INDUSTRY:
ROBOTICS
CLIENT:
ARM INSTITUTE
YEAR:
2025
SKILLS:
PRODUCT STRATEGY
Building the Future of U.S. Manufacturing—Together
problem.
As the Product Strategy Lead, I was tasked with improving engagement on its member portal. At first, I had limited information—Google Analytics showed high drop-off rates and infrequent logins, but it was unclear why. I created a framework to approach the ambiguity: (1) diagnose through data, (2) validate through research, and (3) prototype interventions.
process.
I conducted contextual interviews and heuristic evaluations with 40+ members, uncovering that disengagement was not just a usability issue but a deeper networking challenge. While the portal promised online collaboration, members told us they only found trusted collaborators in person at the annual meeting. With members spread across different U.S. regions, this was a structural gap. I reframed the problem from "portal engagement" to "network decentralization" and piloted interest-based micro-communities ("ARM Guilds") on Slack.
results.
Within five days, 35+ early users were onboarded, achieving ~30% adoption and validating the demand for real-time, trust-based connections. This experience taught me how to turn limited signals into a structured approach, reframe problems at the right level, and deliver a solution that reshaped ARM's strategy for member engagement.
testimonial.
The STONE MIND project is a stunning, textured centerpiece in our portfolio, with every detail of the 'stone head' meticulously crafted.
Maya Bennett
Founder & CEO
