In a recent LinkedIn post, April Underwood announced her upcoming participation in the Outliers festival, a new research event from Outset. Underwood will be speaking on the critical topic of understanding customers from multiple perspectives, sharing insights alongside fellow panelists Nicholas Stevens and Teri Felix.
The festival, described as a blend of user conference and music festival, aims to bring together researchers, insights professionals, and product managers. Underwood expressed excitement about the event, drawing parallels to early tech gatherings like Twitter Chirp and Slack Frontiers, noting, “It’s giving me some major nostalgia about the first Twitter Chirp and Slack Frontiers!” The event is scheduled for September 24th in San Francisco.
Diverse Perspectives on Customer Insights
April Underwood highlighted the unique composition of the panel, emphasizing the varied backgrounds of the speakers. She will be joined by Nicholas Stevens, who possesses deep expertise in building AI products, and Teri Felix, who brings extensive experience leading insights and customer experience within major financial services firms. Underwood is keen to explore the common ground and potential divergences in their viewpoints. As April Underwood stated:
“Three very different perspectives on the same question: I’ve spent my career moving between operator and investor, Nicholas is deep in building AI product, and Teri has led insights and CX inside some of the biggest names in financial services. I’m looking forward to seeing where we agree and where we don’t!”
This diversity of experience, according to Underwood, is key to a comprehensive understanding of the customer. Her own background, spanning both operational roles and investment, provides a unique vantage point for analyzing customer engagement and business strategy. By bringing together these distinct lenses, the Outliers session aims to offer attendees a richer, more nuanced approach to customer insight generation.
The Evolving Landscape of Research Festivals
Underwood’s anticipation for the Outliers festival underscores a growing trend in professional development events. The fusion of traditional conference elements with a more relaxed, festival-like atmosphere is designed to foster creativity and deeper engagement. She is “PUMPED UP” to be part of this inaugural event, signaling its potential significance in the industry.
The festival’s focus on researchers, insights professionals, and PMs suggests a strategic effort to bridge gaps between data analysis, customer understanding, and product development. As April Underwood pointed out regarding the event’s structure:
“Outliers is Outset’s inaugural research festival for researchers, insights professionals, and PMs. Part user conference, part music festival.”
This innovative format, as described by Underwood, aims to create a more dynamic and memorable learning experience. The emphasis on “understanding customers from multiple lenses” is a critical theme for businesses navigating today’s complex market. Underwood’s participation promises to offer valuable takeaways for attendees seeking to enhance their customer insight strategies.
Details and registration information for the Outliers festival can be found via the link provided in April Underwood’s original LinkedIn post.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by April Underwood on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on September 9, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →