In this episode, Claire is joined by Giulia Romanò, head of customer innovation at Field Notes, and they dive into the dangers of “content foie gras” - when research gets stuffed with too many questions. They discuss why focus starts with purpose, how to manage client expectations, and why keeping research lean shows respect for everyone involved, from participants to clients. 

In this episode, Claire talks with Aileen Bentall, Head of Shopper and Consumer Insights at Heineken UK, about the art of writing a great brief. Aileen shares why a strong brief acts as a North Star for any project - aligning stakeholders, guiding agencies, and setting the foundation for smarter, more impactful research. 

She highlights the importance of openness, context, and collaboration and reveals how a thoughtful brief doesn’t just kick off a project, it shapes its success. 

In this episode, Claire explores the power of curiosity with Nicky Thompson, co-founder of Bright Futures Research. Together, they unpack what it means to stay curious in the face of tight deadlines, limited budgets, and growing pressure to deliver. 

Nicky reflects on how fear and familiarity can dull creative thinking, and why openness, questioning, and reframing are essential for deeper insight. Through examples from both professional and personal experience, Claire and Nicky reveal how curiosity helps us challenge assumptions, embrace new perspectives, and keep our thinking alive. 

In this episode, Claire and guest Susie Mullen, a quant researcher and data analyst, discuss the importance of revisiting existing data to ensure new research isn't redundant and to enhance the quality of briefs. They talk about the barriers that prevent clients from revisiting data, including time pressures and the appeal of quick results.  

In this episode, Claire discusses the value of hypotheses and pitfalls to avoid with Paul Thomas, Global Insights Director at Suntory. Paul shares insights from his industry experience, stressing the significance of forming initial hypotheses, managing stakeholder opinions, and maintaining flexibility to adapt findings.