/Freelance Consultant at Intrepid Consultants

Past

User Researcher (Contract) at Excell Data at Microsoft (Surface and Microsoft Game Studios)
Adjunct Lecturer at The University of Canterbury
Consultant at Synapsys NZ, Ltd

Senior Producer/Director, Customer Experience at Towerrecords.com
Director, Human Experience at 4th Revolution
Guide at About.com
Technical Unit Manager at Basis, Inc.
Analyst at Airtouch Communications

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Education

University of Waikato
California State University-Hayward
UC Berkeley

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Recommended

4 people have recommended Lisa Lorene

Connections

385 connections

Industry

Internet

Websites

Lisa Lorene Galarneau’s Summary

I am a researcher, strategist, and project leader specializing in digital cultures and how people around the world use technology. For my doctoral research in Screen and Media Studies, I used ethnographic methods to explore social learning and group dynamics in and around massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) and virtual worlds, both online and offline (13 countries). In the past I have worked in a variety of roles focused on user/customer/learner experiences, and have used a range of research methods and approaches to understand those perspectives. I also have a technical and design background and can function as a useful bridge on interdisciplinary teams (always advocating for the user, of course!)

SUMMARY:

• Interdisciplinary and versatile professional with expertise in market/customer/user research, web/mobile applications development, games and simulations, user experience/information architecture/usability, online learning, and project/program management across verticals from mobile devices to video games.
• Strong project management and leadership skills; extremely resourceful and skilled at marshalling resources, managing schedules and budgets, and creating tangible deliverables.
• Significant qualitative and some quantitative research experience in academic and commercial settings, including research design, recruitment , data collection, moderation, analysis and synthesis. Formal training and field experience in anthropological methods like contextual inquiry and ethnography; expert in cultures surrounding emerging technologies and platforms.
• Particularly skilled at connecting research to strategy and design: history of conceiving and implementing compelling and user-friendly solutions that are truly innovative. Effective bridge between research, business, marketing, design and technology roles.

Lisa Lorene Galarneau’s Specialties:

new media, market research, consumer insight, ethnography, anthropology, web development, usability, user experience, collaboration, communities, videogames, virtual worlds, social learning, education, collective intelligence, social media, social computing, social networking, personalization, product design and development, international, cross-cultural

Lisa Lorene Galarneau’s Experience

Account Director/Freelance Consultant

Intrepid Consultants

(Privately Held; Market Research industry)

June 2007 — Present (2 years 2 months)

Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, but with a particular focus on deep insights gained from ethnographic work, I design, pitch and conduct cross-cultural research projects aimed at illuminating and developing user and customer experiences.
User Researcher (Contract)

Excell Data at Microsoft (Surface and Microsoft Game Studios)

(Information Technology and Services industry)

March 2006 — March 2009 (3 years 1 month)

Working with Games User Research and on the Surface team, responsible for designing and conducting research studies for a variety of applications and game titles, including console, PC (single player, multiplayer and massively multiplayer) and casual games. Designed and ran usability, playtest and ethnographic studies (lab and field studies), conducted focus groups and interviews, as well as analyzing and disseminating results and recommendations to development teams.
Adjunct Lecturer

The University of Canterbury

(Higher Education industry)

January 2005 — July 2005 (7 months)

Lecturer in mass communication and journalism programme.
Consultant

Synapsys NZ, Ltd

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Internet industry)

September 2003 — April 2005 (1 year 8 months)

Led multi-disciplinary project teams in the design and development of effective learning solutions utilizing a range of media, including game/simulation-based resources. Designed and managed research projects, encompassing learner profile analyses and evaluation of education/training programs. Provided consulting services to organizations in the areas of training strategy & audits, solutions development, and product/service positioning. Developed and presented seminars/workshops on e-learning topics.
Senior Producer/Director, Customer Experience

Towerrecords.com

(Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Internet industry)

October 2000 — May 2002 (1 year 8 months)

Via intensive customer, usability and market research efforts, identified several key customer-driven initiatives and drove company-wide effort to revamp under-performing e-commerce site in the areas of search, browse, merchandising, product recommendations and analytics. Managed cross-functional teams, vendor relationships, and frequently liaised with senior management, market research firms, marketing/PR, and legal staff. Achieved overwhelmingly positive customer feedback, improvements in business metrics, and industry awards and kudos.
Director, Human Experience

4th Revolution

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Internet industry)

October 1998 — September 2000 (2 years)

Managed cross-functional teams and multiple stakeholders on client engagements ranging from educational sites to robust database-driven sites utilizing a variety of 3rd-party technologies. Won several industry awards for internal and client work. Developed and managed partner relationships with systems integrators, translation companies, educators, research firms and analysts. Led and documented internal and client research, strategy and requirements efforts.
Guide

About.com

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Internet industry)

March 1997 — May 2000 (3 years 3 months)

Ran the historical reenactment community for several years.
Technical Unit Manager

Basis, Inc.

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

August 1995 — September 1997 (2 years 2 months)
Analyst

Airtouch Communications

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Telecommunications industry)

April 1994 — August 1995 (1 year 5 months)

Lisa Lorene Galarneau’s Education

University of Waikato

Ph.D. , Screen and Media Studies , 2004 — 2008

New Zealand
California State University-Hayward

M.Sc. , Education , 2003
UC Berkeley

B.A. , Anthropology , 1993

Additional Information

Lisa Lorene Galarneau’s Websites:

Lisa Lorene Galarneau’s Interests:

futurism, technology, virtual worlds, videogames, music, entertainment, social media, sustainability, social entrepreneurship, learning, transformation, knowledge, social networks, teamwork, leadership, 21st century skills, science, secular humanism

Lisa Lorene Galarneau’s Groups:

American Marketing Association, Association of Internet Researchers, Digital Games Research Association, Microsoft Social Computing Symposium, Burning Man, Terra Nova, Institute for Triple Helix Innovation, Games and Culture Journal (Editorial Review Board_, the EON Foundation (Trustee), BIL, The Singularity Summit, Lifeboat Foundation (Futurists Advisory Board), International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations (Editorial Review Board). American Anthropological Association