Insightful Inspiration

Sylvestre and Co.

On Insightful Inspiration, Isabelle Landreville chats with the mosaic of brilliant individuals that help shape the insights industry. Join us and subscribe to listen to our guests’ insightful inspiration and hear what drives them and how they get inspired to be successful in the insights industry. Insightful Inspiration is brought to you by Sylvestre & Co., an award-winning agile qualitative research agency with global reach for five decades. Learn more: https://www.sylvestreco.com/about-us

  1. 3D AGO

    Rethinking Multicultural Research with Kai Fuentes

    This week on Insightful Inspiration, host Isabelle Landreville is joined by Kai Fuentes, President and Founder of Ebony Marketing Systems: a multilingual, multicultural market research firm dedicated to the needs of minority communities throughout the US.  With over 20 years in insights, Kai has built a career around the groups that the industry has historically struggled to reach, earning her the distinction of laureate of the Insights Association for her contributions to the profession. Multicultural research sits at the heart of what Isabelle and her team do at Sylvestre & Co, as does listening. That shared foundation makes this conversation especially rich. But so do the big differences in what multicultural research looks like between these two regions, from the language-based biculturalism of Quebec, to the layered racial diversity of the US. Together, Isabelle and Kai explore: What inspired Kai to leave consumer research and build a firm centered entirely on underserved communities, and the challenges she set out to solve Why qualitative research has historically struggled to recruit participants from communities of color, and what research looks like when it reaches them The biggest language challenges facing clients working across multicultural markets: what's been cracked, and what's still unsolved What fieldwork looks like in real-world, cross-cultural settings, including extensive work within the transit systems of the Northeastern US and Canada Where traditional qual methodologies succeed in capturing multicultural nuance, and where they fall short Qual is about getting the right people in the room — and listening to them. How do you earn the trust of communities that have long been overlooked, and what does it mean to hear people who haven’t had the chance to share their perspectives? This conversation explores what it takes to do both.

    14 min

  2. APR 16

    31: What Makes an Insights Leader? with Brian Monschein

    This week on Insightful Inspiration, host Isabelle Landreville is joined by Brian Monschein, a market research veteran who has spent twenty years client-side at major brands before making the leap to independent consulting, and who now helps insights teams do a lot more than run projects. Today’s insights professionals don’t just lead studies. More and more, we’re called to speak the language of CEOs and recommend actions. In this episode, Isabelle and Brian explore what it actually takes to lead as an insights professional, whether you manage a team of one or twenty. Together, they unpack: Why so many insights teams are stuck in a support role, and what it takes to earn a seat at the table The leadership skills that are essential for insights professionals in today’s landscape How to speak the language of the CEO when your world is methodology and audiences What makes a natural leader, and what leadership skills can be learned This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered: "I have the expertise… so why aren't people listening?"

    1h 6m
  3. 30: Presentation Is Everything: Making Insights Impossible to Ignore with Deidre Sullivan

    MAR 26

    30: Presentation Is Everything: Making Insights Impossible to Ignore with Deidre Sullivan

    This week on Insightful Inspiration, host Isabelle Landreville is joined by Deidre Sullivan, a rare blend of strategist, writer, poet, and performer, and an advocate for the power of the how in research.  Too often, good research dies on a slide. In this episode, Isabelle and Deidre explore why it’s not enough to uncover insights. We also have to present them in ways that people feel, remember, and act on.  Together, they unpack:  The overlooked importance of presentation in insights work  How researchers can borrow from poets, comics, and performers to increase engagement  What makes a story stick in a boardroom  And how to balance clarity, simplicity, and narrative without losing rigor  This episode is for anyone who’s ever thought: “We had the right insight… why didn’t it go anywhere?”

