AI isn’t just changing how research gets done—it’s changing who does it, how teams are structured, and what strong leadership looks like.

This session is part of Modernizing Research with AI: Customer Centricity at Scale, a 4-part series with Dscout and Design Executive Council. In this first track, Building the Research Team of Tomorrow, design and research leaders from Pinterest, Taxwell, and Cisco Networking share what’s actually working (and what isn’t) as they navigate this shift in real time.

The group discusses:

• Future teams and rules: As AI takes on more execution, the definition of a “strategic researcher” is shifting. The group will unpack what a modern research team actually looks like and the new frontiers where research is more critical than ever.
• Redefining performance: AI usage is quickly becoming table stakes, but speed alone isn’t the goal. The panel will discuss what mindsets, behaviors, and skills are becoming must-haves for practitioners.
• Change management: While some organizations are at the cutting edge of AI adoption, others are still making a case for tool access. While there’s a huge range in AI readiness, the group will discuss ways to measure what is and isn’t working and how to best “prepare yourself” for change.