Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta

On this episode of Getting to Aha!, host Darshan Mehta sits down with Ken Kring, a seasoned business leader with rich experience at Walmart, Walgreens, and Sears, to explore the transformative power of integrated thinking. Ken reveals how businesses can break down silos, align around a shared vision, and drive success through cohesive strategies. From customer experience flows to decision-making frameworks, this conversation offers practical insights for leaders eager to create nimble, connected organizations that thrive in today’s complex business landscape.

Ken Kring is a seasoned business leader and strategic marketing expert, known for his innovative approach to integrated thinking and business strategy. With extensive experience at major retailers including Walmart, Walgreens, and Sears Holding Corporation, Ken has developed expertise in designing and executing initiatives that overcome barriers, shift perceptions, and drive profitable behaviors. He previously worked with Rooted Wealth Advisors and Cancer Treatment Centers of America, where he honed his methodology for understanding business flows and customer experience.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
👉 Ken introduces the “Puzzle Box Lid” principle as a metaphor for integrated thinking. He explains that departments operate in isolation without a shared vision of the bigger picture. By aligning teams around this unifying framework, companies like Walmart become agile and responsive, while those like Sears suffer from siloed inefficiency.
👉 Ken outlines his Six-Step Brand Positioning Framework, a fill-in-the-blank system that helps businesses shift customer behavior. By identifying current and desired perceptions, and the barriers in between, this approach aligns marketing and operations, turning strategic intent into measurable outcomes across large, complex organizations.
👉 Ken shares the “Head-to-Heart” customer journey model to illustrate how customers move from awareness to loyalty. By diagnosing where customers are stuck, whether in cognition (“head”) or emotion/experience (“heart”), teams can tailor solutions precisely, turning stalled initiatives into actionable strategies that enhance retention and engagement.
👉 Ken discusses the three fundamental elements of successful business flow: customer experience, operational efficiency, and decision impact. He explains how businesses that internalize these flows can move with agility, like “100 pounds of piranhas,” instead of lumbering like “one 100-pound shark”—a metaphor for responsiveness and coordination.
👉 Ken emphasizes that integrated thinking isn't just strategy; it’s a mindset shift. He shows how even the most effective frameworks fail without organizational buy-in and highlights the need for visualizing relationships between data points, rather than focusing on isolated metrics, to drive smarter, faster, and more connected decisions.

Listen Now!
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Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/48t2yi5
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Ken Kring on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenkring/

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this Greatest Hits episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Matt Swieca, Executive Producer/Program Director at The Martin Agency. They discuss the importance of customer insights, storytelling, and adapting to the evolving landscape of digital marketing and advertising. Matt shares valuable insights into the industry and the strategies employed by the Martin Agency to drive success for their clients.

Matt Swieca is Executive Producer/Program Director at The Martin Agency, a creative advertising agency with capabilities in advertising, strategic planning, direct response, digital, data analytics, design, and branded content. The agency has a wide range of clients, including UPS (Global), Google, Axe, Terminix, Hanes, Buffalo Wild Wings, LegalShield, and SnapChat (Global), for which Matt oversees all digital, social, and performance accounts.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
👉 Matt highlights the shift in audience consumption from polished videos to quicker, more natural content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. He says that these platforms add a layer of authenticity that isn’t available elsewhere, and that the quick, unpolished videos end up going viral, rather than something that is more slick and well-produced. The important thing here is the storytelling: by focusing on storytelling over the delivery of that story, the content remains natural, and the audience responds well to that.
👉 Matt explains that the Martin Agency focuses on partnering with clients and guiding them in utilizing social media effectively. He mentions the rise of influencer and content creator marketing and the shift in media spending from traditional digital ads to these new forms of advertising. He believes that social media offers precision targeting and engagement opportunities that conventional advertising cannot.
👉 Darshan and Matt discuss the Martin Agency's success and what sets it apart. Matt attributes their success to how they tailor their campaigns based on data and target specific demographics to create buzz through earned media. They also emphasize the importance of building a brand over time and partnering with clients to achieve their goals. Matt explains that while digital marketing can provide tangible ROI, building a brand takes time and requires a combination of creative storytelling and media strategies.

