Integrated Product Development

ConnectWiz

Duration
14 Weeks
Role
Strategy & Research
Team
6 Members
Context
IPD @ CMU

The Problem

Recent graduates struggle to establish and sustain genuine career connections because existing networking platforms rewards surface-level, transactional interactions. This leaves them feeling pressured, inauthentic, and unsupported.

Key Finding

According to our user research, 9 out of 10 people say they feel that networking is inauthentic and transactional. This creates a significant barrier for recent graduates.

Research & Discovery

1

Problem Tree

Mapped root causes including automated transactional processes, social pressure to connect, and mismatch of experiences.

2

Interviews & Affinity

Conducted user interviews revealing psychological discomfort, especially for introverts.

3

Jobs To Be Done

Core job: Build genuine professional relationships for career growth with functional and emotional needs.

Key Insights

  • Introverts face genuine psychological discomfort in traditional networking.
  • Networking feels inauthentic and transactional on existing platforms.
  • Structured formats are more accessible than open-ended networking.

Concept Direction

"Bumble + LinkedIn for Professionals" — a platform that prioritizes genuine connection over credential-based networking.

Key Features

Personalized Profiles

Profiles that balance professional skills with personal interests, showing the whole person behind the credentials.

Interest-Based Matching

AI-powered matching based on shared interests and values, not just job titles or company names.

Structured Engagement

Guided conversation starters and connection rituals that reduce the anxiety of reaching out.

Authenticity Detection

AI-powered system that promotes genuine interactions and flags transactional behavior patterns.

Solution Design for ConnectWiz
Solution Design for ConnectWiz

My Contribution

As part of the 6-member team, I contributed to leading user research interviews, facilitating ideation workshops, developing product requirements, and creating the impact-effort matrix.

Key Learnings

The most impactful products don't just solve functional problems—they address emotional needs. ConnectWiz's success lies in recognizing that networking anxiety is primarily an emotional barrier, not a functional one.