Shows
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 75: A practitioner’s approach to Insight productsClare and I shared a stage at Quirk’s London in May, and we were reflecting on the amount of disruption in the corporate Insight world at this moment. Reorganisations, budget freezes, headcount cuts, senior roles disrupted… we’re seeing it all.And – spoiler alert for next week’s roundtable episode – I personally don’t think this period of change is going to end any time soon.In this environment, it’s particularly important to reflect on our Insight team’s output, because it’s the output that you will usually be known for. It’s what will largely di...2025-07-2429 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 74: Refreshing Insight productsAny small business owner writing a playbook would want to consider their company’s products and how they’re packaged. Similarly, as Insight leaders, I think we should review our Insight team’s products each year (our output), and how our products are packaged (our communications). In this episode we look at:Working on our Insight teams (0.50)Regular products (2.49)Insight investigations (3.42)Forward-looking pieces (4.49)Big picture summaries (5.59)Models and segmentations (9.30)Packaging and consuming our products (11.12) Please listen to find out more! This is episode 74 of the Transforming Insight podcast. ...2025-07-1017 min
Podcast da Raphus PressHorrores quotidianos, pesadelos eruditos (Reggie Oliver e seus precursores)“Não é possível encontrar novas terras sem concordar em perder de vista a costa, por muito tempo.”(André Gide)Cada livro é o resultado único de inúmeras pesquisas, reflexões, buscas, percepções, aventuras. Nos episódios de AVENTURAS BIBLIÓFILAS, apresentaremos os bastidores editoriais de nossos livros, a longa senda de curadoria que resulta em um livro.Obras citadas: “Repique Macabro e Outras Histórias Estranhas”, Robert Aickman (Sebo Clepsidra/Ex Machina, 2021); “Three Restoration Comedies”, George Etherege, William Congreve, William Wycherley (Penguin, 2005); “Livro da Vida”, Santa Teresa D’Ávila (Penguin...2025-07-0827 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 73: Prioritisation to drive growthThis has a particular bearing on how we approach the prioritisation of our work. In episode 72 we explored the twin importance of Insight leaders assigning time to identify the biggest business issues they could research in more detail, and the benefits of developing more agency over which topics would then be their teams’ main focus. If we overlay a commercial mindset, we can make sure that we’re looking at prioritisation through a lens our CEO will understand, and the perceived value of our Insight teams will rise.This week James is joined by Nick Rich, former Insi...2025-06-1939 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 72: Setting Insight prioritiesBut whose priorities are we talking about?Who identifies the business issues that Insight could investigate?Ho much agency does the Insight have in allocating its own time, budget and focus?In this episode we look at:The Insight prioritisation matrix (1.30)The paramount importance of proactivity (4.17)Making essential choices (7.40)The daily discipline of prioritisation (10.55)Value-based prioritisation (14.04)A commercial mindset (17.50) Please listen to find out more! This is episode 72 of the Transforming Insight podcast. If you have the ambition to transform your Insight team and...2025-06-0523 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 71: Nurturing partner relationshipsIn our conversation, we look at the busy workload of both client-side Insight teams and market research agencies, and the empathy that the best of each demonstrate for the other. This includes the well-being of all concerned in the research process, and steps we can all take to help each other.Central to the discussion is AURA's Working Well Together charter, which has been designed to foster healthier, thriving collaborations. Ruth talks about the 6 principles enshrined within the charter, and James E. gives his perspective on the principles that agencies think most important and those that he...2025-05-2238 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 70: Working with Insight’s partnersJames is joined by IMA Senior Insight Adviser, Roy Hammond, who developed a more strategic approach to managing agency relationships at Barclays.In this week’s episode:We can’t just rely on the people we manage (1.30)Don’t forget internal departments (3.06)Roy Hammond’s approach to the strategic management of agencies (8.46)We’re never trained in how to manage partnerships (11.27)How do we measure agency performance? (14.17)The attributes of great partnerships (18.12) Please listen to find out more! This is episode 70 of the Transforming Insight podcast. If you have the...2025-05-0725 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 69: Easter roundtableJames is joined by Emma Jones, the IMA’s Head of Content, and Lisa Dutton, Head of Customer, to look back at the term just gone, and forward to the summer term to come.In this week’s episode:The need to embrace ‘uncomfortable influencing’Tactical tips for managing difficult conversationsThe bunch of fives… what’s the worst that can happen? What do CEO’s think about Insight?The need to understand stakeholders and their communication preferencesWhat’s on James’s mind for Quirk’s Chicago, London and New York?The next Insight forums we’ve organised for our membe...2025-04-2430 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 68: Supporting Insight people through changeJames is joined by Lara Meyer, an expert on Insight team stress and well-being, to discuss the ongoing importance of developing Insight professionals and nurturing our teams amidst rapid technological advancements. Lara shares her personal journey, highlighting the necessity of balancing high performance with well-being for sustainable success. Burnout can creep up on even the most resilient among us, quietly eroding our passion and energy, and Lara explains how this can easily happen to Insight professionals.What is burnout?What are the signs to look out for?How can we help our colleagues to avoid or a...2025-04-1030 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 67: Developing your Insight peopleArguably it’s never been more important than it is today, because the environment in which we are generating insights and impact the business is changing fast, and the tools that we and others have available are also changing.That gives us some key questions to address:What types of activity should we prioritise?How many people should we have in our teams?How can we make the case for extra headcount?How should we structure our teams?Which skills, mindsets and behaviours will be critical in the future?How can Insight leaders guide their teams th...2025-03-2729 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 66: How Insight leaders improve their team profileJoin us as we explore the transformative journey of Insight teams striving to elevate their influence within organisations. We are thrilled to be joined by Joanne Pearson from Jaguar Land Rover and Helen Passard from Suntory Beverages Europe as we discuss strategies for enhancing the profile of Insight teams. We unpack the challenges faced by introverted teams and the constraints of hierarchical structures that often stifle effective communication. Joanne and Helen share their expertise on building credibility and trust across the business, underscoring the critical role of Insight teams in influencing decision-making and ensuring their valuable insights reach key...2025-03-1435 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 65: How Insight leaders build their team profileWe're excited to welcome IMA associate Debra Walmsley, and Jana Prahl, Insight leader at Savage X Fenty, who share their experiences and expertise. We discuss the art of crafting a compelling brand identity for your Insight team. Learn how building a brand board can help articulate your collective vision and establish your team as trusted advisers and innovative thinkers. Discover the power of marketing skills to position your team effectively internally, and see how identifying milestone projects can showcase your team's unique contributions, solidifying your reputation as key players within the company.Our guests provide i...2025-02-2735 min
OTB RugbyRugby Daily | Furlong doubt remains, Wycherley returns, Jaminet 'not a racist'On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from the Ireland camp a week out from their Six Nations game away to Wales. Aled Walters provides us with a fitness update, and Garry Ringrose discusses his contentment with Simon Easterby's centre rotation. Josh Wycherley returns to the Munster fold for the first time since September. Pete Wilkins says he's not feeling any more pressure as Connacht look to arrest their URC losing streak. James Hume, Jacob Stockdale and Stuart McCloskey are back for Ulster. And Melvyn Jaminet...2025-02-1412 minOTB DailyRugby Daily | Furlong doubt remains, Wycherley returns, Jaminet 'not a racist'On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from the Ireland camp a week out from their Six Nations game away to Wales. Aled Walters provides us with a fitness update, and Garry Ringrose discusses his contentment with Simon Easterby's centre rotation. Josh Wycherley returns to the Munster fold for the first time since September. Pete Wilkins says he's not feeling any more pressure as Connacht look to arrest their URC losing streak. James Hume, Jacob Stockdale and Stuart McCloskey are back for Ulster. And Melvyn Jaminet...2025-02-1412 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 64: How Insight leaders define purposeSandra discusses her journey at ASOS, highlighting the importance of establishing a cohesive purpose when integrating diverse analytics and Insight teams. Amanda (Wig) sheds light on how insight can drive business growth and help achieve revenue targets. We emphasize that without a clear purpose, insight teams risk becoming fragmented and struggling to demonstrate their value, which is crucial for securing budget and resources.We discuss strategic prioritisation, resource management, and innovative approaches like the "stop, start, continue" method to redefine team roles. This year our podcasts will focus on the "Insight Leaders Playbook," an...2025-02-1332 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 63: Defining your Insight team’s purposeUltimately what you put in your playbook is for you to decide. But James’s suggestion is that we all use a 9 P framework. How do we decide which to look at first?The English-born, American author Simon Sinek says we should always start with why.So the 1st P in the Insight leader’s playbook is for Purpose.The way you define why Insight exists in your organisation, and the roles it could play, will provide you with a reference point for every other aspect of Insight transformation. Please...2025-02-0620 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 62: The ADDER checklistA framework that could work very well in combination with the 9 Ps of the Insight leader’s playbook which were described in episode 61, and which will form the spine of the Transforming Insight podcast this year.But also a framework that might help you effect change in other aspects of life as well. Who knows? Ignore it if you don’t like it, feel free to borrow it or adapt it if you do!Please listen to find out more! Topics DiscussedAn unintended episode (0.46)A story about personal change (1.41)5 key s...2025-01-2311 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 61: A playbook for Insight leadersOrganisations can only make sustainable, profitable changes if they take better decisions. Not just on occasion, but across the board, when senior managers get together to discuss strategy, new product development, new delivery channels, new service enhancements, pricing, marketing and customer communications.These decisions need to be based on individual insights and on big-picture, joined-up customer knowledge.But we all know that if we want Insight to transform our organisations and their performance, we first have to transform our Insight teams and their impact. For 20 years, leaders have met at the Insight forums t...2025-01-1721 min
Harpin' On Rugby397 : Munster v Leinster previewPreview also available on our YouTube channel
Our guest : CIARÁN DUFFY
https://twitter.com/PostToPostSport
https://posttopost.sport.blog
LEINSTER : 15. Jamie Osborne 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Robbie Henshaw 11. Jimmy O’Brien 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack Boyle 2. Rónan Kelleher 3. Rabah Slimani 4. Joe McCarthy 5. James Ryan 6. Ryan Baird 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Caelan Doris (c)
16. Lee Barron 17. Andrew Porter 18. Cian Healy 19. Brian Deeny 20. Scott Penny 21. Fintan Gunne 22. Ross Byrne 23. Jordan Larmour