Listen Now!
Fame Host - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/48t2yi5
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch website - https://iresearch.com
Matt Swieca on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-swieca
Martin Agency website: https://www.martinagency.com/

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this episode of Getting to Aha!, host Darshan Mehta interviews e-commerce expert Neil Twa, CEO of Voltage Holdings. Neil shares his journey from corporate life at IBM to building Amazon FBA brands, generating over $100 million in sales. He discusses the power of product innovation over invention, how to find high-margin opportunities, and why premium pricing is essential for long-term success. Listeners will gain actionable insights into building scalable e-commerce brands and navigating Amazon’s competitive marketplace.

Neil Twa is the CEO of Voltage Holdings, a company that launches, operates, and acquires e-commerce brands focusing on Amazon FBA. With over a decade of experience and $ 100 M+ in sales, Neil helps aspiring entrepreneurs build “almost automated” income streams through his proven 5:5 Game Plan. His unique "pay as you profit" model offers hands-on mentoring, brand-building strategies, and done-for-you services that empower sellers to scale profitably and exit successfully, all with minimal weekly time commitment.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
👉 Neil introduces the “Green Light Process,” a data-driven framework for product selection using four key metrics, including search volume, pricing, and margin to validate ideas. This approach eliminates guesswork and reduces risk, enabling more consistent and successful product launches.
👉 Neil emphasizes the power of premium packaging, advocating for “iPhone-style” presentation to elevate brand perception. By leading with design and quality, sellers can command higher prices and differentiate from commodity competitors early on.
👉 Treating Amazon as a serious business, not a side hustle, is critical, Neil explains. He recommends investing $100K+ in the first year to capture just 1% of large markets with a 3–5 year exit strategy rooted in sustained brand building.
👉 Neil outlines three core drivers of success on Amazon: adequate capitalization, expert mentorship, and long-term thinking. Without these, most sellers either burn out or fail due to unrealistic expectations and poor decision-making.
👉 Neil shares how AI is transforming product research. His team uses AI tools to predict product viability with 80% accuracy, leveraging vast data sets to confidently make smarter, faster, and more cost-effective product decisions.

Listen Now!
Fame Host - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/48t2yi5
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Neil Twa on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiltwa/
Voltage Holdings LLC - https://asinspectorpro.kartra.com/page/inK75

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this Greatest Hits episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Alex Genov, the Head of Customer Research and Marketing Insights at Zappos. Join them as they discuss the importance of customer insights and empathy in creating remarkable products and services, and explore misconceptions about data reliance, channel optimization, and hospitality. Alex also touches on the role of emotions in customer experiences and the challenges and opportunities of delivering excellent customer service in the digital realm.

Alex is the Head of Customer Research and Marketing Insights at Zappos’ family of companies, where he has worked for over nine years. He describes his career goal as "helping teams create remarkable products and services that make people's lives easier and more enjoyable". Alex has over fifteen years of experience in marketing insights and has also worked at ACTIVE Network, Intuit, and State Farm Insurance. He is the author of Forget the Customer, See the Person.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
👉 Alex discusses the three things most people get wrong about creating remarkable products and services that make people's lives easier and more enjoyable. These include relying too much on data, focusing on optimizing channels rather than the customer's perspective, and neglecting the importance of hospitality.
👉 Alex says that technology should be balanced with a human touch, noting that Zappos is working on providing personalized recommendations and assistance in the online shopping experience. Reflecting on the changes in consumer behavior during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, Alex says that while there was an initial shift towards online shopping, he found that people still value in-person experiences and the human connection. Alex emphasizes the importance of understanding consumers' needs and motivations to provide a tailored and empathetic experience.
👉 Alex expands on AI and its potential in enhancing customer experiences. He discusses AI's linguistic capabilities and its use in language-related tasks such as writing and editing. Acknowledging the undeniable benefits of AI in specific fields, he also expresses curiosity about its potential in creating personalized digital experiences and making interactions with websites more conversational.

