AI Heroes

AI Heroes: Rodrigo Milanez on GenAI, Digital Behavior & Embracing the Unexpected in 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 Rodrigo Milanez, Director of Consumer Insights at PVH (home to Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger), to explore how generative AI is transforming the way global brands understand and act on consumer behavior across the digital landscape.

Rodrigo shares his unique perspective on integrating traditional market research with emerging data from search, social, and influencer ecosystems—giving brands a more dynamic and predictive view of their consumers. He also dives into how AI has helped his small team scale insights operations while staying focused on strategic thinking, creativity, and brand alignment.

We also dive into:

• Why search and generative AI are rapidly converging—and what that means for brand visibility

• How PVH uses GenAI to supercharge talent and influencer assessments

• The limitations of AI for hard data vs. behavioral insights

• Why creative workflows need humans at the helm—and where AI can amplify rather than replace

• How COVID redefined the value of insights and what it taught us about separating trend from truth

• The role of insights teams in helping brands pivot during fast-moving, unpredictable change

If you’re working at the intersection of AI, consumer behavior, and digital transformation—or trying to do more with less in a lean insights team—this episode offers practical examples and sharp reflections from one of the industry’s most digitally fluent voices.

AI Heroes: Dawn Farren on Being Comfortably Uncomfortable, Democratising Data & Shaping the Future of 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 Dawn Farren, Head of Insights and Analytics at Pepsi Lipton, a joint venture between Unilever and PepsiCo. Dawn offers a candid and forward-looking perspective on navigating AI adoption in a large-scale, end-to-end business—where the balance between experimentation and caution is critical.

Dawn shares her philosophy of being “comfortably uncomfortable,” and what it really means to build momentum with AI in a risk-managed, business-integrated way. From reshaping stakeholder relationships to unlocking data ecosystems, she lays out what it takes to embed AI while staying human-centered and purpose-driven.

We also dive into:

• Why experimentation needs structure—and why not all pilots should fly

• How Dawn’s team is leveraging AI across category visioning, mix development, and data democratisation

• The real risks of shiny object syndrome in enterprise AI

• What it means to “stack data” effectively across silos, functions, and global teams

• How to build trust, curiosity, and applied insight into every corner of the organisation

• What’s next for in-house insights teams—and the critical traits leaders should hire for now

If you’re navigating AI implementation in a large, matrixed organisation—or just want to hear how a seasoned insights leader stays sharp in the face of constant change—this episode offers grounded wisdom and real-world reflections from one of the best in the business.

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.