MUNSTER : 15 Mike Haley; 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell...2024-12-2623 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 60: Accelerating the evolution of InsightBut by the end of 2020, it was becoming clear that in many organisations, the lockdowns and the disruption they caused to normal living and purchasing behaviour had presented Insight teams with a moment in the spotlight. For some this was built off the back of having already enjoyed quite a high profile, but for many the uncertainty that senior managers were feeling in 2020 and 2021 elevated the position of the Insight team as never before.What’s happened since? James is joined by IMA colleague Lisa Dutton to bring us up to date. Pl...2024-11-2129 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 59: Transforming Insight at McDonald'sIn this episode, we discuss the ambitious strategies driving McDonald's UK and Ireland's customer engagement, Fainareti underscores the critical blend of consumer and business insights. Her team’s ability to speak both the language of the consumer and the business is key to breaking down barriers and fostering impactful decision-making. The conversation highlights how McDonald's lean head office structure enhances communication and collaboration, making it possible to translate insights into actionable commercial strategies. She shares her insights on the importance of training and hands-on experience in building a solid commercial foundation for insight teams.In the final se...2024-10-3027 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 58: Investing in InsightIf we routinely estimate the size of the prize before we prioritise projects, and then record the value delivered by the business and other departments’ estimate of Insight’s contribution after they’re completed, we can elevate everyone’s appreciation of our work.And that’s invaluable when we want to argue for more resources - or when we need to make the case for keeping those we have.To help explore this topic, James is joined by Jane Woolley. Jane is a former Insight leader at the London Underground and BMRB International, and now a senior a...2024-10-1628 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 57: Applying commercial thinkingHaving explored the importance of building commercial foundations for our work in episode 52 and getting into the habit of estimating the size of the prize, we now need to think about how we can apply our new commercial understanding.I think there are 3 key aspects to this:What we do: use value to prioritise our research and analysis activityHow we do it: using a commercial context at each stage of our work, and ultimately identifying new value opportunities for our companyWhat we have done: record the value opportunities we have identified and those that have been...2024-10-0325 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 56: Transforming Insight at GoogleIn this episode, we examine the evolution of Google's approach to insights and prioritization, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Laura sheds light on how AI is being integrated into Google's processes, balancing immediate business needs with future requirements. Laura and Roy discuss the iterative process of aligning insights with global and product perspectives, and how AI is scaling insights, speeding up project timelines, and transforming traditional research methodologies.In the final segments, we dive into the practical applications of AI within Google's Insight teams, including the development of an AI-powered Insights chatbot. This tool...2024-09-1931 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 55: The value of valuationSome years ago I interviewed Sue Whelan Tracey, former commercial director for one of the UK's big four banks, and at that time a director at Moneyfacts, an NHS health trust, and a major diabetes charity. Sue told me how much she tried to champion the use of customer insight in every organisation she worked with, but she thought that we didn't always make it easy for ourselves.Her observation was that senior people in business always speak the language of finance, and that shapes their perception of business issues.But when they ask the I...2024-09-0522 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 54: Summer roundtableBut the topic that’s resonated most for us personally and many of our members has been Insight team wellbeing and the ways we can all identify and help our colleagues to manage stress. Emma’s conversation with new IMA associate Lara Meyer, recorded and shared at the July Insight forums and now available for all members to watch on the IMA website, explored many angles to this, including the critical importance of talking about wellbeing and giving our colleagues permission to raise it.Just back from Quirk’s New York, we also recognise that this is a time...2024-08-0127 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 53: Transforming Insight at Lloyd's RegisterIn this episode, we dig into the transformative power of integrating various disciplines within data analytics to answer complex business questions. Drawing from Caroline's experiences at Prudential and Lloyd's, we discuss how combining data analytics, client research, marketing, and competitive intelligence can lead to more comprehensive and impactful insights. Furthermore, Caroline delves into the unique challenges and rewards associated with expanding into customer experience (CX), including the methodological hurdles and emotional dynamics of delivering feedback. Lastly, we examine the intricacies of excelling in customer experience roles, especially for analytical and introverted individuals. We emphasize the need for h...2024-07-1829 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 52: Building commercial foundationsIf we want to transform our Insight team’s commercial impact, we need to build a commercial foundation for our work.What does that look like? What are the first steps? And how can we make it easier for ourselves by helping our colleagues adopt a commercial mindset?Please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedCore stats and a business blueprint (2.05)Overlaying key dynamics and trends (5.30)Adopting a commercial mindset (8.06)Look around us at simpler businesses (11.07)This is episode 52 of the Transforming Insight podcast. If you have...2024-07-0416 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 51: Optimising impact through commercialityOver the last 20 years, there has gradually been more focus on commercial thinking in Insight teams, and some organisations have made notable progress. But 400 Insight leaders have taken part in the IMA’s