    54 min
  4. 29: From Insight to Influence: Why Emotion Drives Action

    11/13/2025

    29: From Insight to Influence: Why Emotion Drives Action

    Insightful Inspiration welcomes Grant Feller, renowned storytelling strategist and founder of Every Rung, whose clients range from GSK and Siemens to the World Economic Forum. A lifelong journalist turned narrative advisor, Grant helps brands and leaders turn complexity into clarity, and data into meaning.  In this episode, host Isabelle Landreville explores the emotional backbone of influence: why even the most rigorous research falls flat without story, and how storytellers like Grant help insight teams bring their work to life. Together, they dig into why influence requires emotion, what separates a report from a story, and how insights professionals can become better narrative architects.  Whether you're sharing findings with stakeholders or trying to land a message in a 30-second window, this conversation is sure to be packed with practical guidance (and creative inspiration) on the power of story to make insights matter more.

    58 min
  5. 28: Curiosity, Resilience, Repeat: How to Keep Evolving at Every Stage of your Career

    10/30/2025

    28: Curiosity, Resilience, Repeat: How to Keep Evolving at Every Stage of your Career

    This week on Insightful Inspiration, host Isabelle Landreville welcomes Karen Krishfield, a longtime research leader with experience spanning the agency side at Lieberman Research Worldwide, now Material, as well as the client-side at Hulu. With over 30 years in the industry, Karen shares what it takes to keep showing up with curiosity, creativity, and impact, especially in the face of career reinvention.  In this honest and reflective episode, Karen and Isabelle unpack the importance of staying adaptable in an industry that’s always changing, lessons learned along the way, and why sustaining a career is just as impressive as starting one.  Whether you're mid-career, navigating a transition, or mentoring someone who is, Karen’s story reminds us that reinvention doesn't require starting over, just starting fresh.

    1h 1m
  6. 27: Owning your Voice: Lessons from a Data-Driven Trailblazer

    08/25/2025

    27: Owning your Voice: Lessons from a Data-Driven Trailblazer

    This week on Insightful Inspiration, host Isabelle Landreville sits down with Victoria Dias, Strategic Insights Lead at Google and a rising voice in the insights industry. With a decade of experience across powerhouse brands like Unilever, Nestlé, Mondelez, and now Google, Victoria has a unique perspective on what it takes to turn data into influence... fast. In this episode, we unpack what it means to build your personal brand before 30, how to find your voice in the research world, and the skills that helped Victoria accelerate her career. Whether you’re an emerging insights pro or mentoring one, this episode is full of inspiration for owning your impact, no matter your title!

    1h 6m
  7. 26: The Mystery Mindset: Leena Doshi on Unlocking Deeper Insights

    07/30/2025

    26: The Mystery Mindset: Leena Doshi on Unlocking Deeper Insights

    This week, host Isabelle Landreville sits down with Leena Doshi, Senior Manager of Research at Electronic Arts and creator of the YouTube series Data Puzzles & Mysteries. After Leena’s compelling talk at IIeX, the industry was captivated by her fresh perspective: What if researchers approached their work less like solving a problem and more like unraveling a mystery? In this episode, Leena shares how her work encourages teams to connect the dots creatively, embrace ambiguity, and reimagine the role of data in shaping strategic questions. If you’re looking for a new lens on insights, one that’s part detective story, part data science, this episode is for you.

    58 min
  8. 25: Unlocking Human Insights with the Power of Story

    05/14/2025

    25: Unlocking Human Insights with the Power of Story

    Join host Isabelle Landreville for a captivating conversation with Anthony "Tas" Tasgal, author of six books, including "The Storytelling Book" and "The Insight Book." In this episode of Insightful Inspiration, Tas reveals how storytelling and behavioral economics can transform raw information into powerful insights that drive action. Discover practical techniques to cut through and uncover what truly matters. Whether you're in research, marketing, or leadership, this conversation will forever change how you gather, interpret, and communicate insights. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the industry's most engaging and multifaceted minds.

    55 min
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About

On Insightful Inspiration, Isabelle Landreville chats with the mosaic of brilliant individuals that help shape the insights industry. Join us and subscribe to listen to our guests’ insightful inspiration and hear what drives them and how they get inspired to be successful in the insights industry. Insightful Inspiration is brought to you by Sylvestre & Co., an award-winning agile qualitative research agency with global reach for five decades. Learn more: https://www.sylvestreco.com/about-us

Information

  • Creator
    Sylvestre and Co.
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sylvestre and Co.
  • Show Website
    Insightful Inspiration