Research is at a critical inflection point—but this is not the first time. For over 20 years, the EPIC community has continuously re-evaluated and adapted, crafting strategies that help organizations reflect on the knowledge they hold and the confidence they place in it. As researchers, our role extends far beyond simply asking questions. Collaboration, experimentation, and curiosity—grounded in transparent communication—have allowed us to guide businesses and social systems through uncertainty while maintaining a deep connection to the human story. Now, more than ever, keeping this at the center of our focus is essential.

This session creates a safe space to openly confront pressing challenges—those we’re experiencing, those we hear about but may not fully grasp in terms of their impact on our work, and those that simply seem unrelatable. These challenges threaten research quality and craft and are reshaping organizations and entire industries amid economic uncertainty.

Meena Kothandaraman will offer an unfiltered perspective on where we’ve been, the current state of research in industry, and the strategies we need to navigate these turbulent times. New tools and technologies continue to emerge—some ingenious, some daunting, others damaging. by nature, others simply because they are unfamiliar to the work we do. As researchers, we must stay curious, exploring their potential to bring structure and clarity to how we steward knowledge within our organizations.

In breakout groups, we’ll use Meena’s provocations as a starting point for discussion, exchanging diverse perspectives and strategies. Together, we’ll distill our insights, debates, and collective wisdom into actionable takeaways—equipping ourselves as individuals and as a community to move forward with confidence.

Speaker

A consultant with 35 years of experience, Meena Kothandaraman emphasizes the strategic value of qualitative research across product, space, and service. Meena pays particular attention to the credibility, transparency, and communication around every research study design. Apart from her core consulting practice, Meena has been instrumental in building the Bentley University Human Factors and Information Design (HFID) graduate program – among the top three programs in the world – in her 25-year tenure there. She holds an M.S. in Information Resources Management from Syracuse University and a B.Com. in MIS from the University of Ottawa, Canada. She is a proud Canadian Bostonian, has authored a children’s book, has hosted a vegetarian cooking show, and is an accomplished South Indian classical violinist to keep herself curious.