capability benchmarking in the last 5 years, and commerciality remains the best practice territory given the lowest scores.In today’s episode I make the case for changing the paradigm through which we see commerciality, and Christine Stoddart, former Insight leader at William Hill, Wilko, Co-op and DFS, draws on her wide experience of using Insight to add commercial value.Please liste...2024-06-2026 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 50: Transforming Insight at Nestle UKTopics DiscussedA look back at Carolina’s past roles (2:30)Seminal moments in Carolina’s Insight career (11:50)Learning from transformations at PepsiCo (14:50)Being a driving force for transformation at Nestle UK (16:07)Building capabilities in the team to be bigger than the sum of the parts (25:37)Developing the plan for a transformation initiative at Nestle UK (26:45)Highlights“It's very good in terms of foundation to learn, to be on an agency to start with. It's really very varied and it's giving you a very formative experience, so I think that that's why it tends to be the normal...2024-06-0637 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 49: Respecting the rhythms and ritualsToday’s episode looks at the fourth pathway, process, and this one is a bit different because it starts not with the Insight team, but with the rest of the organisation.Whether we like it or not, senior decision-makers, like consumers, will have their own ways of making choices. In our companies, that might mean committees that meet each month or only as part of a planning process at certain points in the year. It might be a case of an individual director or small groups of directors discussing issues outside formal meetings. Or the hid...2024-05-2316 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 48: Improving your Insight team's reputationIn today’s episode, James and Lisa look at the reputation of our Insight teams, and how we need to manage it carefully to enhance our positioning. It’s a bit like our companies obsessing about customer experience so that individual interactions don’t undermine their corporate brand: we can say what we like about the purpose of our Insight teams, but their positioning will be fatally undermined if the practical experience of working with any of our colleagues gives a very different impression.There are two angles to this topic. First, how do we help ou...2024-05-0925 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 47: Easter roundtableWe also see this as a time of team change, with lots of restructures, some redundancies, and a loss of people with years of experience. In response, the most successful Insight teams have doubled down on commercial thinking and influencing skills.Finally, we look at leaders’ roles in guiding their team members through change. Lisa provides a personal perspective on coaching and explores how Insight teams can learn from coaching principles. And Emma talks about imposter syndrome, and how we can all learn to recognise it, and help ourselves and others to manage it.Topics Di...2024-03-2130 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 46: Transforming Insight at Coca Cola Europacific PartnersTopics DiscussedHazel’s journey to becoming Associate Director of Insights at Coca-Cola EP(1:38)Enabling colleagues to self-service their data needs (5:02)Three-pronged approach to drive a more Insight-led business (8:31)Hazel’s approach to team management and Insight leadership (21:06)Collaborating with agency partners for success (25:10)What advice would Hazel like to pass on to Insight leaders? (29:46)Highlights“I enjoyed working with customers, however challenging that sometimes is. But felt like there was a real opportunity to kind of use my skill set to see how I could apply that internally to influence business strategy and business planning and be...2024-03-0832 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 45: Increasing the awareness of InsightThere’s no point developing detailed brand concepts if nobody has heard of our companies in the first place. And the same is true for our Insight teams.So in this week’s episode, I’m going to suggest that whilst we should certainly reflect on our Insight team brand, we should also recognise that we often simply need to promote awareness of Insight as a concept and our team as a department. This requires an opportunistic mindset as our internal market for Insight is always changing. It’s very easy to assume that everyone knows who...2024-02-2219 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 44: Transforming Insight at Transport for LondonTopics DiscussedRenate's journey to leading the Insight Team at TFL (1:50)Navigating the team through a re-org (4:21)Annual goals, priorities and team collaboration (10:04)What is Renate most proud of her team achieving? (14:15)Maintaining the heightened profile for the Insight team post-pandemic (17:05)Challenges and success of a leadership role (19:58)Highlights“This year, 2023, is the year of communication… That year everybody has an objective linked to that one thing. On top of the day-to-day and the project delivery, that everyone has objectives within their own development plans that is also speaking to that objective. That it's not my prio...2024-02-0826 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 43: Developing the Insight team brandAccording to the entrepreneur.com website: ‘Simply put, your brand is your promise to your customer. It tells them what they can expect from your products and services, and it differentiates your offering from that of your competitors. Your brand is derived from who you are, who you want to be and who people perceive you to be.’ In our world of corporate Insight, we might rephrase that paragraph as: ‘Simply put, our Insight brand is our promise to other departments. It tells them what they can expect from our products and services, and it di...2024-01-2519 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 42: Optimising our positionAn Insight team looks outwards to an organisation’s customers and markets and shines a light on issues of strategic importance. In stormy weather, it is there to pinpoint rocks upon which the organisation might founder, and competitor companies with which the company might collide. Many Insight teams pride themselves on their ability to understand customer behaviour and its drivers. They have developed a powerful light to shine upon market issues, and they aspire to serve as a lighthouse, a beacon to guide their organisation as it navigates the market. However, a lighthouse helps...2024-01-1119 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 41 - Christmas roundtableIn this episode…How can our teams adopt Insight tools & systems to make the communication part of our roles easier and more effective? (2.31)How can we inspire all our researchers and analysts to become Insight influencers? (7.47)Taking control of our personal brand (13.02)The importance of mapping stakeholders and allies (15.16)The organisations investing in Insight management (18.38)Looking forward to the Insight forums in 2024 (21.33)Please listen to find out more!This is episode 41 of the Transforming Insight podcast. If you have the ambition to transform your Insight team and the role it plays in your org...2023-12-1427 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 40: Transforming Insight at DeliverooTopics DiscussedLooking closer at Hayley’s switch to Deliveroo (2:00)Transforming Insight culture to look more toward consumer understanding (4:48)The importance of clear objectives (10:40)Has Hayley’s view on the role of Insight changed? (14:27)The opportunities and threats of AI to Insight teams (18:48)One piece of advice Hayley would give Insight Team Leaders (25:15)Highlights“Yes, there's a great customer concept there, but it's actually a really smart piece of Tech that has enabled the business to scale as quickly as it has. And it's not really until there's more competition in the market, and the business gets o...2023-11-3026 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 39: Building an Insight teamTo discuss that topic, James is joined by Debra Walmsley, one of the most inspirational corporate Insight leaders in the UK. Debra has led Insight teams at British Airways, British Gas, Saga, Halfords and now Virgin Atlantic. And she has recently joined the IMA as one of our part-time senior Insight advisers.She also has very impressive form on this podcast. She joined James in episode 8 to talk about her work transforming Insight at Halfords, and it’s still one of the top 5 most downloaded episodes out of the 38 we’ve published so far.Please list...2023-11-1730 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 38: Adopting an Insight perspectiveIn his celebrated book, Factfulness, Hans Rosling said that:‘People constantly and intuitively refer to their worldview when thinking, guessing or learning. If your worldview is wrong, you will systematically make the wrong guesses.’ Rosling founded the Gadminder Foundation, with a mission is ‘to fight devastating ignorance with a fact-based worldview’. If you think that ambition is relevant to your Insight team, then you might agree that we need our researchers and analysts to develop an Insight perspective.Please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedHow well do we know the...2023-10-2616 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 37: Insight skills & attributesWhat skills and attributes do the most successful Insight teams recruit for? Which do they find it most difficult to develop? And which would Lisa prioritise?Please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedCategorising Insight skills (2.28)Not accepting the status quo (5.43)The skills and attributes that Lisa would prioritise (9.03)Introducing the 9Ps (11.41)This is episode 37 of the Transforming Insight podcast. If you have the ambition to transform your Insight team and the role it plays in your organisation, please tune in to future episodes. Not only will we explore the 42 s...2023-10-1221 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 36: Working on our teamsTopics DiscussedThe Insight leadership framework (1.50)Working on our Insight teams not in them (5.30)The Insight playbook (9.08)Introducing the 9Ps (11.21)This is episode 36 of the Transforming Insight podcast. If you have the ambition to transform your Insight team and the role it plays in your organisation, please tune in to future episodes. Not only will we explore the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams as outlined in the Transforming Insight book, we will also talk to senior corporate Insight leaders, delve into books that have inspired us, and discuss new best practice research carried out w...2023-09-2816 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 35: All about the peopleClever analysts, incisive researchers, creative Insight managers... these people can bring joy to working in an Insight team and unlock a world of potential for organisations that want to use customer and market understanding to improve business performance. So, how can we develop an Insight people plan? Please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedIt’s all about the people (1.45)Mapping the key aspects of a people plan (3.40)AI: a climate change moment for Insight generation? (6.38)The wider implications of AI for Insight management (8.58)This is episode 35 of the Transforming Insig...2023-09-1415 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 34: Summer roundtableTopics DiscussedLearning from Quirk’s New York (1.40)From reactionary service providers (4.50)What is an Insight-driven organisation? (8.55)The IMA’s online library of best practice (11.15)The range of companies now transforming Insight (13.42)The implications of AI on Insight management (20.34)This is episode 34 of the Transforming Insight podcast. If you have the ambition to transform your Insight team and the role it plays in your organisation, please tune in to future episodes. Not only will we explore the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams as outlined in the Transforming Insight book, we will also talk to senio...2023-08-0329 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 33: Transforming Insight at CarlsbergNick speaks about his time at Carlsberg and how he was able to successfully transform their Insight analytics function. We hear about how he worked to develop talent in the Insight team and the importance of adapting to the changing face of Insights talent.He also touches on the challenge of finding a common ground between different marketing philosophies, and the need to be prepared for changes in leadership that may require a different approach. Nick speaks about the concept of "marketing religions" and how Insight teams need to maintain neutrality while understanding the culture of the...2023-07-1329 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 32: Implementing our strategyTopics DiscussedThe importance of implementation (0.45)Change management principles (3.25)Learning from a corporate strategy guru (7.15)The implications for Insight strategy (10.53)Highlights“If this is the first Insight strategy we have written, we may feel that the hard work is done when we have crafted our vision and come up with some profound recommendations for how our organisations should organise and use Insight in the future. We might not appreciate the resistance we will face in actually making these changes happen” “Our plan should include quick wins and short-term milestones as well as our long-term objectives. Making a notic...2023-07-0616 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 31: Identifying optionsTopics DiscussedDeveloping a mission statement with your team (2.27)The importance of conscious choices (4.40)Think creatively and think big (7.48)The perils of developing parallel strategies and plans (10.00)It’s all about choosing you will do and not do (12.15)Highlights“You could say that we all have an Insight strategy already – the question is whether our current strategy – what we do – has been arrived at through a series of explicit choices and with reference to an overarching vision for Insight?” “For Insight teams, a mission statement usually takes the essence of a vision, and crafts it into a punchy senten...2023-06-1521 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 30: Defining your ambition for InsightI think it’s only possible to create a successful vision for your Insight function by examining both the potential ways that Insight could make a difference to your organisation’s performance and then your ambition for it to actually seize those opportunities. Please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedWhy ambition is important (2.06)The IMA’s Insight participation matrix (5.34)Becoming the Voice of the Customer (7.57)Becoming project consultants (9.30)The optimum position to occupy (11.30)Highlights“What is your ambition for Insight as a function and a concept in your company? How much does...2023-06-0115 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 29: The opportunity for InsightJane leads on Insight strategy and draws on her wide experience to explain why developing a strategy need not be daunting and can actually be a very validating experience.Please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedImagine it’s your first day as an Insight leader (1.45)Imagine you’ve been fired (3.30)The first step to take (4.55)Chunking up the process (11.05)It’s a validating experience (15.50)Highlights“It’s not just new Insight leaders who are asked to explain their vision for the future of course, You can design a new vision for Insigh...2023-05-1821 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 28: A strategy for InsightSo that’s what we’re going to focus on at the July 2023 Insight forums and for several of our podcasts this season.Please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedA challenge for Insight leaders (2.38)Doing the right things as well as doing things right (4.34)The potential keeps growing, but so do the difficulties (6.25)Why do so few organisations have an Insight strategy? (7.39)What we really need is very different from an activity plan (10.47)Highlights“If your team generates new, joined up insights focusing on solving business issues, develops big picture custom...2023-05-0414 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 27: Easter roundtableTopics DiscussedBringing Insight teams back together (2.30)Renewed interest in assessing Insight capability (5.04)Recruitment challenges (6.45)The Insight playbook and leaders’ achievements (10.25)Responding to requests and saying no, nicely (14.09)Developing big picture knowledge (16.24)Highlights“Leaders have to think differently about what leadership means in a post-pandemic world. They need to adopt the hats of the synchroniser, the innovator, the coach and the chief collaborator.”“In order to work on our teams rather than in them, it can help all Insight leaders to document and develop their ideas in an Insight playbook. It can help us move from being tr...2023-03-3027 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 26: Painting Insight picturesSo why are visuals so important? A few years ago, our colleague Julia Joskey carried out the IMA’s first best practice research on this topic, and she joins me in this 18-minute episode to share her learning.Please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedWhy are visuals so important? (1.36)Thinking like an Insight designer (3.22)The designer and the editor (5.50)The barriers for most Insight teams (8.57)The best visual to choose (13.20)Highlights“We can train ourselves to think like an Insight designer and give some thought to how we can use pict...2023-03-1618 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 25: Sharing Insight storiesTopics DiscussedLearning from the Insight author (2.30)Writing headlines like an Insight journalist (4.28)Making time to edit (6.31)It’s not rocket science! (8.35)Lisa’s top tips (10.54)Highlights“On the one hand it is imperative that we develop our overall project story as we go through each Insight investigation, but the actual writing of individual pieces of communication should be done once we know the conclusion we have reached and the key aspects to share so that our readers arrive at the same place.” “Headlines that make an impact are also more likely to leave an impression. Insight aud...2023-03-0216 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 24: Shaping Insight storiesIn this 16-minute episode, James looks at how progressive Insight teams can drive change by using the SCQAB structure. It’s great for framing projects at the start and shaping the story along the way.Please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedAdapting the Pyramid Principle (0.43)Situation, Complication, Question, Answer and Benefit (4.10)Shape the comm’s throughout the project (6.03)The Insight communication grid (8.35)T-shaped communication (12.50)Highlights“A progressive Insight team wouldn’t want to focus on research briefs but on the underlying business issue. Nor would it want to prioritise methodology when com...2023-02-1616 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 23: Insight communication programmesIn this 17-minute episode, James looks at how successful Insight teams can drive change by developing Insight communication programmes. He is joined by the IMA’s Roy Hammond, who shares five top tips that any Insight team could adopt.Please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedIntroducing the Insight CMO (1.59)Starting