Janna Bray
About Janna Bray
Janna Bray serves as the Head of Research at Notion, bringing extensive experience from previous roles at Airbnb and Robinhood. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Michigan and specializes in leading diverse research teams to enhance user experience across various product domains.
Work at Notion
Janna Bray currently serves as the Head of Research at Notion, a position she has held since 2022. In this role, she focuses on utilizing multi-method insights and customer feedback to inform product and business decisions. Bray is dedicated to enhancing user experience and ensuring that user needs are represented throughout the product development process.
Previous Experience at Airbnb
Janna Bray has extensive experience at Airbnb, where she held multiple roles from 2013 to 2021. She started as Lead UX Researcher for Marketplace, then progressed to Head of Research for various divisions, including Marketplace, Luxe, and Airbnb itself. Her tenure at Airbnb spanned eight years, during which she led research initiatives that informed product strategies and improvements.
Experience at Robinhood
Bray worked at Robinhood as Head of Research for 11 months in 2021 and 2022. During her time there, she contributed to research efforts that supported the company's focus on financial products and user experience. Her role involved leading research initiatives that informed product development and user engagement strategies.
Education and Expertise
Janna Bray holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Policy and Political Science from the University of Michigan, where she studied from 2007 to 2013. She also earned a Master's Degree in Political Science from the same institution and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Government from the University of California, Berkeley. Additionally, she has a Certificate in Qualitative and Multi-Method Research from Syracuse University - Maxwell School.
Research Leadership and Team Management
Bray has significant expertise in leading diverse research teams, managing groups ranging from small teams of four to larger teams of up to 80 individuals. Her experience encompasses various research methodologies, including UX research, market research, and behavioral science. She is passionate about creating optimal user experiences and integrating user feedback into product development.