Listen Now!
Fame Host - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/48t2yi5
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch website - https://iresearch.com
Alex Genov on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexgenov
Zappos website: https://www.zappos.com

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this episode of Getting to Aha!, host Darshan Mehta interviews multicultural research expert Kai Fuentes, President and Founder of Ebony Marketing Systems. Kai shares her journey from conducting interviews at age 12 to leading a firm that champions diverse voices. She discusses the importance of cultural sensitivity, creating space for authentic storytelling, and building trust in research. Listeners will gain actionable insights into conducting impactful multicultural studies and balancing qualitative depth with modern tools, such as AI.

Kai Fuentes is the President and Founder of Ebony Marketing Systems, a pioneering figure in multicultural market research with over 20 years of experience in qualitative and quantitative methodologies. As a second-generation market researcher who conducted her first in-depth interview at age 12, she has developed deep expertise in understanding diverse consumer segments and ethnic-bound perceptions. Under her leadership, EMS has become a key player in multicultural research, working with major clients such as McDonald's, Chrysler, and the US Army.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
👉 Kai emphasizes that in qualitative research, “less is more.” By limiting moderator guides to 5–6 essential questions, her team creates space for respondents to reflect deeply on the topic. This open-ended approach encourages subconscious insights to surface, leading to richer, more authentic stories that drive meaningful, human-centered research outcomes.
👉 Kai shares how understanding cultural nuance is essential for successful recruitment. She explains that Latina moms respond better to emails, while AAPI moms need direct outreach and trust-building. These distinctions, rooted in culture, gender, and values, ensure researchers create safe, comfortable environments that elicit genuine insights across diverse communities.
👉 Kai goes on to describe how her firm pivoted from consumer-focused research to social impact work. Projects like improving breastfeeding support for Black mothers now “sing to their soul,” demonstrating how culturally informed research can inform policy, shape public health campaigns, and bring tangible benefits to underserved communities.
👉 Responsible use of AI is a key value for Kai. She explains that her firm uses AI for efficiency, editing emails and developing screeners, but avoids it for core analysis. By keeping human judgment at the heart of insights, they preserve authenticity while preparing for thoughtful tech integration in future research.
👉 Kai reframes research as a relationship, not a transaction. She emphasizes the importance of trust, grace, and creating emotional safety in the research process. By allowing respondents to tell their full stories without judgment or pressure, she and her team uncover truths that wouldn’t surface through more mechanical methods.

Listen Now!
Fame Host - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/48t2yi5
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Kai Fuentes on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-k-fuentes-b80b2929/
Ebony Marketing Systems Website - https://www.ebonysystems.com/

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this Greatest Hits episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Ross Franklin, the founder of Pure Green and CEO of Pure Green Franchise. Join them as they discuss challenges in the fitness industry, the misconceptions surrounding nutrition, and Ross’s creation of Pure Green, a juice bar franchise focused on high-performance superfoods. Ross also discusses the importance of customer insights in business and some principles of entrepreneurial success.

Ross Franklin is the founder of Pure Green and is the CEO of Pure Green Franchise, one of the fastest-growing juice bar franchises in the United States. Pure Green is a juice bar franchise that has over 100 locations open or in development, across 15 different states. The company's products include made-to-order superfood smoothies, acai bowls, and cold-pressed juice. Their franchise division is on pace to have over 100 stores open by the end of 2023. Ross is also a best-selling author and a highly sought-after keynote speaker with over two decades of experience building prestige brands within the health and wellness industry.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
👉 Ross explores the topic of customer service and the lessons learned from working in the fitness industry. He emphasizes the importance of treating customers as guests and delivering a warm, friendly, and engaging experience. Ross highlights examples of good hospitality displayed by Pure Green franchise partners, such as going above and beyond to return a customer's lost keys or including handwritten cards with delivery orders.
👉 Darshan and Ross discuss the principles of entrepreneurial success highlighted in Ross's book, The Success Formula. They emphasize the importance of taking action and avoiding analysis paralysis. Ross believes that what holds people back is the inability to take action. His advice is simple: “Just take the action and you can always recalibrate afterwards.” He also highlights the power of physiology and tonality in effective communication.
👉 Ross stresses the importance of hiring ‘doers’. Organizations must hire people with integrity who do what they say they’re going to do. Ross prefers employees who are high performers and “get stuck into the daily grind”. Without this urgency, Ross says it’s likely that they wouldn’t be the right cultural fit at Pure Green.

