The Consumer Insights Podcast Stravito

To work with insights is to drive change. And while driving change is always easier said than done, it’s far from impossible.

In this episode, Deepa Iyer, Sr. Director of Market Research and Data Science at Fossil Group, shares how her rich career working both agency-side and brand-side has taught her how to drive insightful action through empathy, humility, and technical expertise. 

Join us as we also discuss: How brand-side insights leaders can adopt a consultant mindsetBest practices + what to watch out for when working with insights from a strategic perspective The potential impacts of generative AI in the Insights world

Join us for this Quarterly Review episode as host Thor Olof Philogène revisits some of the highlights from recent episodes, exploring the varied and rich perspectives of the brilliant insights leaders who’ve joined the podcast this quarter.

A commitment to learning—whether through formal education or experience—opens doors to diverse opportunities and fresh perspectives. It fills gaps in understanding, fosters adaptability to emerging technologies, and is fundamental to uncovering transformative insights.

In this episode, Victoria Ng, Director, Consumer Insights at Sodexo, shares how her journey of continuous learning has shaped her ability to conduct thorough research and derive meaningful insights. 

We also discuss: How combining qualitative and quantitative data helps bring insights to lifeThe importance of being a storyteller rather than just a “data-teller"Methods for leveraging emerging technologies like AI in insights work

“Insights without actions are just fun facts.” But how do you ensure your insights translate into real-world impact?

Generating insights without a practical application often limits their ability to leverage tangible results and meet business objectives.

In this episode, Matt Thell, Global Strategy and Innovation Leader at General Mills, shares the key steps to turn insights into action through a structured process that involves analysis, communal knowledge, hierarchization and empathy.

We also discuss:
The i3 process to achieve innovationHow to differentiate problems from opportunities—and how it drastically changes the approach you should takeThe importance of building empathy inside the organization to create context-sensitive solutions

Who exactly is your customer? More importantly, how do you know?

A solid insights strategy powers better decisions, sharpens targeting, fuels innovation, and sets your organization up for success. But too often, insights are sidelined as a 'nice-to-have' function, stripping organizations of their competitive edge.

Leveraging her extensive experience in building insights functions from the ground up, Deborah Walker, Director — Consumer Insights at The Michaels Companies, Inc., helps move the insights function to where it truly belongs — the ‘must-have’ category. She joins us to delve into her successful five-step program for establishing and enhancing this critical function.

We also discuss:
Why insights professionals should be at the forefront of decision-makingThe power of taking a “MythBusters” approach to insights workStrategies to tackle analysis paralysis and unlock powerful insights

“There’s never been a better time to be an insights professional.”

The variety of innovations in the insights world, from tech to methodologies, are creating unique opportunities for insights professionals – but also new challenges.

In this episode, Lorin Drake, Consumer Insights Strategist at Publix Super Markets, shares wisdom and learnings from his tenured career to illustrate how insights professionals can make the most of this new era.

We also discuss:Key considerations when approaching GenAIWhy the trend of feedback overload should be on your radar + how to prevent itHow the emerging area of emography can add depth and richness to insights work