Just like her prolific career today, Dr. Romano’s journey
began before she even knew it had started—at age five,
reorganizing kitchen layouts in her parents’ showroom
because the flow felt inefficient. “I wasn’t just playing; I was
solving problems through design.”
Growing up in a family business taught her the value of
customer experience and operational efficiency, lessons that
stuck with her through her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology.
It later shaped her career at the US Census Bureau, Facebook,
Bridgewater, and Google. Her unique background fuses
behavioral science, research precision, and real-world
business acumen.
Where Psychology Meets Business Strategy
Dr. Romano teaches at UC Berkeley, Pratt Institute, and the
University of Maryland and has published more than 30
articles, chapters, and books. Her impact is felt in an
impressive spectrum of roles and industries. A prize-winning
UX Research Leader, she has led projects for international
titans Facebook, Instagram, and Google, directly influencing
the online experience of billions. Her experience is not limited
to corporate giants; she has had an equally considerable
impact in academia, government (such as the US Census
Bureau), financial institutions, and highly technical
consulting positions, proving her versatility and the global
applicability of her findings. As a manager, director, or
individual contributor, strategist, or doer, her capacity to
provide concrete outcomes has uniformly distinguished her.
Aside from her leadership, Dr. Romano is an energetic driving
force in the larger research and design world. Acting as an
international Design Research Advisor and Consultant, she
enables organizations to integrate user-centricity into their
DNA.
Shaping the Future, One Researcher at a Time
Moreover, she, as a Coach and Instructor, is directly
developing the next wave of UX professionals by imparting
much of her extensive expertise through workshops, courses,
and individual mentorship. Going beyond, as a celebrated
Author of titles such as "Eye Tracking in User Experience
Design", “Modern Socio-Technical Perspectives on
Privacy,” and "Usability Testing for Survey Research," as
well as a sought-after Keynote Speaker, she shares the latest
research and best practices continuously, advancing the entire
discipline.
According to Dr. Romano, C-Suite leaders today need more
than inspiration—they need clarity, actionable insight, and
a trusted voice that understands how business, human
behavior, and design intersect. That’s where she comes in.
She founded UXR Coach to help people make their UX
dreams a reality. With small, instructor-led workshops,
courses, and retreats, as well as personalized one-on-one
coaching, she offers individuals ways to gain renewed
confidence and develop the skills necessary to grow as a UX
Researcher.
A Voice that Resonates: From Research Labs to Global
Stages
Dr. Romano is not just a speaker—she’s a strategist with a
microphone, a researcher with a mission, and a mentor with
real-world experience to back every insight she shares.
Whether she's standing before C-suite executives, Fortune
500 teams, or students in university lecture halls, Dr. Romano
integrates her diverse roles—advisor, instructor, author, and
keynote speaker—into one powerful force for transformation.
“Executives don’t need theory—they need tested frameworks
and proven insight,” she explains. “My coaching and
consulting work gives me a front-row seat to real, current
challenges. Everything I present has been road-tested in
boardrooms, classrooms, startups, and global brands alike.”
Her ability to bridge disciplines—psychology, business
strategy, and design—enables her to offer more than
motivation. She delivers actionable, data-driven value that
You don’t need to be
fearless to lead—you need
to be brave enough to
speak, bold enough to
question, and prepared
enough to deliver.