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.