with the audience (2.45)How Barclays made use of comm’s channels (6.09)Making friends with other comm’s professionals (9.44)How much effort should we put in? (11.47)Highlights“Who are the audiences within your organisation that would benefit from seeing more customer and mark...2023-02-0217 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 22: Transforming Insight at Sainsbury'sThis breadth of experience strengthened her ability to look at things more holistically, rather than looking at Insight in an organisation through one lens. It gave her the ability to join it all up in a powerful way, to be an important voice in organisations.Throughout her career, Liz has cleverly used Insight and data analysis in a multitude of ways to achieve success at Disney, PepsiCo, Birds Eye, Nestle and Sainsbury’s. With her current role at Sainsbury’s, we hear about Liz’s goals for her Insight team going forward.Topics Discuss...2023-01-1930 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 21: Driving change through communicationFor the most successful Insight teams, that includes a proper communication programme; an ability to shape and share stories; and an awareness of visual communication techniques to really make an impact and leave an impression.So, throughout season 3 of our podcast, we hope to inspire Insight leaders to take communication far more seriously, and introduce frameworks that can help our team members to develop key skills. Please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedDoes your organisation aspire to be truly customer-centric? (2.20)We should stop thinking like Insight leaders (4.09)Is Insight communication g...2023-01-0515 min
Harpin' On Rugby203 : Harpin' Preview Show #MUNvLEILEINSTER : 15. Hugo Keenan 14. Jordan Larmour 13. Garry Ringrose > CAPTAIN 12. Jamie Osborne 11. James Lowe 10. Ross Byrne 9. Nick McCarthy
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16 D Barron 17 J Wycherley 18 R Sa...2022-12-2313 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 20: Nudging decision-makersAn understanding of behavioural biases is critical for anyone who runs market research projects; you’ll know that there’s always been a gap between what consumers claim is important, and what they actually do when you can observe their behaviour. But the IMA believes that our corporate Insight teams need to pay just as much attention to understanding senior stakeholders as they do to understanding the company’s end customers. If we don’t know how corporate decisions are taken in our own head office, we stand little chance of influencing those decisions. And if we don’...2022-12-1516 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 19: Influencing for introvertsSeveral years ago, the IMA’s Julia Joskey looked at ways we could all harness the power of our introverts. More recently, at the November 2022 Insight forums, Lisa Dutton explored the broader but related topic of managing Insight people in a post-pandemic world.In this episode we draw from both pieces of research - please listen to find out more!Topics DiscussedThe mix of introverts and extroverts in Insight teams (1.58)Corporate life isn’t easy for introverts (3.28)How do we square these issue with the demands of influencing stakeholders? (5.30)Varying attitudes to in pers...2022-12-0815 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 18: Transforming Insight at Card FactoryLiz talks about the transformation she’s been on throughout her career and how she takes her learnings and “Blueprint” for what a successful Insight team looks like with her to each new role. Liz tells us about finding her dream role at Card Factory that challenges her, has a culture that aligns with her values, and gives her a work-life balance and the ability to control her own destiny.We hear about the transformation Liz is striving to bring about at Card Factory, just as she has with her other roles in Insight teams.To...2022-11-2430 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 17: Improving stakeholder relationshipsSo how do the most successful corporate Insight teams improve their relationships with stakeholders? Please listen to this week’s podcast to find out!Topics DiscussedA more personal challenge for our colleagues (1.41)Learning from the Trusted Adviser book (5.47)Where do Insight professionals have natural strengths? (7.11)The need to take a few risks (10.20)Are we sometimes too defensive? (11.30)Highlights“The perfect advisers are people we like and who we also think are more knowledgeable than us on the subject in question. Our opinions are often shaped by theirs without us even realising it. In the l...2022-11-1015 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 16: Seek first to understandIn this episode, James is joined by Lisa Dutton, Senior Adviser at the IMA, and an expert on influencing skills.Lisa provides her top tips for choosing which stakeholders we should influence, understanding what it feels like to do their role, and the importance of understanding individuals’ communication preferences.Please listen to our podcast if you have the ambition to transform your Insight team!Topics DiscussedTaking time out to think about our internal audience (2.17)Are our communication preferences the same as theirs? (4.13)A question of translation (5.32)Choosing who we should influence (7.27)Ha...2022-10-2715 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 15: Driving change through influenceAn Insight team needs to solve problems and identify value opportunities for its company, but then it also needs to drive the corporate changes necessary to profit from those opportunities.So how do the most successful corporate Insight teams influence decision-makers? Please listen to our podcast if you have the ambition to transform your Insight team!Topics DiscussedSharing knowledge is as important as generating it (1.41)Pareto’s law applies to corporate decision-making (3.10)Seek first to understand (5.16)The benchmarking data on influence (8.27)The challenges of influencing remotely (9.31)Highlights“In a big organisation, a gre...2022-10-2014 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 14: Transforming Insight at CarnivalIn this episode, Jan describes what it was like to lead an Insight team at an organisation that had to close its global operation during the pandemic, and how, despite the tragedy, he managed to seize the opportunity to make Insight ‘the lead huskey’.Please listen to our podcast if you have the ambition to transform your Insight team!Topics DiscussedThe importance of being