Listen Now!
Fame Host - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/48t2yi5
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch website - https://iresearch.com
Ross Franklin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossfranklin
Pure Green website: https://www.puregreen.com/

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this episode of Getting to Aha!, host Darshan Mehta speaks with Stephanie Rogers, Senior Account Manager at Fame and seasoned digital nomad, about the realities of working remotely while traveling the world. Stephanie shares how she transitioned to a location-independent lifestyle following the pandemic, offering candid insights on maintaining relationships, embracing uncertainty, and balancing work with exploration. From debunking myths to sharing practical tips, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about the digital nomad lifestyle.

Stephanie Rogers is a Senior Account Manager at Fame, a leading B2B podcast agency, where she specializes in crafting high-impact audio experiences and digital content strategy. As a digital nomad and cultural explorer, she combines her expertise in international business development, education, and language instruction with a passion for mindful living and global connectivity. With certifications in multi-style yoga teaching and Ayurvedic training, Stephanie brings a unique perspective on balancing professional success with personal wellness and location independence.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
👉 Stephanie emphasizes that you don’t need massive savings to start a digital nomad lifestyle; only strategic planning. By choosing cost-effective destinations like Southeast Asia, she explains how new nomads can reduce living costs and stretch their budgets while maintaining a fulfilling lifestyle abroad.
👉 Stephanie shares that safety as a solo traveler is a learned skill and highlights how developing a “street savvy” instinct while choosing culturally warm and hospitable destinations helps mitigate risk. With mindful awareness and experience, nomads can confidently navigate unfamiliar environments and embrace solo travel with greater peace of mind.
👉 Stephanie goes on to explain how the impermanence of a nomadic life often leads to deeper, more authentic connections. She describes forming fast, meaningful bonds with like-minded travelers, especially women, who value openness and independence, allowing space for genuine interaction without the pressure of long-term commitment.
👉 Maintaining long-distance relationships while traveling is possible with intentional effort. Stephanie recommends scheduling regular video calls to nurture meaningful friendships and maintain emotional stability. By sharing experiences and checking in regularly, digital nomads can stay connected to their support systems back home.
👉 Stephanie reframes uncertainty as a tool for growth, not fear. She explains how letting go of rigid expectations opens up space for personal evolution, cultural learning, and unexpected joy. For her, embracing the unknown has become a key part of what makes the digital nomad lifestyle so rewarding.

Listen Now!
Fame Host - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/48t2yi5
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Stephanie Rogers on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-rogers-870531119/
Stephanie’s substack https://stefrangipani.substack.com/
Fame website - https://www.fame.so

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this Greatest Hits episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Mary Crafts, CEO of Mary Crafts, Inc., and founder of Culinary Crafts. Join them as they explore Mary’s experience of starting a multimillion-dollar catering company, overcoming the fear of failure, and the importance of vulnerability when connecting with others. Mary also discusses the value of continuous learning and creating unique customer experiences.

Mary Crafts has over forty years of experience in the food and beverage industry. In 1984, Mary started Culinary Crafts, which has since grown into the largest off-premise caterer in Utah; Culinary Crafts is the recipient of 22 Best of State Awards, 13 “CATIE” (Catered Arts Through Innovative Excellence) Awards, and the International Caterers Association’s Caterer of the Year Award. Recently, Mary started Mary Crafts, Inc., a nonprofit that folds in Mary’s skills in business consulting, speaking, podcasting, authoring, and life coaching. Mary also hosts the podcast Crafting a Meaningful Life and has written a book called Unbounded: From Sorrow to Summit.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
👉 Mary highlights the significance of vulnerability when creating genuine connections with others. By embracing vulnerability, she has fostered empathy, promoted oneness, and encouraged acceptance among her team and clients. This approach has strengthened her relationships and contributed to the overall success of her catering business.
👉Mary attributes her success to her unwavering commitment to learning and self-improvement. She urges individuals to remain aware of their motivations, seek growth opportunities, and embrace new challenges to enhance their personal and professional lives. Mary's dedication to continuous learning has been a driving force behind her success and has allowed her to stay ahead in such a competitive industry.
👉Differentiation is key. Mary says that when she started her business, eighty catering companies served food that looked exactly the same. This means she noticed a gap in the market for gourmet-style catering that didn’t break the bank, and thought up new ways to present food that excited customers.

