AI Heroes: Thor Olof Philogène on Infrastructure, Insight, and the Future of AI-Powered Decision Making
🎙️ Live from Cannes – AI Heroes Live

In this episode of AI Heroes Live, recorded at Insights Lighthouse during the Cannes Lions Festival, we sit down with Thor Olof Philogène, CEO and co-founder of Stravito, to explore how enterprise knowledge management is evolving in the age of generative AI—and what it means for the future of insights, strategy, and organizational design.

Thor shares his perspective on building resilience in startups, the critical importance of infrastructure in powering AI systems, and how leaders must now develop a new kind of organizational agility—one rooted in clarity, orchestration, and cross-functional collaboration.

We also dive into:

• Why infrastructure is the foundation for any meaningful AI adoption

• How AI can liberate teams from grunt work and unlock space for critical thinking

• What Stravito is seeing in real-world usage patterns of generative AI among Fortune 500 clients

• How to design insights ecosystems that scale—and actually influence decision-making

• The three key principles for building an effective, future-proof insights tech stack

• Why organizations need to rethink job roles, workflows, and collaboration in light of AI’s unique capabilities

If you're building, scaling, or reshaping an insights function—or simply looking to make sense of how to structure your organization around AI—this episode is packed with sharp insights and real-world takeaways from one of the leading voices in enterprise AI transformation.

Connect with Thor on LinkedIn

AI Heroes: Michael Nevski on Trust, Agentic AI & the Future of Consumer Insights
🎙️ Live from Cannes – AI Heroes Live

In this episode of AI Heroes Live, recorded at Insights Lighthouse during the Cannes Lions Festival, we sit down with Michael Nevski, Director of Global Insights at Visa, to explore how AI is reshaping consumer behavior, trust, and the future of brand engagement in a fast-moving digital world.

Michael shares insights from his upcoming Cannes presentation, unpacking the shifting dynamics of consumer trust, loyalty, and the increasing reliance on affluent consumers to drive retail growth. He also dives deep into the rise of agentic AI—personal digital assistants acting on behalf of consumers—and the seismic implications for brands, payments, and the customer journey.

We also dive into:

• How agentic AI will redefine e-commerce, brand influence, and decision-making at the point of purchase

• The opportunity for insights professionals to lead with real-time, 360-degree understanding of consumer behavior

• Why trust and recommendation engines will matter more than traditional brand equity in the AI era

• Visa’s approach to embedding AI through internal copilots, ambassadors, and best-practice sharing

• How to navigate AI in highly regulated sectors like financial services while staying agile and future-ready

• The role of collaboration, cross-functional communication, and data transparency in breaking down silos

If you’re in financial services, e-commerce, or simply navigating the intersection of AI, insights, and consumer trust—this episode offers both a bold vision of what’s ahead and practical takeaways for embracing the unexpected.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

AI Heroes: Emese Pinter on Youth, Agility & the Democratization of Insights
🎙️ Live from Cannes – AI Heroes Live

In this episode of AI Heroes Live, recorded at Insights Lighthouse during the Cannes Lions Festival, host Dave Carruthers sits down with Emese Pinter, Global Insights Manager at Sahi Group, to explore the evolving role of insights in a rapidly changing, AI-enabled world.

As a rising voice in the insights community, Emese offers a fresh perspective on how younger professionals can shape the future of the function. She reflects on the shift from specialist to strategist, the power of centralized insights teams, and how AI is breaking down silos to unlock faster, smarter, more creative collaboration.

We also dive into:

• How AI is democratizing knowledge and reducing imposter syndrome in early-career professionals

• Why agile, cross-functional collaboration is key to modern insights structures

• The role of AI as a creative co-pilot in brand strategy, innovation, and comms development

• How Sahi is building a connected global insights community with shared learnings across markets

• Why the future of insights depends on asking better questions—and proactively solving problems before they surface

If you're early in your insights journey or leading a team navigating AI adoption, this episode is packed with practical takeaways on mindset, structure, and collaboration in the age of intelligent tools.

Connect with Emese on LinkedIn

AI Heroes: Flemming on Insights, Strategy & the AI-Powered Future
🎙️ Live from Cannes – AI Heroes Live

In this episode of AI Heroes Live, recorded at Insights Lighthouse during the Cannes Lions Festival, we sit down with Flemming, a seasoned insights veteran whose 37-year career has spanned iconic brands like Mars, Levi’s, IKEA, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein.

Flemming reflects on his unique career evolution—from insights technician to strategic leader—and shares timeless lessons on how curiosity, business empathy, and generosity have fueled his growth across functions and industries. He emphasizes why insights should never be siloed, how to make yourself indispensable to stakeholders, and why making others better is the true mark of impact.

We also dive into:

• The essential shift from insights-as-service to insights-as-strategy

• Why middle-tier roles in insights may disappear—and what it takes to rise to the top

• How AI is transforming insights teams—liberating them from operational tasks to focus on real business influence

• The power of synthetic personas, and the risks of AI hallucination in innovation workflows

• Practical advice for rising leaders: building belief, strengthening key relationships, and always giving great work away

If you're an insights professional wondering how to stay relevant in the AI age—or aiming to make the leap from researcher to strategic operator—this is a must-listen episode packed with wisdom, candor, and a sharp eye toward the future.

Connect with Flemming on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/flemmingthygesen/

AI Heroes: Tony Costella on Embedding Culture into AI at Heineken
🎙️ Live from Cannes – AI Heroes Live

In this episode of AI Heroes Live, recorded at Insights Lighthouse during the Cannes Lions Festival, we sit down with Tony Costella, Global Head of Insights at Heineken, to explore how one of the world’s most iconic beverage companies is reimagining its future through AI.

