Rock n' Roll Research Podcast

Kahren Kersten is a highly trusted strategic advisor and consultant through both Cambiar and her own firm, Experience Insights. She is an Insight250 member and passionate industry advocate through her involvement in the Market Research Council and the Insights Career Network among others.

Kahren traces her unique trajectory - with creativity as a throughline - from art to insight to design and strategic advisory. She also shares why she’s optimistic about the future of insights and the jams she’d want to keep her company if stranded on a desert island.

A behavioral economist, a BBC quiz show winner and a 14-yr old college student walk into a bar . . . and they realize they are all Leigh Caldwell, founder of Irrational Agency.

Leigh traces his intellectual, social and career path including his book, “The Psychology of Price,” and his experience on the BBC show, Only Connect. More importantly, he shares his ideas around “System 3” thinking, the power of narrative research and what it all means for marketers and researchers.

Brian Peterson is currently Digital Marketing Director at the top tier sample company, EMI Research Solutions, where he has been for the past 9 years. He’s also the long-time host of the Intellicast podcast.

We talk synthetic data, digital twins and training data. But we also discuss our respective experiences with the Yellow Pages, the Dallas Stars and what it’s like to be a Canadian raising a family in the US, eh?

Alisa Hamilton is the founder of Harvest Insights in Atlanta. She made waves recently by announcing that every proposal she delivers will now come with two prices: with and without AI. That’s the kind of transparency that is sorely lacking at the moment!

Alisa and I discuss her career trajectory, her passion for gardening, AI research applications and her dad’s band who charted a song in Buffalo, NY back in 1970!

“It’s my job to figure out what does the future of research look like and how do I help us get there as Eli Lilly.”

How does one get a really cool role like that? 

Andrew Embry shares his unique journey at Eli Lilly and his thoughts on where insights is headed. But also his passion for the spoken word which has included slam poetry open mics, national competitions and corporate performances.

And in a first for this podcast, Andrew shares his art on-the-spot by performing his spoken word piece, “The Making of a Market Researcher.” Prepare to be inspired!

Arry Tanusondjaja is currently Sr. Marketing Scientist at the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute where he’s been for the past 16 years.

As accomplished as he is in the field of marketing science, it is neither his first career nor the sole area of expertise for which he is currently known.

Arry shares his unique career journey and his take on the future of the Laws of Growth. He also explains his passion for baking and the music he’d choose if stranded on a deserted island.

From growing up on a West Texas farm to starting her career in the energy sector, April Bell has had a fascinating path to and through the world of insights.

With her company, Made with Empathy, April has helped spur innovation for a who’s-who of the world’s great consumer brands. Her approach, supported by both personal and client examples, can be found in her book, “Firestarter: Igniting Innovation with Empathy.”

April shares stories from her unique journey, discusses what’s next for her and picks the music she’d want to keep her company on a deserted island.

Chad Nicholson is the EVP of Strategic Intelligence at the independent advertising powerhouse, BarkleyOKRP. You’re familiar with their iconic work like the Burger King “You Rule” campaign. They also work with other great brands llke AMC Theatres, Winnebago, Frontier Airlines, Planet Fitness and many others.

I first met Chad while at Anheuser-Busch where he started his career as an intern and climbed the ranks as a Brand Manager on Budweiser and Director of Consumer Strategy & Insights.

And just in time for the World Cup Round of 16 . . . as a former D1 college soccer player, Chad is watching closely!

Chad shares his career path, his philosophy on insights and the lessons he’s applied from his college days as an athlete with the Marshall Thundering Herd. 

From his home on the Spanish coast, Bernice Klaassen has been a leading thinker and contributor to the global dialogue on the future of insights and analytics. Once you know his journey, it is easy to understand why.

Bernice’s professional journey has taken him all over the world with companies like Kantar, Ipsos, Citibank and now RSB Insights, and it spans several disciplines including design, music, research and sustainability.

Bernice traces his unique path, shares his refreshingly optimistic view of the industry’s future and chooses some surprisingly awesome records to keep him company on a desert island.

Gabe McElwaine is currently a Sales Director at the super innovative insights firm, i-Genie, who is meeting the moment and addressing timeless business and marketing questions for brands in new and clever ways.

Gabe’s journey is a really cool one – from working at record labels as an underground DJ in NYC, to encountering Napster and discovering Nielsen Soundscan, he helped build and grow the media and entertainment business at NPD and has been in the insights industry ever since. Bonus points for his involvement in the Insights Career Network.

Gabe shares his unique story, his take on the future of insights and the music that lights his fire.

Big ups to InsightSutras for sponsoring this episode!