Scaling Consumer Insights: Design Thinking, Empathy, Tech & Analytics in Action

Episode notes

In this episode of The Curiosity Current, host Stephanie talks with Lev Mazin, CEO and Co-Founder of aytm, about reimagining how consumer insights are generated and used. Beginning with aytm’s origins under the lean startup movement, Lev explains how design thinking shaped the platform’s evolution from a scrappy prototype to a trusted global solution. He outlines how integrated panels solved the disconnect between survey tools and respondents, and how automation, such as advanced analytics like perceptual, mapping, and MaxDif, made once-exclusive methods accessible to a wider audience. The conversation also highlights aytm’s respondent-first philosophy through PaidViewpoint, where incentives, fairness, and respect became the foundation for data quality. Lev explores the rise of synthetic data, the challenge of distinguishing signal from noise, and why dormant corporate data represents the next frontier for insights. Grounded in curiosity, adaptability, and respect for people, the discussion offers a forward-looking view of how technology and human-centered design will shape the future of research.