Tony unpacks Heineken’s journey with AI—how they're using it to transform insights, pilot new tools, and build a next-generation insights engine. He shares why culture and company DNA must be at the heart of AI transformation, and how Heineken is strategically blending build, buy, and partner models to shape proprietary tools that fit their unique way of working.

We also dive into:

• The role of company culture as a competitive advantage in an era of commoditized data

• How insights professionals are uniquely positioned to lead in the AI era

• The importance of designing processes that combine human intuition and machine intelligence

• How Heineken thinks about raising the floor vs. raising the ceiling with AI tools

• What Tony hopes to take away from the Cannes insights community—and what’s next on Heineken’s roadmap

If you’re an insights leader, innovation strategist, or just fascinated by how global brands are embracing AI without losing their soul, this episode is for you.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Anneke Quinn de Jong, founder of AI & U and former Philips insights veteran with over 14 years of experience. After working with 30+ technology and FMCG brands, Anneke now focuses on guiding organizations through the human side of AI transformation.

In this enlightening discussion, Anneke shares practical wisdom on creating a positive AI adoption journey, revealing why successful implementation depends more on people than technology. Discover how she's helping professionals transform apprehension into enthusiasm through coaching, mentoring, and human-centered change management.

Learn why the fusion of human insight, innovation expertise, and business acumen creates the optimal foundation for AI success, and how organizations can build truly co-intelligent teams where AI augments human capabilities rather than replacing them.

Whether you're navigating personal career shifts or leading organizational change in the age of AI, this episode provides invaluable guidance for creating a future where humans and AI thrive together.

Join host Dave Carruthers for a thought-provoking discussion with Febronia Ruocco, Global Strategic Insights & Analytics Director with over 20 years of experience driving commercially impactful insights for world-famous FMCG and OTC brands. In this candid conversation, Febronia shares her unfiltered perspective on how the modern insights professional must evolve to remain relevant.

Discover why Febronia believes AI literacy is now non-negotiable, and how this knowledge creates space for the strategic influence that insights teams have long sought. Hear her firsthand accounts of how she's navigated this transition.

Don't miss this essential episode that challenges conventional thinking and provides a practical roadmap for insights professionals looking to elevate their role beyond project execution to strategic partnership.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with transformational change agent, Nick Graham, former Insights & Analytics Lead for Mondelēz International and PepsiCo. Nick shares his firsthand experience experimenting with and implementing AI solutions at Mondelez, and the valuable lessons learned while collaborating with agency partners in the insights space.With over 20 years of experience across global brands, Nick brings a unique perspective on how AI, behavioral science, and effective storytelling can drive lasting organizational change and shape consumer behavior. Discover practical insights from a recognized industry leader and learn why he's our latest AI Role Model.

Join host Dave Carruthers for an illuminating conversation with ONE Strategy Studio's veteran strategistsCamilla Pugh and Charlotte White.

With over five decades of combined experience across agencies and global brands, they share candid insights about their journey into the world of AI-driven strategy and innovation.

Discover what drew these industry veterans to ONE Strategy Studio, and hear firsthand accounts of how AI is transforming traditional approaches to consumer insight and brand strategy. Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at groundbreaking projects and emerging capabilities that are reshaping how the world's biggest brands approach growth opportunities.

Don't miss this foundational episode that sets the stage for exploring how AI is empowering strategists to work in entirely new ways while delivering unprecedented value for clients.

Learn more about ONE Strategy Studio: https://www.onestrategystudio.com

Jump to sections:

(00:00) Introduction and Welcome

- Introduction to AI Role Models podcast

- Introduction of guests Camilla Pugh and Charlie White

(02:09) Professional Backgrounds

- Camilla's 20-year journey through insights and strategy

- Charlie's experience in FMCG and brand management

(08:54) First Impressions of One Strategy Studio

- Initial reactions to AI models

- Overcoming skepticism about AI in insights

- Learning to trust the models

(15:13) Working with AI Models

- Understanding model training

- Balance between automation and human expertise

- Role of strategic thinking in AI-driven insights

(23:01) Client Impact and Iteration

- Client reactions to the new approach

- Benefits of rapid iteration

- Flexibility in exploring different directions

(29:02) The Human-AI Partnership

- Working with the five manga-inspired AI models

- Creative aspects of AI collaboration

- Evolution of capabilities

(34:55) Future Developments

- Multi-dimensional outputs

- Sizing and validation capabilities

- Multi-market applications

- R&D function support

(39:26) Advice for Industry Leaders

- Getting started with AI

- Being brave with new approaches

- Choosing the right AI partnerships

(44:29) Closing

- Episode wrap-up

- Preview of future episodes

Welcome to AI Role Models, a podcast from ONE Strategy Studio that goes beyond the hype to explore how real leaders are transforming their businesses with artificial intelligence. Dave Carruthers is your host.

In each episode, he sits down with pioneers from the world's leading brands who are reimagining marketing, insights, and innovation with AI. But we're not here to talk about theoretical possibilities...

These are candid conversations about the real challenges, unexpected victories, and practical lessons learned from implementing AI in organizations.

You'll hear from CMOs who transformed their marketing strategies, insights leaders who revolutionized their research methods, and innovation directors who discovered entirely new ways of working.

Whether you're just starting your AI journey or leading the charge, these stories will give you actionable insights to navigate the AI revolution in your own organization.

Join us for AI Role Models. Follow now wherever you get your podcasts to be notified of new episodes. Connect with ONE Strategy on LinkedIn to join us for live recordings:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-strategy-studio/