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Marisa, Senior Behavioral Designer at Behavioral Design Firm: Advize Career Interview
Marisa's journey from a psychology and applied behavior analysis undergraduate degree to a Senior Behavioral Designer at Ideas42 is a captivating example of a winding path leading to impactful work.
A blend of academic excellence (including fellowships at Princeton and Carnegie Mellon), international experience (a Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship in Kenya), and a commitment to positive social impact shines through.
The work itself involves diverse global development projects, utilizing behavioral science to address sustainability, agriculture, and human rights challenges.
A day in the life is dynamic, incorporating research, design sprints, international travel, and collaboration. Key skills include empathy, behavioral science knowledge, and strong communication.
A significant career lesson involves embracing a "t-shaped" approach – broad application of skills combined with focused specialization.
The interview concludes with advice for aspiring behavioral scientists, emphasizing the importance of internships, understanding the diverse industry landscape, and recognizing the varying definitions of "behavior change" across organizations.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Marisa Nowicki
Senior Behavioral Designer
Behavioral Design Firm
University of North Texas
Carnegie Mellon University: Masters in Public Policy and Management (MSPPM), 2019
Medical, Sciences & Related, Psychology
Nonprofit
Consulting
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
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Career Path Of A Senior Behavioral Designer At A Behavioral Design Firm
Marisa's career path, beginning with a psychology and applied behavior analysis undergraduate degree, evolved through fellowships at Princeton and the House of Representatives, a master's in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon, and a Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship in Kenya. This led to their current role as a Senior Behavioral Designer at Ideas 42, where they apply behavioral science to "social good," working on projects ranging from "anti-narratives about poverty" to financial justice, showcasing a unique blend of academic background, international experience, and a commitment to positive social impact.
Responsibilities Of A Senior Behavioral Designer At A Behavioral Design Firm
Marisa, a Senior Behavioral Designer, works on global development projects focusing on sustainability, agriculture, and human rights, managing one to three projects concurrently across various phases. Her work involves identifying behavioral problems, such as "people are not doing X behavior, we want them to do X behavior," diagnosing barriers through user research, designing human-centered solutions (e.g., messaging, role models, reducing hassles), testing these interventions (ideally with randomized control trials), and finally disseminating findings through presentations, papers, and seeking funding for scaling.
A Day in the Life of a Senior Behavioral Designer at a Behavioral Design Firm
A senior behavioral designer's workday is "a little bit different" each day, encompassing a variety of tasks including research proposals, partner meetings, design sprints, and writing; this involves working on one to three projects concurrently, often collaborating within small teams and occasionally traveling internationally, as exemplified by six weeks spent in Albania last year. The work is a blend of remote and in-office time, reflecting the flexibility of the role within the firm.
Most Important Skills For A Senior Behavioral Designer At Behavioral Design Firm
A senior behavioral designer's most crucial skill is "empathy for, and interest in other people," requiring the ability to understand why people act as they do, even on sensitive topics. This foundation is complemented by behavioral science knowledge, research skills (both qualitative and quantitative), human-centered design principles, and strong presentation abilities to effectively communicate project findings.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Senior Behavioral Designer At Ideas 42
Marisa's favorite aspects of her role as Senior Behavioral Designer at Ideas 42 include the "incredibly interesting and incredibly impactful" work, collaborating with passionate individuals striving for positive global change, and the supportive company culture which fosters a "decent work-life balance." The opportunity to "make things a little bit easier to help people act on their best intentions" is particularly meaningful to Marisa.
Biggest Challenges For A Senior Behavioral Designer At A Behavioral Design Firm
Marisa's biggest challenge as a Senior Behavioral Designer is clarifying the limitations of behavioral science, differentiating between solvable "I-frame" individual problems and unsolvable "S-frame" systemic issues like climate change policy. The field often faces pressure to solve systemic problems "instead of doing the hard work of changing…regulation," leading to a crucial need to emphasize behavioral science's role as a "complimentary feature" to policy, not a replacement.
Favorite Parts Of Working In Behavioral Design As A Senior Behavioral Designer
Marisa, a Senior Behavioral Designer, appreciates the dignified problem-solving approach in her industry, focusing on environmental factors rather than assuming laziness or ignorance; the field helps create environments where people can "act on their best intentions" by addressing cognitive biases and contextual challenges.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Behavioral Science And Design Industry According To A Senior Behavioral Designer At A Behavioral Design Firm
Marisa, a Senior Behavioral Designer, identifies empathy, emotional intelligence, and curiosity as key traits for success in behavioral science, whether working in a specialized firm or within a larger organization. The ability to blend creativity and research skills, depending on the specific role (design versus research focus), is also crucial for thriving in this field.
What a Senior Behavioral Designer at Behavioral Design Firm Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Behavioral Science Industry
Marisa, a Senior Behavioral Designer, advises aspiring behavioral scientists to understand the diverse ecosystem encompassing academia, design firms, internal "nudge units," and the private sector before entering the field. The key is carefully reviewing job descriptions to discern whether a role prioritizes research, communication, design, or a blend of skills, as the understanding and application of behavioral science varies significantly across organizations, with "a lot of jobs that used to be messaging focused are now behavior change focused".
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Associate Behavioral Designers
For undergraduate students interested in behavioral design, Marisa recommends seeking "summer internships," such as those offered by Ideas42, or working as "a research assistant in a psychology lab" to build relevant skills. Post-graduation, entry-level roles may include "Associate Behavioral Designer," "early career UX designer," or similar titles, emphasizing the need to carefully review job descriptions as titles can vary widely across companies.
Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Behavioral Designer At A Behavioral Design Firm
Marisa's most significant career lesson centers on the "snorkeler versus scuba diver" analogy, advising career professionals to determine whether they prefer breadth ("a little bit of everything") or depth of specialization in their work. This helped Marisa understand her own career path, where the "t-shaped" approach allows for both broad application of behavioral design skills across diverse projects like "corporate responsibility initiatives" and "sustainable fishing organizations," while also maintaining a focus on sustainability and human rights.
College Experiences That Helped A Senior Behavioral Designer At A Behavioral Design Firm Succeed
Marisa's undergraduate success stemmed from applying broadly, embracing unexpected opportunities ("a winding road of me applying to things"), and following genuine interests, even if the path wasn't initially clear; this strategy, involving numerous applications and rejections ("for every success, I've been rejected 10 times"), ultimately allowed for a career narrative to emerge organically.
How Identity Shaped a Senior Behavioral Designer's Career at a Behavioral Design Firm
Marisa, a first-generation college student, initially held a "very narrow" view of career success, shaped by family expectations. However, college and exploration broadened their perspective, leading to the realization that "there are so many jobs out there that I have never even heard of," ultimately inspiring a career path defined by curiosity, a growth mindset, and a potential future of creating their own unique role.
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