MEET THE OWLS

OWL Research Partners is built on deep research expertise, intellectual curiosity and a shared belief that better decisions start with better questions.

As research librarians and strategists, we bring decades of experience finding meaning and direction within complexity. We connect evidence, context and intuition to illuminate what matters most.

Samara Omundson

Principal Researcher | The “O” in OWL

Samara brings more than 26 years of experience delivering research‑based insights and strategy for some of the world’s largest and most complex organizations. Drawing on a background that spans information management, public relations and human resources, she approaches research with a broad, integrative perspective, connecting evidence to real‑world decisions.

At OWL Research Partners, Samara works closely with clients and collaborators to simplify complexity, uncover meaning and shape insights that have lasting organizational impact. With a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s in library science and a lifelong fascination with investigation and storytelling, she is driven by connecting the dots and getting to the heart of the question.

Emily Wheeler

Principal Researcher | The “W” in OWL

Emily has spent more than two decades helping organizations make strategic decisions grounded in data and evidence. In an era of overwhelming information, she focuses on what matters most by designing analysis that cuts through noise to reveal patterns, trends and opportunity.

At OWL Research Partners, Emily supports clients by bringing focus and structure to complex data landscapes and translating findings into meaningful, usable insight. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy analysis and sociology, along with a master’s in library and information science, and is known for her ability to ask the right questions of both data and decision‑makers.

Librarians - The “L” in OWL

Being librarians is not just a quirky footnote. It is foundational to how we work together and how we work with clients.

Librarianship is rooted in curiosity, rigor and a relentless drive to make sense of things. Our training compels us to search broadly, evaluate critically and synthesize thoughtfully. We do this with constant attention to context, credibility and the connections that turn information into understanding.

Together, we bring complementary strengths to every engagement, balancing narrative and numbers, exploration and discipline, instinct and evidence. Working as partners, we challenge each other’s assumptions, follow lines of inquiry wherever they lead and collaborate closely with clients to surface insights they might not have known to ask for. It’s this shared way of thinking – curious, analytical and deeply human – that turns information into understanding and research into action.