Dig In

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Saverio Spontella, (newly appointed!) Chief Commercial Officer, at Land O’Frost, to discuss how marketing leaders can practically embed AI into everyday decision-making, use it to accelerate insight-to-action workflows, and why embracing AI is quickly becoming table stakes for modern marketing and insights teams.

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by Kevin Hare, EVP here at Dig, to unpack how agile iteration, predictive insights, and social context are transforming innovation from early signals to validated concepts. 

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by Jenna Levine, Senior Manager, Agile Strategic Priorities at Danone, to explore how consumer empathy fuels breakthrough innovation, why nuanced understanding maters when  designing for complex needs, and how agile, insight-led ways of working help teams move faster without sacrificing rigor. 

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by Frank Serpico, EVP at Dig, to unpack how true conviction (without ego) helps overcome pushback, why the real power of segmentation lies in activation and stakeholder alignment, and what Gen Z’s BS radar means for brands trying to earn authentic credibility.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Amir Jamil, Associate Director of Analytics, Insights and Capabilities at Barilla, to discuss how he navigated stakeholder pushback to rebuild Barilla’s consumer segmentation, why trust and empathy are the real drivers of insights impact, and how Gen Z, AI, and shifting food trends are reshaping the future of the category.

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by Erin Mays, EVP of Trends & Innovation at Dig Insights, to unpack how protein evolved from a niche fitness ingredient into a powerful cultural and brand signal, what its rise reveals about the shift from diet culture to resilience-driven wellness, and the lessons brand leaders can take from protein’s inclusive, insight-led path to mainstream relevance.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Brian Lechner, Senior Director of Category Leadership at Premier Nutrition, to unpack how the protein category defied traditional CPG rules to become a mass-market force, why retailers who “build it” are winning big, how innovation is shifting toward new formats and demand moments, and what GLP-1–driven behavior changes mean for the future of...

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke chats with Dig’s very own SVP, Lesley Sloggett, to unpack how real customer stories fueled an empathy-rich financial campaign, why seamless collaboration between insights and marketing creates game-changing work, and how Gen Z’s nonlinear approach to money and life is reshaping the future of financial brands.

Insights and marketing is really a match made in heaven. On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Erin Cohen, Senior Director of Consumer Insights and Intelligence, and Rachel Vares, Director of Brand Marketing, Advertising and Content at CIBC, to discuss how deep consumer insights and seamless collaboration between insights and marketing fueled the bank’s latest brand campaign, help...

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Dig Insights Co-Founder and CEO Paul Gaudette to discuss why true innovation requires focus, how “killing the middle” frees teams to pursue ideas that matter, the dangers of chasing shiny objects without consumer purpose, and how building a culture of shared accountability, not isolated teams, fuels sustainable innovation.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Tina Lambert, former Chief Marketing Officer at Tropicana and author of Innovation Is Ugly , to unpack why the traditional innovation funnel is broken, how leaders can balance creativity with disciplined execution, and the lessons she’s learned from both billion-dollar brand successes and spectacular failures. Check out Tina's book, Innovation...

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Rob Volpe, founder of Ignite360 (acquired by Dig Insights) and empathy activist, to explore how understanding irrational fears can unlock brand growth, the power of storytelling to inspire action, and why human connection is the most valuable insight of all.

On our very first episode of season 4 (!!) host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Pavi Gupta, VP of Insights & Analytics at Chobani, to explore how curiosity and unconventional thinking can spark breakthrough insights, the story behind how J&J turned an irrational fear into innovation, and why today’s insights leaders must champion the “power of and” to drive true business impact. 

In our final episode of season 3 of Dig In, Jess Gaedeke reflects on her conversation with Marat Fleytlikh, Director of Consumer Insights at Perdue Farms, on why you shouldn't fix what isn't broken when it comes to brand redesigns, why insights professionals should own their seat at the table as strategic partners—not just data interpreters—and how smart use of AI can help teams reduce redundant r...

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Marat Fleytlikh, Director of Consumer Insights at Perdue Farms, to explore how to strike the right balance between refreshing design without losing what makes a brand iconic, the transformative impact of knowledge management and AI on the insights function, and why empathy and curiosity are the ultimate tools for modern insights leaders.

In this week’s Dig (In)spiration, Jess Gaedeke reflects on her conversation with Liz Ackerley, Senior Director of Strategic Insights & Analytics at Danone, on how real consumer stories can shift mindsets across departments, how branding and gamification helped scale Danone’s Consumer Love program, and why mentoring isn’t just about fixing problems, it’s about unlocking potential.

On this week’s episode, Jess Gaedeke is joined by Elizabeth Ackerley, Senior Director of Strategic Insights & Analytics at Danone, to talk about how her team sparked a global empathy movement through the “Consumer Love” program, why mentorship and coaching are essential tools for leadership growth, and how Danone is staying head of the curve in a food industry transformed by GLP-1, protein tre...

In this week’s Dig (In)spiration, Jess reflects on her conversation with Brodie Dunn, Brodie Dunn, Director of Strategic Insights at PepsiCo Foods North America, on how the iconic Cheetle (Cheeto dust) taps into deep-seated brand associations, why true incrementality starts with a human perspective, and how brand experiences will need to evolve in a GLP-1 world. 

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Brodie Dunn, Director of Strategic Insights at PepsiCo Foods North America, to explore how empathy earns you a seat at the table (and keeps it), why embracing the mess made Cheetos a cultural icon, and what it really takes to turn Super Bowl ads into long-term brand platforms.

In this week’s Dig (In)spiration, Jess Gaedeke reflects on her conversation with Jo Lepore, EVP of Global Market Expansion & Foresight at Dig Insights, on how understanding market nuances is critical for global expansion, how foresight requires embracing uncertainty and multiple possible futures, and how diverse leadership perspectives drive stronger business decision-making.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Jo Lepore, Dig Insights new EVP of Global Market Expansion & Foresight, to explore how foresight fuels smarter strategy, why market expansion is more than just “lift and shift,” and how the insights function must evolve to stay human and stay relevant.

In this week’s Dig (In)spiration, Jess Gaedeke reflects on her conversation with Ronda Slaven, VP of Market Insights & Competitive Intelligence at Synchrony, on how a long-running shopper study turned into a revenue-driving program, the need for industry-wide accountability on data quality, and the power of insights that truly add value.

On this week’s episode , Jess Gaedeke is joined by Ronda Slaven, VP of Market Insights & Competitive Intelligence at Synchrony, to explore how a one-off research study turned into a 13-year insights program that now fuels brand trust, sales conversations, and long-term strategy. Plus what it takes to make research truly stick, how AI is changing the shopper journey, and why the insights indust...

In this week’s Dig (In)spiration, Jess Gaedeke reflects on her conversation with Khary Campbell, VP of Consumer Research & Insights at Comcast, on how creating in-context learning capabilities like virtual reality shelf sets can streamline innovation, how embedding empathy into research through real-life consumer interactions creates business value, and why asking “how might we?” is the mindse...

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Khary Campbell, VP of Consumer Research & Insights at Comcast, to explore how immersive, in-context learning unlocked innovation at General Mills, why true empathy starts with stepping outside the office and into people’s homes, and how frameworks like “How might we…” can reshape the future of research, tech, and leadership.