A Linguist’s Journey to the Future of Conversation Design | Olivia Marrese, Ph.D.
Lessons, advice, and possibilities for PhDs exploring a move to tech and beyond
👋 Happy Tuesday, this is Aditya with a weekly issue of the Ph.D. to Industry Newsletter.
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Dear Readers,
Recently, I had the great opportunity to interview Olivia H. Marrese. You can find Olivia’s Linkedin here.
In addition to this interview article, you can tune into our podcast episode on Apple, Google, or Spotify as well.
Olivia is currently a Senior Conversational Designer. Her academic training is in Linguistics and she received her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
If you missed recent interviews & articles, you can find them here:
1. Ultimate Career Map 2023 - here
2. How a History Professor Decided to Pivot | Joe Stubenraunch, Ph.D. - here
3. From Intern to Senior Engineer at Google | Arun Rao, PhD - here
Below are my interview notes from my conversation with Olivia👇
Welcome, Olivia! What’s your background?
I have a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Colorado. I got my master's degree there as well. My undergraduate degrees were in English language and literature and Spanish with a minor in linguistics, which is originally what got me interested in the field and made me wanna go to grad school. At the very beginning when I started graduate work, I started getting plugged into some interesting tech applications, and it snowballed from there.
Could you tell us more about your specialization in conversational analysis & some important considerations in this field of research?
I specialize in conversation analysis, a subfield that intersects sociology, linguistics, and communication. My research focuses on studying human interaction in natural settings, exploring language use, expertise, and identity. I collect data from various sources, including phone conversations among friends and interactions between customers and employees at a retail store. I use audio and visual recordings to capture verbal and non-verbal cues, gestures, and spatial movements, as they are integral to understanding the full interaction. My goal is to conduct research that is respectful, ethical, and considerate of the individuals involved.
How was your transition from Academia to Industry?
Yeah, it's interesting how my career path unfolded because it's not something I could have predicted. When I first took linguistics courses in college, I didn't even know that studying language use and social norms was a dedicated career field. But as I delved deeper into my fascination with language and human interaction, I realized that I wanted to pursue a graduate program that combined teaching and research.
During my master's, I had the opportunity to work in data annotation for a computational linguistics lab, which introduced me to the applied side of linguistics in the tech space. It was a new and exciting experience for me. I continued exploring this avenue through internships and collaborations, even though my formal training was primarily qualitative. I found that I enjoyed team collaboration and the faster pace of projects outside academia. One significant internship I landed was with IBM, which I discovered by attending a webinar on conversation design. I showcased my skills and interests in a coffee chat after the webinar, which led to a mentorship opportunity and eventually an internship offer. This taught me the importance of showing what I can do, especially in the tech industry where skillsets might not be immediately apparent to those unfamiliar with working with PhDs.
I want to encourage others not to underestimate the value of their skills, even if they come from non-traditional backgrounds. Learning new technical skills like Python can be helpful, but it's crucial not to discount the expertise gained through research and academia. Networking and connecting with people have also been instrumental in opening doors for me. Attending events and making introductions, even without pre-existing contacts, has led to exciting opportunities that I wouldn't have otherwise encountered.
Why should academics consider roles in industry?
One aspect that can make people apprehensive about transitioning from academia to industry is the perception that in academia, research is conducted purely for the sake of advancing knowledge in a specific field, while in industry, there are other factors at play such as company needs, stakeholders, and profits. However, this doesn't mean that transitioning to industry is equivalent to "selling out." It's simply a matter of effectively communicating your skillset and expertise in a way that aligns with the business context.
In industry, it's important to highlight how your skills can contribute to the team and the company's objectives. While universities may be nonprofit institutions, they also operate with a business mindset. Therefore, it's about framing your abilities in a manner that is understandable and valuable within a business use case. It's not compromising your values or expertise, but rather adapting the way you present them to suit the specific context you're in.
How has your academic background prepared you for the changes and unexpected skills needed in your current role?
With significant progress in AI in the last months and years, I've witnessed significant changes in the field, where theoretical possibilities are becoming actual opportunities. My training in graduate school, where I learned how to quickly grasp and utilize new information, has been immensely valuable in adapting to these changes. Additionally, I've been pleasantly surprised by the importance placed on my teaching abilities and the relevance of my writing skills in tasks such as documentation. Overall, my seven-year academic journey has equipped me with skills that have exceeded my expectations in my current role.
What do you do in your current role and how did you manage to achieve a Senior role right out of PhD?
My current role aligns with my preference for collaborative work and cross-team interactions. I enjoy working with engineers, sales teams, and clients from various industries, allowing me to contribute to strategic design thinking, technical implementation, and client-facing interactions.
While my Ph.D. was not a requirement for this role, having an advanced degree was valued by the company. I initially applied for the position of conversational designer, but during the hiring process, it was upgraded to a senior conversation designer role, which recognized my expertise and experience. I believe my internships, part-time roles, and industry experience during graduate school played a significant role in showcasing my skills and qualifications. My advice to others is to value their expertise and not discount the years of hard work they have invested in their field.
What are the opportunities in Computational Linguistics and/or Conversational Design today?
I believe there are currently more opportunities in the field compared to a year ago, even with the economic landscape fluctuating. The demand for generative AI solutions is increasing, making it a great time to start exploring and experimenting with tools like ChatGPT. There's no need to have a long-term career plan right away, but getting started and discovering if it's exciting and enjoyable is a worthwhile first step. Overall, there's ample room for new voices and plenty of opportunities to thrive.
What Academic Expertise Fits Well in this Field?
There is a demand for linguists in various areas, not just those with computational training. Both qualitative and quantitative linguists are needed to analyze data, examine user experiences, and understand human behavior. Linguists from adjacent fields like sociology and psychology can also find entry paths in studying human interactions and language usage.
What’s your advice for current PhDs?
Here are some things that worked for me - I set a goal to regularly engage in activities that would help me progress toward my career transition, whether it was informational interviews, courses, or other small steps, and by consistently taking those small steps, the process became less overwhelming and more manageable. A similar approach of being proactive and flexible may be helpful for others as well.
Hope you found some insights and inspiration from Olivia’s story!
That’s all for this week. See you next Tuesday!