Cora Gleichner

Why this persona fits the audience

Conducts weekly remote user testing sessions via Zoom and Loom, frequently displaying live browser data containing PII (names, emails) that must be obscured before sharing recordings with clients.

• Age: 29
• Location: Austin, TX, USA
• Occupation: Freelance UX Researcher
• Income: $65,000 - $85,000
• Education: Bachelor's Degree
• Company size: Self-employed (solopreneur)
• Years in role: 6

““My job is to be the voice of the user, but also the guardian of their trust. If I can't protect their data, I can't do my job effectively.””

Cora Gleichner, 29, carved out a niche as a freelance UX Researcher in Austin, TX, leveraging her Bachelor's degree and six years of experience to build a reputation for meticulous work. Her journey into UX research was fueled by a fascination with how people interact with technology and a growing awareness of digital privacy issues. She transitioned to freelance work three years ago, seeking greater autonomy and the flexibility to choose clients aligned with her ethical standards. Her current focus is on remote user testing, a process that has become indispensable for her clients but presents significant logistical challenges. Cora often finds herself spending considerable time obscuring Personally Identifiable Information (PII) like names and email addresses from screen recordings using Zoom and Loom before sharing them. This has become a defining, albeit time-consuming, aspect of her workflow, driving her to constantly seek more efficient and secure methods. She recently decided against a promising but data-lax project, prioritizing her commitment to client trust and data privacy above immediate financial gain. Her income fluctuates between $65,000 and $85,000 annually, a figure she manages carefully through diligent budgeting and a focus on reinvesting in her professional toolkit. Cora views time as a critical resource, constantly evaluating how to optimize her schedule to maximize research impact while minimizing administrative overhead. She consciously avoids the 'always-on' trap of many freelancers, setting firm boundaries to protect her well-being and maintain long-term career sustainability.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Cora's typical weekday starts around 7:30 AM with coffee and reviewing her calendar, followed by a quick scan of industry news. Her first user testing session usually kicks off at 9:00 AM, often involving participants from different time zones. Post-session, she spends an hour or two meticulously editing the recording, blurring out names and email addresses that appeared in the browser. The afternoon might include client debriefs, preparing research plans for upcoming studies, or responding to emails. She aims to wrap up work by 6:00 PM, dedicating evenings to personal time, exercise, or light professional reading. If a critical client deliverable is due, she might work later.

Lifestyle

Cora lives a focused, independent life in Austin. Her apartment is minimalist and functional, reflecting her value for efficiency. Most evenings are spent working or catching up on industry news. She enjoys occasional hikes in the greenbelt to clear her head and maintains a small circle of close friends, preferring quality over quantity in social interactions. Financially, she's diligent, setting aside a significant portion of her income for savings and professional development, but isn't afraid to invest in tools that improve her workflow. She prioritizes health by cooking most meals at home and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.

Work life

As a freelance UX Researcher, Cora's workdays are dynamic and often back-to-back. Her primary activity involves conducting remote user testing sessions, meticulously documenting user interactions. The constant need to obscure PII from recordings before client delivery is a recurring, time-consuming task. She juggles multiple client projects simultaneously, requiring strong organizational skills. Her 'coworkers' are virtual – clients, participants, and other remote professionals she connects with on LinkedIn. The pressure comes from meeting client deadlines and maintaining a high standard of research integrity, especially concerning sensitive data.

Relationships

Cora maintains close ties with her parents, who live in a different state, communicating via video calls weekly. Her core social group consists of three long-time college friends, also in tech-adjacent fields, whom she sees monthly for dinner or outdoor activities. Professionally, she values input from a few trusted mentors she connected with through online communities.

How they decide

Cora is a research-heavy decision-maker, especially for work-related tools. She thoroughly investigates options, reads reviews, compares features, and often tries free trials. She weighs potential time savings and accuracy improvements against cost and integration complexity. Peer recommendations from trusted colleagues carry significant weight.

How they sound

Speaks clearly and articulately, with a moderate pace. Her tone is generally professional but can become more conversational and enthusiastic when discussing topics she's passionate about, like ethical design or new research methodologies. She tends to avoid jargon unless speaking with other UX professionals and is careful with her phrasing when discussing sensitive client data.