From researching gorillas to UX Research - A conversation with Jordan Brinkman from NEXT Insurance

In this episode of Genway Academy, Natan Voitenkov, Co-Founder & CEO of Genway AI, sits down with Jordan Brinkman, Lead UX Researcher at Next Insurance, to explore how AI is transforming the world of user research.

Jordan shares his fascinating journey — from studying animal behavior at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to leading research teams in B2B and B2C tech, and how his background in academic research shaped his rigorous yet agile approach to UX today.

They discuss:
🧠 The evolution of UX research from academia to fast-paced tech
🤖 How AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Genway are redefining research workflows
🚀 Why junior researchers might have more opportunities than ever before
🎯 The rise of the AI-native researcher — a new hybrid operator model
📊 The balance between qualitative and quantitative insights in the age of AI

Whether you're a UX researcher, designer, or product leader, this conversation dives deep into the future of human insight, AI-powered interviews, and what it truly means to be a researcher in the era of generative AI.

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Jordan’s journey from animal behavior to UX
06:30 – Academic rigor vs. industry speed
14:00 – Mentorship and breaking into UX research
22:00 – B2B vs. B2C research challenges
31:45 – How AI tools reshape research practices
42:10 – The future of junior researchers
49:00 – Genway AI’s impact on scaling research
57:00 – Advice for new researchers

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