Who Hires Me and Why
Agencies, research firms & consultancies
Expand capacity by outsourcing high-trust work
Pair strategy and research with in-house services
Win new business with smart, insight-driven proposals
For-profit, non-profit & civic organizations
Conduct discovery research to guide new initiatives
Navigate change with strategic planning & facilitation
Translate stakeholder insights into service design, messaging, and strategy
I’ve worked across sectors including healthcare, higher education, civic tech, economic development, and consumer brands.
My clients include early-stage startups, major foundations, Fortune 500 organizations, health systems, and global research firms. I’ve collaborated with teams at the Aspen Institute, Cardinal Health, Hill-Rom, Kelly Services, Purina, Stryker, and more.
Need a strategic partner or extra capacity for your next project?
Let’s Talk.
What I Do
FAILE’s exhibit for the Library Street Collective in The Belt, Detroit.
I turn research into action.
I’ve led hundreds of studies with stakeholders ranging from cafeteria workers to patients navigating complex care. I specialize in asking the right questions and synthesizing unstructured data into clear insights that support strategy, communication, user experience, and service design.
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Your contributions to the small business community and to our work overall over these last few years has been transformational.
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Sarah Donnelly, TechTown Detroit Retail Services Director
Louise “Ouizi” Jones in the Lost River Tiki Bar, Detroit.
I build research functions from the ground up.
I’ve managed every aspect of the research process, from recruitment and facilitation to synthesis and storytelling. I’ve built research functions from scratch, trained cross-functional teams, and embedded insights across product, marketing, and operations.
I work fluently with tools like Dovetail, Airtable, Figma, HubSpot, Craft CMS, and Asana. I’ve already begun integrating AI into my workflows for tasks like synthesis acceleration, opportunity mapping, and draft generation. I’m also investing in ongoing professional development, including participation in Rosenfeld’s UX for AI workshop, to stay ahead of evolving best practices.
“Mary excels at drawing deep insight from any audience. She never loses sight of the broader business challenge. And, she does all this with lots of laughter.”
Sarah Westrom, Independent consultant
I align insights with operations.
I help organizations work smarter by connecting insight to action. I introduce the right frameworks, tools, and workflows to support decision-making, often blending what’s already known with just-enough new research.
Antonio “Shades” Agee, ShadesDetroit, LLC, located in Corktown, Detroit.
Nils Westergard, Washington, D.C.
I facilitate clarity and consensus.
When the way forward is unclear, I help teams make sense of complexity. I design and lead workshops, map out decision frameworks, and bring outside perspective to internal conversations that need to move.
How I Work
I inventory assets and listen first
I conduct qualitative, quantitative, observational, ethnographic, user experience, and desk research
I integrate findings across sources to reduce risk and expand opportunity
I deliver personas, journeys, service blueprints, message frameworks, needs assessments, and strategic guidance
I collaborate across functions and adapt to internal systems
I’m often brought in to lead special projects or act as a chief-of-staff-style partner. I’ve stood up new research and operations functions, managed complex cross-functional initiatives, and advised executive teams during moments of change and growth.
