Highlights
- Head of Behavioral Science at Symend
- Owner of Symend’s proprietary scores and Delinquency Archetypes
- Founder of the Symend Lab
- Regular speaker at the University of Calgary’s annual conference Industry Mingle
- Led one of three research teams on the ALMA Observatory Project in Chile, contributing findings pertaining cognition and decision-making at extreme altitudes to improve legislation regarding occupational health for high-altitude workers
Professional ethos
“In a previous job with a financial firm that was a staunch supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, I saw firsthand the power of standing by your core values. When an account holder expressed harmful and discriminatory views, including threats, I reported him to the CEO, who made the decision to close his accounts, making it clear that our values were not up for compromise. That experience reinforced my belief that empathy and integrity should guide every business decision, creating spaces where customers feel respected and supported. At Symend, I bring that same commitment to helping people find financial peace of mind through respectful, values-driven solutions in debt recovery.”
Experience
Though Dr. Alison Doyle initially planned to pursue physics, an elective psychology course in university shifted her path. Psychology quickly became her passion, offering insights into decision-making and behavior that aligned with her desire to make a positive impact. Her academic journey deepened this focus, eventually leading her to a career in applied behavioral science, where she combines data-driven insights with empathy to drive meaningful change.
Dr. Doyle is now a seasoned applied behavioral scientist whose expertise has shaped Symend’s innovative, empathy-driven approach to customer engagement in debt recovery. With over a decade of experience, she leads the Behavioral Science department, including its research and development team, at Symend, where her exploration and insights are essential to the development of personalized strategies in digital communication. A natural problem-solver with a passion for understanding human behavior, Dr. Doyle has developed pioneering solutions that have directly contributed to better client outcomes and improved customer experiences.
Her career has included roles in academia, financial services, and applied research, with notable contributions such as Symend’s Delinquency Archetypes—a feature that has reduced account charge-offs by 21% for top financial clients. Her leadership is marked by a dedication to ethical practices and innovative research methodologies that support meaningful customer interactions.
Dr. Doyle brings a unique perspective on the importance of empathy in behavioral science, a value she’s developed from diverse experiences, including early volunteer work with Parachute Canada, a national charity dedicated to preventing traumatic brain injuries. Known for her engaging speaking style, she also regularly participates in the University of Calgary’s annual conference Industry Mingle, offering guidance to students and faculty on transitioning from academic research to industry applications.
Her extensive research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Frontiers in Psychology and Acta Psychologica. Her findings on decision-making, language processing, and behavioral engagement have also been presented at leading international conferences, including the Society for the Neurobiology of Language and the Behavior and Cognitive Sciences Annual Conference.
Education
Dr. Doyle holds a PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Calgary, a Master of Science in Cognitive Science from the University of Victoria, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Victoria.