Data Gurus Podcast | Insights on Business Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions, Market Research & Data Collection

On this episode, host Sima Vasa speaks with Darrell Bricker, Chief Executive Officer, Public Affairs at Ipsos. They discuss the evolving landscape of public opinion research, the role of emotional connection in politics, and the shifting global demographics shaping our future.

Key Takeaways:

(02:30) Mentorship and opportunity shape a meaningful career in polling.

(05:01) Public affairs research centers on understanding citizens, not consumers.

(06:58) Global polling now offers real-time insights into worldwide issues.

(08:43) Mobile phones enable global polling access, even in remote areas.

(10:28) Decline in deference empowers citizens to challenge authority.

(12:56) Political volatility rises as traditional party loyalty declines.

(15:04) Constant skepticism in research strengthens accuracy and reliability.

(16:29) Emotional connection now outweighs rationality in political appeal.

(19:21) A public affairs career thrives on social science and global curiosity.

(22:13) Global population is set to peak mid-century, then decline rapidly.

(25:42) Urbanization and women’s evolving roles contribute to lower birth rates.

Resources Mentioned:

Ipsos

Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline

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#Analytics #MA #Data #Strategy #Innovation #Acquisitions #MRX #Restech #PublicOpinion

On this episode, host Sima Vasa welcomes Michael Winnick, Founder and CEO of dscout. They discuss his journey in the worlds of product, design and technology. Michael shares insights on how patience and persistence shaped his entrepreneurial journey and how dscout helps companies conduct innovative, real-time research.

Key Takeaways:

(02:45) Michael’s journey from startups to founding dscout.

(07:16) Democratizing research with new technology.

(10:32) How UX and design align with research.

(14:24) Adapting products to market shifts.

(17:51) Managing the balance between ambition and patience.

(21:15) The challenge of bringing products to market.

(23:44) The importance of building a great team.

(26:02) Success comes from customer impact.

Resources Mentioned:

The Nielsen Norman Group

IDEO

Stanford d.school

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#Analytics #MA #Data #Strategy #Innovation #Acquisitions #MRX #Restech

On this episode, host Sima Vasa talks to Matt Celuszak, Co-Founder and CEO of Element Human, about the intersection of AI and human behavior. Together they explore how data can drive better brand engagement. Matt shares his insights on understanding human emotions and reactions, focusing on attention data and using behavioral understanding to create memorable, impactful campaigns.

Key Takeaways:

(03:39) AI-driven insights help marketers understand how human emotions affect engagement.

(07:15) Attention and stopping power are crucial for creating lasting brand impressions.

(11:03) Combining human behavior with data drives personalized marketing strategies.

(14:24) Emotional response correlates with memorability and purchase intent.

(19:00) Real-world behavioral responses provide complementary data to standard metrics.

(23:15) Balancing creators’ authenticity with brand messaging is key to successful influencer marketing.

(28:10) The staying power of content is as critical as initial engagement in brand building.

(31:30) Understanding the emotional impact of content helps brands connect more effectively with consumers.

Resources Mentioned:

Element Human homepage

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#Analytics #MA #Data #Strategy #Innovation #Acquisitions #MRX #Restech

On this episode, host Sima Vasa talks to Tim Hoskins, President of Quester, and Brett Townsend, Senior Vice President of Strategy at Quester, about the future of insights and how to drive meaningful change in the industry. Brett and Tim share revelations from their book, “Insights on the Brink,” and discuss how empathy, emotion and storytelling play critical roles in creating impactful business decisions.

Key Takeaways:

(03:45) Empathy and emotion are vital for creating successful consumer insights.

(07:22) It’s not just about data — turning it into actionable insights is where the magic happens.

(10:15) Business strategy should go hand in hand with insights to drive meaningful results.

(13:55) Consumer conflict is what drives great storytelling and effective solutions.

(17:05) Data-driven decision-making requires a shift in mindset and processes.

(21:30) Asking challenging questions can push companies to innovate and break from the status quo.

(24:12) High-end consultative insights are critical to providing value in a fast-evolving market.

(27:45) The future of insights is in combining talent, empathy and technology to deliver impactful stories.

Resources Mentioned:

“Insights on the Brink” on Amazon

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#Analytics #MA #Data #Strategy #Innovation #Acquisitions #MRX #Restech

On this episode, host Sima Vasa talks to Kai Stübane, Solution Chief Revenue Officer for SAP CX for Middle and Eastern Europe, about the evolving role of customer experience (CX) in driving business success.

Key Takeaways:

(00:06) Kai’s journey from PwC to SAP.

(01:21) CX covers all customer touchpoints.

(03:33) SAP uses data to improve CX.

(05:48) CX boosts top-line revenue.

(09:00) Global shift toward automation and self-service.

(13:03) Personalization is critical to customer satisfaction.

(16:48) AI’s growing role in customer experience.

(17:45) Focus on CX leads to market growth.

(21:00) Clean data is crucial for AI and automation.

Resources Mentioned:

SAP CX Solutions

FlixBus

Greyhound

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#Analytics #MA #Data #Strategy #Innovation #Acquisitions #MRX #Restech

On this episode, host Sima Vasa talks to Eugene Murphy, Founder and CEO of Indeemo, who shares insights on how Indeemo is revolutionizing digital ethnography and qualitative research through innovative video solutions.

