Ponderings from the Perch

Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney is joined by Lisa Wilding Brown, Chief Research Officer at Innovate MR who is currently running for ESOMAR Council. She has a successful 18 year track record developing research communities and panels. She is a proud advocate and member of Women in Research (WIRExec), the Multicultural Insights Collective, inaugural member of the Insights Associations’ Laureate Program and recipient of the Global Research Business Network’s Participant Excellence Program. Her specialties include:

Priscilla is joined by Kristin Luck who is currently campaigning to be the next president of ESOMAR, a global membership organization for market, social, and opinion researchers. ESOMAR works globally to ensure that the insights industry continues to be able to collect data in an ethical and socially responsible manner, evaluates new methods of research, and takes steps to preserve the longevity of the industry.

Kristin, founder and managing partner of Scalehouse, serves as an advisor and growth strategist to a number of cutting-edge marketing and analytics technology and services firms. She is the founder of two marketing analytics companies that she led to successful exits. Kristin co-founded OTX, an online research business that was named the fastest growing research firm in the world in 2002 and 2003 and was subsequently acquired by Zelnick Media & Pilot Group and again by Ipsos in 2007. She then founded Forefront Consulting Group, a research technology firm that was acquired by Decipher. Decipher was acquired by FocusVision in 2014 after seven consecutive years of double and triple digit growth. Kristin is a licensed investment banker with Oberon Securities and a founder focused on helping fellow founders and executive teams scale and monetize their businesses. Her deal expertise on both sides of transactions comes from participating in both acquisitions and exits from $30 million to $225 million. She is also passionate about supporting founders in international markets execute their entry into the U.S. Kristin also regularly contributes to both the commercial (Fast Company, Forbes) and academic press (Research World, Journal of Brand Strategy) where she explores emerging marketing and research methods. She is consistently ranked as one of the top 100 sales and branding experts to follow on Twitter.

This episode is an insightful conversation between Mama Bird Priscilla McKinney and the Global Senior Director of Insights at Mars Wrigley Michelle Gansle. Having met through Zappi, an insights vendor, Michelle and Priscilla began to collaborate with other big brands in the industry as professionals sharing best practices and helping each other more effectively answer the changing needs of today's consumer. They discuss how working in a collaborative effort changed the way they do other things in their professional life.

They also discuss how they stay current with all of the changes in the industry, digital path to purchase, the erosion of brand loyalty, eco-friendly initiatives, diversity and inclusion, and a number of other topics

LinkedIn URL:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-gansle/

Mars Wrigley

Website URL:

www.mars.com

Twitter Username:

@mgansle

Looking back in the not so distant past, agencies were told they couldn’t survive without print, billboard and TV ads. Now, there is not a company in existence who doesn’t take social seriously. But that doesn’t mean they are using it effectively, or are even convinced of its scalability or power for brand influence. In this episode, Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney and Ashley Le Blanc take a deep dive into the magical, mystery of digital transformation and what it means for you and your social media strategies and presence in the ethernet.

Digital transformation offers unprecedented scale.. With 7.9 billion people in the world 'scale' has to be the first consideration for brands. Does your company have a proprietary platform that is used by 3.96 billion users? Platform building is an essential conversation when it comes to brand influence. Social media is considered by most as “leased land” and is different than your own proprietary platform. Your owned platform could include your website, podcast, syndicated articles of thought leadership, or even when people walk into your office. These are all places you own and manage where you can actively engage with an audience. So, are your owned places enough to sustain AND grow your business? 

According to CEB, customers are now at least 57% of the way through their buying decision before they contact a company. This means their due diligence has been done largely on their own. Guess where that due diligence is taking place? Websites, articles, reviews and the court of public opinion, also known as social media. 

Effective use of social media brings people to your website where now you have more control of their experience. So the question then becomes once they hit your website, can you show undeniable value enough for them to give up their anonymity and allow you to more personally drive their experience and nurture them through their buyer’s journey. 

There are a lot of people out there selling tips and tricks for social prowess. There's nothing wrong with that, but you all get the messages they create as a result of incredibly unenlightened mindsets. To succeed in social, you have to change your mindset. You have to understand what it is and be digitally transformed. 

LinkedIn especially and this is especially relevant to you in a B2B world. Cleaning up the space for the party is like cleaning up your profile. Show you care and quit making it hard for people to understand who you are, what you do, how you uniquely do it, why you do it and what you stand for. It shouldn't be a chore to get to know you. Yes, be yourself, but be the best version of yourself - the one fit for consumption. 

Priscilla’s LinkedIn is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscillamckinney/

Ashley’s LinkedIn is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleymariahleblanc/

Julie Kurd is a bold and big picture thinker. At CMB she leads enterprise relationships as they serve Fortune 500 companies for bigger business impact. Together with her clients they dream, explore and design studies to help transform brands, inspire advocacy and create positive and lasting change.

She is a number one fan of Ponderings from the Perch and avid follower of many industry podcast including

Adam Jolley and Adam Dietrich's The R.I.D.E Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ride-podcast/id1508085519

Sima Vasa's Data Gurus https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/data-gurus/id1351574994

Jamin Brazil's Happy MRX Podcast https://happymr.com/

Zontziry Johnson's MRXplorer http://www.mrxplorer.com/index.php/author/zontziry/

AJ Kieran's 16 oz Canvas https://www.16ozcanvas.com/podcasts

and many more...

