Ponderings from the Perch

This episode was originally a live podcast, broadcast during IIeX Behavior 2020 by Greenbook on July 22. In this episode, host Priscilla McKinney talks with Rana el Kaliouby, co-founder and CEO of Affectiva, and author of Girl Decoded. As a pioneer in artificial intelligence, Kaliouby’s personal mission is in humanizing technology. 

She and Priscilla discuss the trajectory of societal empathy, programming emotional intelligence, and the importance of equatibility in AI algorithms. About equatibility, Kaliouby says:

“The more diverse the brains are around the table who are designing and deploying these technologies, the more likely it is going to work for all of us.”

Check out the full episode for an in-depth, relevant look at the complex state of technology and research.

The last time Michael Brenner was on the Ponderings from the Perch, we thought it was weird that at the end of the show he said, in a spot-on Schwartzenegger voice: “I’ll be back.” But now, it’s all starting to make sense, because sure enough, he’s back as the special guest of this episode. 

Brenner is many things. He’s the CEO of Marketing Insider Group, an author of bestselling books The Content Formula and Mean People Suck, and a globally-recognized keynote speaker on leadership and marketing, and so much more. In this episode, he and host Priscilla McKinney share in a compelling conversation about the state of content marketing, inspirational figures, ways of measuring engagement, and influential writings that have shaped their views. 

About personalized experiences, Brenner says, “The need for digital transformation is because customers are demanding it. We don’t care about brands anymore. we are happy to replace one product for another based on experience. And it’s the digital platforms and the culture of the employees at those companies that are defining that.” 

This episode was originally a live podcast, broadcast during IIeX Forward 2020 by Greenbook on June 15. In this episode, Priscilla McKinney talks with Stephanie Robotham, CMO of Gainsight about mindset shifts toward customer-centric thinking. They also discuss the role of marketing in insights, humanistic presence, and thought leadership. 

IIeX Forward 2020, a new virtual conference, was presented by Greenbook. The event featured 2 full days of content with over 45 sessions broadcast live to a worldwide audience. 

As brands attempt to understand how consumers are navigating the ever-changing landscape of Coronavirus, good market research acts as a counterfriction against oversimplification. Instead, deeper understanding is dependent upon recognizing the mechanisms with which people react in establishing their routines. In this episode, Priscilla talks with Sigi Hale, Ph.D., Principal Neuroscientist and Director of Research at Alpha-Diver about the role that brands must play in helping the world bounce back - not to normal - but to a better place than before. Together, they examine buyer motivations, the role of science in the private sector, and whether or not there is a fever for which more cowbell is the only prescription (not the last one, actually).

Sigi explains the neuro-evolutionary perspective to help crack the code on what makes humans tick, including the four main systems we use to assess information:

Check out the full episode for a truly deep dive into progressive understanding of consumer behavior. 

Sponsors:

Global sampling, field management, data collection and more - Gazelle Global’s ad hoc services give you access to global experts as an extension of your team, without the extra overhead. Our team is ready to lend our expertise to complete projects to your specifications today. Visit our website to learn more!

In the insights industry Lenny Murphy is a household name. From his list of concurrent roles, including Director at Veriglif, Thought Leader at GreenBook, Senior Partner at Gen2Advisors, and Chairman/Producer at IIeX, to his prolific insightful content production, it is easy to understand that Lenny knows what he’s talking about. Fittingly, his reaction to the global pandemic was different from most:

“When all of this started, for me the thought was, ‘A lot of people are going to need help to figure out what’s going on, and what happens next…and we have a unique role in the industry of helping to do that.' That’s what we’ve always done.” 

In this episode, Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney and Lenny discuss reliance on data, opportunities for experimentation and exploration in a new work paradigm, and staying connected to workers in the field as a key to providing helpful direction. 

In terms of adaptation, IIeX events this year will be held virtually. Lenny points out that a playing field with more virtual events means more competition, which has prompted IIeX to find new and creative ways to focus on content and drive more value. Upcoming events include IIeX Forward (June 15-17), IIeX Behavior (June 22-24). Check out other upcoming IIeX events here. 

If authentic relationships are your thing, this is the episode for you. Listen in as Priscilla and AJ Keirans, VP of Client Development at Disqo discuss authenticity, emotional connection, and embracing partnerships as learning experiences. Through Disqo, AJ helps businesses make informed decisions using customized proprietary technology. He shares his views on being open to evolution by embracing varying perspectives, and how those relationships can be adapted in virtual settings. 

