Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII

The Greenbook Podcast Network
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Data and insights have become the required superpowers of growth companies. No matter what peak or trough the economy is in, business leaders need actionable insights to grow markets, engage customers, and make smart strategic decisions. And research professionals need skills and insights to grow their strategic seat at the table. MRII’s Insights & Innovators talks to today’s top experts and innovators to chart a path for the role, the research methods of tomorrow, and the growing importance of the researcher to business success.

  1. 22h ago

    AI-Empowered Insights: Charting a Course as a Strategic Copilot with Ricardo Dalmas

    The old “commission research, present findings, move on” model is breaking as growth fragments, media splinters, and AI accelerate decisions. Ricardo Dalmas, Global VP of Insights & Analytics at Kimberly-Clark, joins host Nick Graham, Founder of Vertemis, to explain why insights must shift from calibration and testing toward defining strategic growth choices: where to play and how to win. They discuss balancing scale with precision, listening and observing behavior before asking survey questions, and prioritizing timely 70% answers over perfection. Ricardo outlines how AI can automate tasks, spot patterns and early trends, and free insights teams to iterate faster, experiment more, and partner closely with decision-makers. He also shares why emotionally resonant storytelling matters in intimate categories and offers career advice on industry passion, following up on impact, and mentorship. 00:00 Why Insights Must Evolve 01:34 Meet Ricardo Dalmas 03:52 Fragmented Growth Reality 07:54 Speed Over Perfection 09:23 From Research to Strategy 13:50 Will Insights Still Exist 18:07 Data Precision and Experimentation 20:46 AI Changes and Human Empathy 25:19 Emotional Storytelling Wins 28:19 Mentorship and Leadership Growth 31:35 Future Proof Career Advice 34:56 Closing and Subscribe Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast Network Explore more episodes and resources → https://www.greenbook.org/podcast-network Learn more about MRII → https://mrii.org/

    AI-Empowered Insights: Charting a Course as a Strategic Copilot with Ricardo Dalmas

  2. Aug 20

    Policy Shifts, Governance, and Trust in AI with Arundati Dandapani

    The organizations that will lead with AI are those that balance privacy and utility through transparency about methods, limitations, and responsibilities across the data cycle. In this episode, Arundati Dandapani, Founder & CEO, Generation1.ca, joins host Zontziry “Z” Johnson, Founder, MRXplorer, to discuss how fast-changing global AI regulation is reshaping governance for insights teams. They explore why global policy matters even for local organizations, including cross-border privacy, sector-specific rules, and the growing expectation for explainable, monitored AI decisions. The conversation covers risk-based and rights-based approaches, frameworks like OECD and NIST, and the shift from regulation to coordination and interoperability. They also examine de-identification, anonymization, synthetic data, client confidentiality, contracts, and digital responsibility, emphasizing that responsible innovation requires judgment, human oversight, and continual reassessment of harms and value. 00:00 Privacy Meets Innovation 00:12 Show Intro and Topic 01:31 Global AI Policy Radar 05:18 Risk and Rights Frameworks 08:15 Who Sets the Pace 11:03 From Compliance to Proactive 12:47 Anonymization and Reidentification 16:44 Contracts and Data Ownership 18:22 Digital Responsibility in Insights 20:26 Final Takeaway and Wrap Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast Network Explore more episodes and resources → https://www.greenbook.org/podcast-network Learn more about MRII → https://mrii.org/

    Policy Shifts, Governance, and Trust in AI with Arundati Dandapani

  3. Aug 6

    People Tell AI Things They Won’t Tell Researchers with Alfred Wahlforss

    Why do people often open up more to an AI moderator than to a human researcher? In this episode, Nick Graham (Founder, Vertemis) speaks with Alfred Wahlforss, CEO and Co-Founder of Listen Labs, about how AI is reshaping qualitative research from analysis into moderation and digital twins. Alfred shares how Listen Labs uses AI to conduct, moderate, and synthesize interviews in hours, what’s driving faster adoption inside insights teams, and why “research slop” makes responsible deployment critical. They explore when real human respondents are essential versus when digital twins can help with quick message or concept iteration, how Jevons Paradox may increase demand for researchers, and why anonymity can reduce social desirability bias in sensitive studies. 00:00 AI Moderator Hook 00:21 Show Intro and Topic 01:14 Guest and Listen Labs 02:25 AI Adoption Curve 04:20 Why Adoption Accelerates 07:01 Real People vs Synthetic 10:40 Digital Twins Use Cases 13:29 Humans vs AI Roles 18:39 Speed Versus Rigor 23:49 Honesty With AI 29:36 Skills for Researchers 32:56 Closing Thanks and Outro Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast Network Explore more episodes and resources → https://www.greenbook.org/podcast-network Learn more about MRII → https://mrii.org/