Join us for this name dropping romp through what it means to collaborate meaningfully and bring out the best in ourselves, in our clients and in our colleagues. This episode includes a challenge to you, our audience to connect with all people mentioned here and see what you can do to make their professional life better, more meaningful and connected.

Names have been listed here with LinkedIn links to make this task easy. You have no excuse.

Adam Jolley https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjolley/

Adam Dietrich https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-dietrich/

Sima Vasa https://www.linkedin.com/in/simavasa/

Jamin Brazil https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaminbrazil/

Zontziry Johnson https://www.linkedin.com/in/zontziry/

Janet Standen https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetstanden/

AJ Kierans https://www.linkedin.com/in/akeirans/

Patrick Olszowski https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickolszowski/

Kristin Luck https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinluck/

Cait Wilson https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitwilson/

Criss Corchard-Keeler https://www.linkedin.com/in/criss-corchard-keeler/

Madeline Warren https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-warren-31539577/

Ponderings from the Perch frequently highlights a need in the marketing and market research industries for dynamic change to meet the growing digital needs of brands. In this episode, host and Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney and Alex Hunt, CEO of Behaviorally discuss an exciting rebrand which accentuates a digital-first strategy for Behaviorally. 

On today's episode Host and Momma Bird at Little Bird Marketing Priscilla McKinney has a lively and engaging conversation with the co-founders of Root and River, Emily Soccorsy and Justin Foster as they explain the concepts of intrinsic branding, ethical marketing and what great brands look like in 2021. They also discuss their book, 'Rooting Up Essays on Modern Branding' which brings a compelling blend of leadership doctrine, spiritual intelligence and practical marketing advice intended to inspire and inform in new but timeless ways.

About Root and River

Working in concert with the marketing leaders or CEOs, and incorporating the leadership team in a brand discovery Root Sessions, Root and River acts alongside the marketer-in-chief and their teams. Through the phases of Language, Infrastructure and Amplification, these three components make up a brand strategy that becomes a bedrock of confidence and clarity while remaining flexible to new realities and opportunities.

In this episode, host and Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney talks with 3 second-generation market research professionals about their experiences growing up in the market research space. Listen as Belinda Brown of Gazelle Global, Colson Steber of Communications for Research and Ag Access and Kai Fuentes of Ebony Marketing Systems share their unique perspectives, ranging from an immediate calling as a “born researcher” to slowly developing their own motivations to follow in their parents’ footsteps. 

Tune in to learn about Gazelle Global’s greatest strength, the timing of Colson’s leap into entrepreneurship, Kai’s childhood foray into mall intercepts, and why each of the guests thinks the future of market research is bright.

Video podcast available!

The holidays are upon us, so that definitely means it’s time for the 5th Annual Little Bird Holiday Spectacular Spectacular podcast! If you thought little old cursed 2020 could deter us from the best nest tradition, you thought wrong, kittens. For your entertainment, we have made the implausible plausible.

This very special episode is all about the treats - Christmas cookies, savory snacks and decadent drinks! The peeps opened their family recipe vaults and hand-selected the very best to share - leading to the creation of Recipes from the Roost. But in this episode, you get to hear all about what makes those recipes so special.

Let’s get real for a second: Father Christmas is TIRED of your same-old milk and plate of cookies year after year. You gotta diversify! Keep things fresh! Why not leave Santy a plate of chocolate stars with a side of homemade hot cocoa? Or maybe some holiday stuffing and an orange thyme old fashioned? Doesn’t the man with all the toys deserve a little better?

[“In the Arms of an Angel” is now playing in the background. I’m not crying, you’re crying!]

ADDITIONALLY, host and Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney calls in an elite squad of seasonal sleuths to crack some of the holiday’s biggest mysteries. Listen in as Kristin Luck, Sarah Kotva, Lisa Wilding Brown and Adam Jolley weigh in on the ever-mysterious figgy pudding, then chill out to exceptionally choice McKinney clan tunes, and finally, place your bets on which of the peeps have actually tasted fruitcake. We’ve got a five spot on St. Onge!

From our nest to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas!

In this episode, host and Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney breaks free with author, entrepreneur, and thought leader Jon Bostock. Bostock’s career is living proof that positive change in business can be both fun and effective. Their discussion about Jon’s newest business, Truman's, covers everything from the inspiration of a good barista and the semantics of the word “duty” to recognizing the opportunity for innovation in industries and the legacy we leave through our professional journey. As co-founder and CEO of Truman’s Bostock has developed a line of revolutionarily eco-friendly refillable non-toxic cleaners. 

Jon’s book, "The Elephant's Dilemma: Break Free and Reimagine Your Future at Work," is a compelling work that urges anyone currently feeling stuck (professionally or otherwise) to take the leap and find a way innovate today.

Footnote: It has been speculated by some that Priscilla is trying to surreptitiously get Queen songs stuck in people’s heads. We want to break free from these lies. God knows, God knows we want to break free!