Y'all... this one hurts. I'm sad to share that I've unfortunately been impacted by the layoffs that took place early this morning at Peloton. I joined Peloton in 2021 and quite literally squealed on the phone when Jenna Garofalo offered me a Sr. Research Coordinator position, embedded into the small but mighty research team that Nehali P. was building at the time. With the guidance of great leaders and cross functional partners, I built a research operations program from scratch. As our team grew and morphed, so did our practice. I count myself seriously lucky to have worked alongside some of, if not the, brightest minds in the industry and when I tell you I'm sad to be leaving this group, I mean I'm pretty shattered at the moment. I truly love(d) my job. I loved working with our researchers, cross functional partners (marketing & legal - ily), and our vendor partners (gosh I loved our vendor partners' csm & sales teams so much). My favorite part of any role will always be the relationships formed along the way, so right now I'd like to lean into those relationships and ask of you a few things: - If we've ever had the pleasure of working together in the past, comment below regarding our work together and/or share an anecdote or funny memory (let's test out that whole -laughter is the best medicine- thing in real time) - Introduce me to someone who may be looking for a research operations expert to join their team - Share words of encouragement or like this post I'm grateful to have been placed amongst this group of unicorns who will undoubtedly go on to make great products & experiences at Peloton.
Ashley, you are one of a kind and truly an above and beyond partner! You have a special skillset that is hard for me to articulate other than to say at times your work felt magical. You made the most daunting projects seem butter smooth from my perspective even though I know they always required skill, hard work, connections and an exceptional attention to detail to execute so flawlessly. There is nothing quite like the feeling of knowing someone truly has your back and when you were working with me on a program, I knew you’d think of everything and handle it like the boss you are and I never had to worry about a thing. You made me better! I also always appreciated your genuine curiosity and respect for the research we did and the impact our work had. You being so engaged not only makes the work more fun but allowed you to be a thoughtful collaborator in the work as well - we were building for Peloton together! And on top of all that, you’re my top bun sister! I will miss twinning with you. Thank you for being an infectious light on the team. Keep shining wherever you go next! ☀️☀️
Ashley D - the reflection on your time at Peloton coupled with your outlook on the future, says it all. You are kind. You are diligent. You are optimistic. You are intelligent. You are dedicated. You are one of a kind. The next team that gets to invite you in, is one of the luckiest out there. From setback, comes growth. I can't wait to see the next path you pave.
Obsessed with you and will miss your infectious energy. Who is gonna help me navigate vendors, contracts, and legal concerns?? And more importantly, who will i slack for a mid-day vibe check or smile? Wishing you ALL the best, superstar.
So sorry to read your story. If you’d like access to the Cha Cha Club, a member’s club of supportive full-time ResearchOps pros for a few months (for free) drop me a note. Would love to support.
Ashley, I’ve absolutely adored partnering with you. You are so incredibly good at what you do & any org would be lucky to have you. I always looked forward to our calls, you have the BEST energy & it’s clear how much your team feels supported by your efforts. I know our paths will cross again!
My best friend and work wife - thank you for brightening all my days at Peloton. Your passion for ResOps, unparalleled work ethic (what are lunch breaks?!), and immense love & respect for the people around you know no bounds. Can’t wait to see where you and your radiant energy will go next. Wherever it is, they’ll be lucky to have you 💕✨
Ashley, I'm so sorry to hear this news. You are an absolute ROCKSTAR! Excited to see where you land next. You were literally the glue that kept our NYC research project humming perfectly. You've got my wholehearted endorsement. Don't hesitate to let me know if there are any connections you can leverage.
Ashley D is one of the best virtual connections I’ve made. She was extremely helpful to me when changing industries and coached me (a whole stranger!) through my interviews for my current role. I’m forever grateful for her kindness, amazing spirit and encouragement! Anyone would be lucky to have her on their team. I hope this moment is brief and I’ll def keep an eye out for opportunities!
Ash - thank you for introducing me to Peloton. I enjoyed participating in UX surveys over the years. I will keep an eye out for you. I truly hope you take this time to reset, feel your feels and REST. Wishing you the best.
Senior User Researcher, Peloton | PhD Learning Scientist & ex-Design Research Fellow, Northwestern
4moAshley D while it is really tough to lose so many first rate teammates, losing you feels utterly debilitating. You have been an incredible, invaluable partner to all of us. In a time when UXR is being asked to become more nimble and zippy, we all need a partner like you. In addition to your considerable depth of expertise when it comes to research tools, you bring a rare degree of creativity and hustle to research ops. No matter how challenging or obscure a problem I brought you, you always had a solution and a willingness to try unconventional things. You are a true partner. You have pushed me to make better choices and rethink my approach in ways that have helped me move faster and get much better data. Working with you made it fun to do difficult things. You are a natural innovator and whoever hires you will be winning the lottery. It is really difficult to accept your departure but I know that you will just keep climbing higher. You’re one in a million and this is really just Peloton’s loss.