Key Takeaways:

(00:06) Eugene’s journey from engineering to founding Indeemo.

(02:03) Creating a seamless user experience for all ages.

(04:12) Pivoting Indeemo from a social app to a research tool.

(08:01) The power of mobile ethnography in market research.

(14:07) The importance of capturing authentic customer moments via video.

(18:15) Video is more impactful than traditional research methods.

(20:06) A seamless user experience is crucial for respondent engagement.

(24:15) Generative AI enhances the scalability of video research.

(27:00) Teaching clients to create effective, consistent prompts for research.

Resources Mentioned:

Indeemo

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#Analytics #MA #Data #Strategy #Innovation #Acquisitions #MRX #Restech

On this episode, host Sima Vasa talks with Vittorio Raimondi, CEO and Founder/Managing Partner of Foresight Strategy, about the intricacies of leadership, data analytics and the power of creativity and curiosity in driving business success.

Key Takeaways:

(04:30) Using system dynamics to effectively model complex business environments.

(06:45) Mapping consumer journeys to uncover key opportunities for growth.

(09:00) How holistic insights are leveraged by big brands such as Hewlett Packard and Coca-Cola. 

(12:15) The importance of being data-agnostic and tailoring solutions to meet client needs.

(16:00) Creativity and curiosity are crucial elements for delivering innovative solutions. (18:45) The challenge of hiring talent that combines both analytical and creative problem-solving skills.

(22:30) AI as a tool to enhance efficiency while ensuring human-driven insights remain integral.

(24:00) The need for leadership evolution in supporting a skilled and growing team.

Resources Mentioned:

Foresight Strategy

System Dynamics Society

McKinsey & Company

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#Analytics #MA #Data #Strategy #Innovation #Acquisitions #MRX #Restech

On this episode, host Sima Vasa is joined by Priscilla McKinney, CEO and Founder of Little Bird Marketing, to discuss the evolving landscape of market research, the importance of digital transformation and the value of strong client relationships.

Key Takeaways:

(03:10) Pivoting to new verticals drives success.

(03:28) Deepening relationships with existing clients is key.

(04:39) CEOs must confront and manage their fears.

(05:09) Entrepreneurs need to overcome fear and seize opportunities.

(06:09) Branding in market research is evolving rapidly.

(07:48) Demonstrating value in terms of revenue is essential.

(10:09) Upskilling is crucial for staying relevant.

(12:24) Digital transformation enhances team collaboration and engagement.

(14:30) Visibility and relationships are vital for success.

(16:42) Emotional intelligence plays a key role in business relationships.

(19:54) Small favors can have a big impact in business.

(20:24) Collaboration doesn’t always have to be a big deal.

Resources Mentioned:

Little Bird Marketing
Suzy
Digital Transformation Success Podcast

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#Analytics #MA #Data #Strategy #Innovation #Acquisitions #MRX #Restech

On this episode, host Sima Vasa welcomes Andrew Moffatt, CEO and Co-Founder of Qrious Insight, to explore the evolution of data analytics, the impact of AI and the future of market research. Andrew discusses how the integration of behavioral data with advanced analytics is transforming the way businesses understand and engage with their audiences. 

Key Takeaways:

(01:19) Andrew reflects on 25 years in market research.
(03:07) Founding Qrious Insight and its evolution.
(06:20) The importance of behavioral data for accurate insights.
(12:53) Informing ad placement with behavioral data.
(18:25) High retention rates in behavioral data tracking.
(27:31) Generational differences in data privacy and acceptance.
(34:30) AI’s transformative role in data analytics.
(36:00) The future potential of synthetic data models.
(37:00) Bridging insights and marketing with behavioral data.

Resources Mentioned:

Paradigm Sample
Sima Vasa
Qrious Insight website

Thanks for listening to the Data Gurus podcast, brought to you by Infinity Squared. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#Analytics #MA #Data #Strategy #Innovation #Acquisitions #MRX #Restech

On this episode, host Sima Vasa talks to Steve Bagdasarian, Chief Commercial Officer of Comscore, Inc., to explore the evolution of ad measurement and the convergence of traditional and digital media.

Key Takeaways:

(02:00) Measurement data offers competitive advantages.
(02:05) Media strategy is now driven by actionable data.
(04:00) The importance of continual curiosity and adaptation in the media industry.
(06:51) Ad formats are evolving, with short-form video and creator-led content gaining traction.
(08:07) The shift toward outcome-oriented advertising.
(09:19) The role of data regulation and consumer privacy.
(10:23) The impact of signal loss on advertising strategies.
(15:04) Cross-platform measurement is crucial for optimizing media mix.
(18:00) Real-time data processing enhances programmatic advertising efficiency.
(20:03) AI’s future role in ad and media measurement.

Resources Mentioned:

Comscore Publishers Clearing House

Thanks for listening to the Data Gurus podcast, brought to you by Infinity Squared. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#Analytics #MA #Data #Strategy #Innovation #Acquisitions #MRX #Restech