Listen Now!
Fame Host - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/48t2yi5
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch website - https://iresearch.com
Mary Crafts on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycrafts/
Mary Crafts website: https://marycraftsinc.com/ 

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this episode of Getting to Aha!, host Darshan Mehta speaks with Ami Meoded, Co-founder and CMO of LittleOne.Care about the power of combining early childhood development with cutting-edge baby monitoring technology. Meoded discusses how consistent parenting, behavioral insight, and enhanced communication in a baby’s first 1,000 days can shape lifelong growth. Discover how their device, Elora, supports nurturing relationships through data-driven insights, empowering caregivers to connect more meaningfully while reducing anxiety around parenting.

Ami Meoded is the Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at LittleOne.Care, pioneering innovative baby monitoring technology. As the driving force behind the Elora Baby Wellness monitor, Ami combines his personal experiences and professional expertise to revolutionize early childhood development monitoring.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
👉 Ami emphasizes that genuine engagement with babies is not about checking off tasks but about being fully present—smiling, hugging, talking, and connecting in real moments. He explains that these natural interactions form the bedrock of communication and emotional development in the first 24 months of life, shaping how children relate to others and express themselves as they grow.
👉 Building trust through consistent parental responses is a major theme, and Ami shares how predictable timing, whether it’s 30 seconds or a minute, helps babies feel secure. He highlights that it’s not about speed but reliability, which allows infants to develop confidence in their environment without fostering anxiety or dependency.
👉 Ami reveals how baby monitoring technology can serve as a mirror for parents, helping them break negative generational patterns. He shares a powerful story of a father who changed his communication style after noticing harsh tones, showing how objective data, when delivered without judgment, can lead to meaningful, lasting change.
👉 Rethinking gamification in parenting, Ami advocates for a community-based approach that motivates without pressure. He explains how measuring trends like how often cities sing to babies creates healthy engagement and encourages positive habits, fostering improvement without triggering personal competition or stress.

Listen Now!
Fame Host - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/48t2yi5
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Ami Meoded on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ami-meoded/
LittleOne.Care website: https://www.littleone.care/ 

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

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In this Greatest Hits episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Vashte Johnson, the Founder of Slidedesignr. Join them as they discuss the importance of customer insights, Vashte’s insights accelerator model for creating powerful deliverables, and the importance of storytelling, clarity, and emotional engagement in visualizations.

Vashte Johnson is an insights visualization consultant with over fifteen years of experience conducting qualitative and quantitative consumer research. She is the Founder of Slidedesignr, a market research, advertising, marketing, and business services company focused on building powerful insight deliverables. Vashte is also a member of the Qualitative Research Consultants Association, a global network of qualitative research professionals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
👉 When defining insights, Vashte emphasizes that they are not simply an accumulation of facts or observations. Instead, they are practical tools with direct use for clients. She stresses the importance of finding the underlying message within the data and connecting it to the client's problem.

👉 One misconception addressed in the conversation is that insights need to be groundbreaking or entirely unique. Both Darshan and Vashte agree that insights can stem from combining different observations and simply articulating a core truth that resonates with clients. Visualizing insights in a logical framework that clients can easily understand and apply is crucial.

👉 Vashte's insights accelerator model comprises four key components. The first component is adopting a consultant's mindset, which involves thinking beyond the data and considering the larger context and implications. The second component is understanding the audience, as insights need to be tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the clients. The third component is reclaiming time for deep connections, allowing oneself time to think and form connections before diving into the design process. The fourth component focuses on the idea hierarchy, where the most important insights are prioritized and presented effectively.

Listen Now!
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And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch website - https://iresearch.com
Vashte Johnson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vashte
Slidedesignr website: https://www.slidedesignr.com

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form