    People Tell AI Things They Won’t Tell Researchers with Alfred Wahlforss

  4. Jul 30

    Beyond the Hype: Real Evidence from AI-Moderated Research with Matteo Cera

    A human connection may build more rapport, but it may not change what people disclose. In this episode, host Zontziry “Z” Johnson, Founder of MRXplorer, talks with Matteo Cera, CEO, Glaut, about independent studies testing AI-moderated interviews against human-moderated interviews and traditional surveys. They unpack biometric findings from Curtin University on comfort, stress, and disclosure, plus controlled experiments from the University of Mannheim and Human Highway showing longer, more varied responses and more themes than static surveys. They also discuss when humans still matter most, the role of voice vs text, built-in detection of uncooperative respondents during fieldwork, and why AMIs may be better framed as an evolution of survey methodology rather than “qual at scale.” 00:00 Big Question Setup 00:36 Meet the Guest 01:14 Rapport vs Disclosure 02:20 Anxiety and Biometrics 03:29 When Humans Matter 04:26 Independent Study Design 07:31 Why Not Qual at Scale 10:47 Richer Data KPIs 12:23 Voice vs Text Findings 13:33 Honesty and Openness 15:03 Data Quality and Cleaning 17:14 Respondent Experience Wins 20:23 Industry Impact and ROI 22:02 Researchers Role and Myths 24:36 Wrap Up and Subscribe #MarketResearch #MarketResearchTrends #InsightsForBusiness #AIMarketResearch #MarketResearchSkills Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast Network Explore more episodes and resources → https://www.greenbook.org/podcast-network Learn more about MRII → https://mrii.org/

    Beyond the Hype: Real Evidence from AI-Moderated Research with Matteo Cera

  5. Jul 23

    Building Human Connections in the Era of AI with Stacy Taffet

    If everything becomes perfectly optimized, it all starts to look the same, and that’s where brand building dies. In this episode, Nick Graham, Founder of Vertemis, speaks with Stacy Taffet, Chief Growth Officer at The Hershey Company, about keeping marketing and insights deeply human in an AI-shaped world. They discuss why true consumer centricity is about understanding the “why,” not just dashboards; how insights teams can shift from reporting to shaping decisions through synthesis and conviction; and how to build an embedded foresight muscle that connects short-term performance with long-term signals. Stacy shares where AI helps with precision and scale, where it falls short on emotion and cultural resonance, and what leaders can do to create clarity, calm, and focus under pressure. 00:00 Curiosity And Conviction 00:22 Podcast Intro And Guest 03:16 Consumer Centricity Beyond Data 05:36 Future Of Insights Teams 08:19 Building A Foresight Muscle 11:34 Trends Redefining Food Needs 14:12 AI Versus Creativity 18:22 Human Connection Wins 20:33 Leading With Clarity 23:44 Career Advice For Insights 26:34 Wrap Up And Subscribe #MarketResearch #MarketResearchTrends #InsightsForBusiness #AIMarketResearch #MarketResearchSkills Subscribe to our Podcast, MRII Insights & Innovators Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast Network Explore more episodes and resources → https://www.greenbook.org/podcast-network Learn more about MRII → https://mrii.org/

