Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII

Join us on this episode of the Insights Innovators podcast from Market Research Institute International, hosted by Katie Gross, President of Suzy . In this insightful discussion, Shelley Zalis, the founder and CEO of The Female Quotient and a pioneer in online market research, shares her journey of disrupting the traditional market research industry by introducing online surveys. She recounts her...

In this episode, we dive deep with Steve Schlesinger, Executive Chairman at Sago , hosted by Jon Last, President at Sports and Leisure Research Group . Steve shares his valuable insights on the latest industry trends, leadership strategies, and the evolving landscape of market research. Tune in to discover how Steve's experience and vision continue to shape the sector and get a firsthand look at t...

On this episode, host Katie Gross, CEO at Suzy , speaks with Kristin Luck, Managing Director of Oberon Securities . Kristin shares her unique career trajectory from a research assistant at Lieberman Research Worldwide to becoming an influential entrepreneur, investor, and banker. Learn how her passion for online research led her to build AC Nielsen's first online research platform, co-found OTX, a...

Discover how Colgate has transformed its insights function to be future-proof, the biggest challenges facing insight professionals today, and the critical components of their Insights Competence Framework. Join Stan Sthanunathan, CEO of i-Genie. AI , as he hosts Christian Niederauer, Vice President of Global Insights & Consumer Affairs at Colgate-Palmolive , in this engaging episode of Insight...

How do investors see market research companies? Is it all about SaaS models, or can service companies scale in ways that attract investors? Mark Simon, Partner at Traction Advising M&A  talks about retention as a KPI for growth and value. Consider net revenue retention or how a company grows outside of new customer acquisition. Go inside an M&A mind and hear insights like how the mark...

In this episode of 'Insights and Innovators,' hosted by Stan Sthanunathan , special guest Diane Hessan, Chairman of C-Space , discusses her transformative journey as an entrepreneur in the insights industry. Diane shares her thoughts on balancing speed, depth, and relevance in market research and provides valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. She recounts her early career experiences, the fo...

The path to creating an exciting startup can be a circuitous route. Andrew Reid, Founder & CEO of Rival Technologies may have started in film, taken a right turn in advertising, to end up building technology companies that solved research problems. And sometimes, it’s a family affair. Andrew’s father and sister both played key roles in influencing his path. Hear about his journey and excitemen...

Dive into an engaging conversation between Elaine Rodrigo, Chief Insights & Analytics Officer at Reckitt , and Stan Sthanunathan, CEO of i-Genie. AI , as they explore the evolving landscape of consumer insights, data-driven decision-making, and embracing AI. Elaine shares her nearly 30-year journey in research, her dream role realization, and the transformative power of AI in harnessing data f...

In this episode of the MRII's Insights and Innovators podcast, host Jon Last, President at Sports and Leisure Research Group, speaks with Dr. Marcus Cunha Jr., Director of the University of Georgia's Masters of Marketing Research Program . They discuss the transformative changes in the market research industry over the past few decades, including the democratization of research tools, the shift fr...

Join us for an enlightening episode of MRII's Insights and Innovators podcast, featuring a conversation with Jeff Krentz, a seasoned expert in mergers and acquisitions within the market research industry. Hosted by Katie Gross, the discussion delves into the nuances of raising capital, the importance of product-market fit, and strategic decisions companies must make between organic growth and acqu...

The market research industry is far from homogenous. There are many different business models within it. Sima Vasa, Managing Director at Oberon Securities began as a market research analyst and became an investment banker. That switch means she looks at business models, leadership, and the fundamentals of market research firms through a new lens. Learn how to think like an investment banker. 

How do we get customers? How do we lean into our strengths? These are some of the questions that Vivek Bhaskaran, Founder & CEO QuestionPro talks about in his journey to building his own company and business. Is building great software and launching globally still possible versus in a specific market? Learn lessons in entrepreneurship in the market research industry. 

How can we celebrate the innovators and leaders in Market Research? Crispin Beale, CEO of Insight250 and Group President of Behaviorally, has created the main platform for identifying these leaders. Jon Last, President at Sports and Leisure Research Group, talks with Crispin to understand how Insight250 works and how important it is for driving innovation and leadership in the industry. 

Is Research on the Brink? That’s the title of the new book from Brett Townsend, SVP of Strategy at Quester . Jon Last, President at Sports and Leisure Research Group, talks with Brett about how the industry has changed or needs to change from its academic roots to a discipline that drives business impact. 

Is there a consumer insights revolution, and will that change how multinational corporations do research? Stephan Gans, SVP, Chief Consumer Insights and Analytics Officer at Pepsico, wrote the book, The Consumer Insights Revolution. Stan Sthanunathan, CEO i-Genie. AI talks with Stephan about future-proofing your business through the control of data and tools. 

A veteran entrepreneur of five startups, Dan Coates, CEO of YPulse , shares the rollercoaster ride of starting research businesses. Join Katie Gross, Chief Customer Officer at Suzy as she talks with Dan about the skills needed to start and run a business. Dan shares about adapting to cultural and market changes, including the shortening attention span for young people, the sweet spot of his c...

What’s hype and what’s real? Jon Last, President at Sports and Leisure Research Group , talks with industry legend Simon Chadwick, Managing Partner at Cambiar, about what changes and innovations—including AI—are likely to change the insights industry. The reintegration of data and insights across functions (CX, Sales, marketing) is hot now and will be in the foreseeable future.

Join Stan Sthanunathan, CEO of i-Genie. AI, as he talks with Pam Forbus, Global Chief of Insights & Analytics at Mondelēz International, about how to earn a strategic business role by sharing relevant insights that drive business decisions. Knowing the question the CEO needs to answer is the start to pursuing insights that matter. To be a growth leader, the researcher must know what grows the...

For research companies to succeed, they need to be willing and able to disrupt themselves. That’s where more agile talent comes in. They are willing to learn, experiment and go beyond what’s working today. Join Katie Gross, Chief Customer Officer at Suzy , as she talks with Ryan Barry, President of Zappi,   to discover what he looks for in new talent and how he supports his team.   

‘Intelligence is not enough. Self awareness, being able to read a room and resilience are all key.’ Join Stan Sthanunathan, CEO i-Genie. AI as he talks with Ben Page, CEO of Ipsos about the qualities for talent and leadership in the insights business. Ben shares about the importance of integrity, especially in relation to data quality, and a willingness or hunger to learn and innovate. And don’t f...

How can researchers bridge the gap between technical expertise and business impact? Our host, Jon Last, Sports and Leisure Research Group, talks with Lisa Courtade, a veteran researcher with top healthcare companies including Merck, Sanofi Pasteur, and, now, Organon , as she shares insights from her wild ride career, including lessons learned like “Perfect data only exists in the classroom.”  Hear...