Along the way they talk about good and bad ways to use LinkedIn, craft beer, humility, and glamour shots. Check out AJ’s podcast, The 16 oz. Canvas to get an even deeper look into his personal passion. 

Sponsors:

Global sampling, field management, data collection and more - Gazelle Global’s ad hoc services give you access to global experts as an extension of your team, without the extra overhead. Our team is ready to lend our expertise to complete projects to your specifications today. Visit our website to learn more!

Robert Gray is co-founder and COO of Paradigm Sample. His superpowers are operation strategy and world-class client services. In this episode he elaborates on how Paradigm Sample is meeting this pandemic head on and moving forward. From internal promotions to far-reaching collaborations from within the industry, he celebrates the human side of insights and data collection. 

Check out this quote from Robert about service:

“The biggest thing that anybody can do, especially in operations, is realize that providing world-class service is actually a journey. It is not a destination. So, a company’s ability to be agile, flexible, committed to solving the issues for their clients is really critical. Sample prices obviously are more competitive, so you’re talking about that pricing component. As a result of that, we have to focus even moreso on quality and service at those competitive sample prices.”

Don't miss this episode to get a solid dose of human insight, hope and optimism. ALSO watch out for Katie Egge as she may emerge as the Paradigm Sample Cookoff Champion!

Anyone who knows Rob Volpe knows he is a deeply empathetic professional and leader. As the CEO of Ignite 360, he leads a team consulting with some of the world's leading brands to help them connect and understand their consumers. 

In this episode he gets into great data on who consumers are dealing with the pandemic and recession. Beyond the data, his team is focused on helping companies think about their employees and their consumers with the empathy lens. He shares with us the steps needed to develop empathy and while driving home the need for it in business. As Henry Ford said over 100 years ago, "If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person’s angle as well as from your own."

Ever self-reflective, Rob shared his internal discussions with his team about how he has changed his leadership style during this pandemic. As he has dialed up the vulnerability with both his team and his clients, he has been able to keep showing up in a more present way. 

As astute observer of life and a master storyteller he has been very excited by Ingite 360's recent self-funded project called Navigating to a New Normal. This ongoing study tracks changes in American values and behaviors as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and recession. 

Sponsors:

Global sampling, field management, data collection and more - Gazelle Global’s ad hoc services give you access to global experts as an extension of your team, without the extra overhead. Our team is ready to lend our expertise to complete projects to your specifications today. Visit our website to learn more!

If you're in the qualitative side of the MR business then you know the team at Fieldwork. They are friendly, helpful and definitely teach us all a thing or two about five-star hospitality. Whether they volunteer to check you in at Quirks, or sponsor Women in Research continued education and networking events, they always show up with a smile. With the advent of Coronavirus few segments of the industry were hit as hard as focus group facilities.

With that perspective, we talked with Sarah Kotva, VP and Partner at Fieldwork, Inc. about what has kept them focused and afloat as we all navigate these uncharted waters. 

Sarah is quick to point out that businesses have been operating in "the great unknown" over the past few months. Strengths that Fieldwork has displayed, she believes, have been in communication and adaptation. Fieldworkers pivoted both their internal communication and their client work (imagine rotating two mountains 90 degrees at the same time!) to virtual formats in order to continue addressing questions and moving work forward.

Through all that, they were able to flexibly and safely retain their high levels of productivity and togetherness. 

Decisions are like onions. They have layers. And sometimes they make you cry a little bit. The truth is, the complex cognitive and emotional workings that drive our choices are not always aligned with our perception of them. 

In this episode, Priscilla McKinney talks with Nailbiter’s SVP and Head of Client Services, Jocelyn Simon, about the minute, specific decision point: the moment of truth. Nailbiter’s platform helps brands unlock shopper insights through a platform that facilitates video shop-alongs for planned shopping trips. This allows them to capture the moment as it happens, and to observe the differences between real and reported truth. 

Along the way, they talk about developments in ecommerce, the value of partnership, the absence of data between product launch and sales reports, and the misleadingly bad cover art for Rich Dad, Poor Dad (layers!!)

Sponsors:

Global sampling, field management, data collection and more - Gazelle Global’s ad hoc services give you access to global experts as an extension of your team, without the extra overhead. Our team is ready to lend our expertise to complete projects to your specifications today. Visit our website to learn more!