    Building Human Connections in the Era of AI with Stacy Taffet

  6. Jul 9

    Trust But Verify: Validating AI in the Insights Industry with Christopher Barnes

    In this Insights and Innovators Podcast episode, host Niels Schillewaert (Head of Research, Conveo.ai) speaks with Christopher Barnes, President of Escalent, about how market research organizations are approaching AI, why many fail to rigorously validate AI outputs, and how persuasive, energy-efficient model changes can increase risk. Barnes argues insights teams must become “insights and action” professionals, tighten the distance between findings and business impact, and adopt strong validation practices using human data and human-in-the-loop review. He shares examples of risky AI misuse, explains how to separate valuable tools from hype through piloting and showing work, and highlights near-term value in persona bots and research process agents. Barnes also describes Escalent’s mandatory AI certification and the need to prove measurable growth impact for clients. 00:00 AI Training Mandate 00:34 Podcast Welcome 01:04 Three AI Adoption Camps 03:03 Ahead Versus Risky 04:19 Why Validation Lags 07:07 Validation Best Practices 09:44 Persuasive AI Pitfalls 10:47 Who Owns Validation 13:00 Hype Versus Value 14:32 High Value Use Cases 16:46 Upskilling The Team 20:24 From Research To Advice 21:50 Skills For The Shift 24:21 Pollster Mindset Advice 26:15 Proving Business Impact 26:51 Closing And Subscribe Explore more episodes and resources → https://www.greenbook.org/podcast-network Learn more about MRII → https://mrii.org/

    Trust But Verify: Validating AI in the Insights Industry with Christopher Barnes

  7. Jul 2

    Beyond the Hype: Making AI Work in Insights with Pankaj Chopra

    Most AI projects fail when teams treat AI like a plug-in tool instead of a fully integrated system embedded in real workflows. In this episode, Nick Graham, Founder of Vertemis, speaks with Pankaj Chopra, VP & head of Data, Analytics & AI at Edgewell Personal Care, about the biggest myths in AI for insights and why pilots often never scale. They unpack what it takes to move from ad hoc experimentation to measurable business impact, including starting with clear business questions, building a robust proof of concept tied to ROI, making smart build-versus-buy tech decisions, and assembling the right mix of talent to support governance and translation. Pankaj also explains why adoption is the real marker of success and how insights teams can stay valuable through technical fluency, curiosity, and stronger storytelling. 00:00 Why AI Tools Fail 00:20 Podcast Intro and Guest 02:48 AI Myths in Insights 06:44 Tools vs Systems 09:53 Roadmaps and Value Chain 13:38 From Pilots to Scale 14:50 Three Enablers to Scale 21:54 AI as Teammate 24:47 Future Skills for Insights 30:21 Closing Takeaways Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast Network Explore more episodes and resources → https://www.greenbook.org/podcast-network Learn more about MRII → https://mrii.org/

    Beyond the Hype: Making AI Work in Insights with Pankaj Chopra

  8. Jun 25

    How Can Insights Agencies Grow and Become Indispensable with Paul Griffiths

    “If we can’t demonstrate our value, we may not deserve to exist.” Paul Griffiths, Founder, Client Advocates, joins host Nick Graham, Founder, Vertemis, to unpack what insights agencies must do to grow in a disrupted market. They discuss why agencies often sell process over commercial outcomes, and how competitors like consultancies win by linking research to decision confidence and business impact. Paul argues the biggest growth opportunity is in the gaps between projects through consistent, value-driven communication, stakeholder mapping, and better packaging of insights (exec summaries, short videos, quarterly syntheses). He outlines making everyone accountable for relationship building via account activation, being less bashful about proactive outreach, using AI to test hypotheses about client pressures, and developing “what, so what, now what” storytelling that drives action. 00:00 Stakeholders First Mindset 00:26 Podcast Intro and Guest 01:45 Why Value Matters Now 02:57 Process vs Commercial Impact 05:18 Grow by Deepening Clients 07:55 Account Activation for All 10:13 Be Bold in Outreach 11:48 From Supplier to Partner 14:17 Personal Rapport Skills 16:31 AI for Proactive Ideas 18:22 Build Brand Salience 20:46 Tell Better Insight Stories 22:42 Leadership Advice and Wrap Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast Network Explore more episodes and resources → https://www.greenbook.org/podcast-network Learn more about MRII → https://mrii.org/

    How Can Insights Agencies Grow and Become Indispensable with Paul Griffiths
See All (76)

About

Data and insights have become the required superpowers of growth companies. No matter what peak or trough the economy is in, business leaders need actionable insights to grow markets, engage customers, and make smart strategic decisions. And research professionals need skills and insights to grow their strategic seat at the table. MRII’s Insights & Innovators talks to today’s top experts and innovators to chart a path for the role, the research methods of tomorrow, and the growing importance of the researcher to business success.

Information