yourself (4.45)The varied world of cruises (7.30)The Carnival Insight team and its journey (10.23)Working in Insight when the world stopped (14.03)The need for continuous development (20.03)Highlights“We can se...2022-10-0630 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 13: Developing Knowledge SystemsThe smartest systems are no replacement for developing an acute understanding of Insight’s purpose and role in your company; acting as consultants to nail and map key business issues; approaching Insight investigations like forensic detectives, and farming insight to cultivate knowledge. Systems are a means to an end, and in this episode, we consider some top tips for developing them.Please listen to our podcast if you have the ambition to transform your Insight team!Topics DiscussedSystems are a means to an end (1.42)Systems do not have to be sophisticated (3.00)Sta...2022-09-2915 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 12: Cultivating KnowledgeIn this episode, James is joined by Emma Jones, Senior Insight Manager at the IMA, and an expert on Insight farming.Emma provides her top tips for Insight teams who want to develop as knowledge farmers and create a knowledge-sharing culture.Please listen to our podcast if you have the ambition to transform your Insight team!Topics DiscussedCompiling a greatest hits presentation (1.34)The heart of the knowledge cultivation process (3.10)The Insight farming mindset (5.25)Examples from successful Insight teams (8.50)The importance of discussing insights (11.38)Highlights“Stage 1 may be as simple as...2022-09-2215 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 11: Sowing the seedsIn this 16-minute episode, we’ll begin with Sowing the seeds – crystallizing and recording our findings.Topics DiscussedThe practical steps to take (2.25)Who should do the work? (5.41)The Insight manager skillset (6.52)Taking your time (9.23)The need for effective processes (10.58)Highlights“Insight farming appeals to many on a cultural level, as well as offering obvious cost savings by cutting out project duplication.”“In a perfect world I would like to believe that everyone in an Insight team should take part; the distillation, crystallisation, and recording forming an integral part of each project. However, there are two pr...2022-09-1515 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 10: The evolution to Insight farmingWe need to move away from a world where we spend all our days hunting for new insights, because wise Insight teams know that Insight farming is more valuable to their organisations and more sustainable for the team itself. Topics DiscussedDo senior people care about individual insights? (1.52)What sets the most effective teams apart? (3.58)Cutting out duplication and responding in an agile way (6.25)Farming is more valuable (9.34)The importance of process (11.40)Highlights“Insight projects tend to be planned bottom-up: we look back on our work each year and see a collection of projects unde...2022-07-0814 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 9: Insight investigationsWhat happens next in an Insight project will depend on the question you have identified and the sources of information and data collection available to you. However, effective Insight teams tend to adopt a common mindset regardless of whether they are data analysts or market researchers. It’s the mindset of the detective. Topics DiscussedThe importance of hypotheses? (1.54)Joining up across multiple sources (4.32)The requirement to form opinions (7.27)Technical skills are critical but not transformative (9.34)The iterative nature of Insight investigations (11.24)Highlights“Insight teams tend to adopt a common mindset regardless of wheth...2022-06-2317 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 8: Transforming Insight at HalfordsThe really important questions when you join any company are ‘How does this organisation make money?’, ‘What are its drivers of success?’ and ‘Who makes the key decisions?’Debra has enjoyed a career spanning market research agencies and big brands, but she thinks she is happiest working in corporate Insight.She has worked for Safeway, Homebase, British Airways, British Gas and Saga before her current role at retailer Halfords, and in this conversation she reflects on the different cultures and circumstances she has experienced and the common questions that she has found to be key.Key top...2022-06-0932 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 7: Nailing the real business issueEinstein said that if he had an hour to solve a problem, he would spend fifty-five minutes thinking about the underlying problem and five minutes thinking about the solution to it so in this episode we consider how Insight teams can act like consultants to nail the underlying business issue, and in a subsequent episode we’ll look at how we should investigate it.Topics DiscussedHow can we generate better insights? (2.10)Reflecting on the context for the question being asked (3.59)Engaging business decision-makers (4.28)Diagnosing like a doctor or a management consultant (5.15)Adopting the SCQAB mo...2022-05-2614 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 6: Making up the numbersDoes the idea of making up the numbers fill you with horror? It shouldn’t… making up the numbers, in other words becoming comfortable with estimation techniques and focusing on accuracy rather than precision, is actually a critical skill for everyone in Insight. It supports agile decision-making, forces you to explain your assumptions, and facilitates constructive conversations with others who are trying to solve business problems.Topics DiscussedThe difference between accuracy and precision (3.23)Back of an envelope intelligent guesswork (4.47)How to handle big numbers (6.27)A technique to help our mental maths (7.48)How many Insig...2022-05-1815 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 5: From the market to the moneyTo produce insights, we need to reframe our approach to Insight activity. We should move away from a focus on functional disciplines like market research, customer analytics and competitor intelligence, and instead, see each as input to the creation of a holistic story – a story about how consumers in our market become customers of our organisation and create value for it. Topics DiscussedOrganisations need joined-up Insight to succeed (1.10)Reframing our approach to Insight activity (3.30)The MADE in Insight model (3.53)Should we start with the market or the money? (8.05)Engineers without a blueprint (9.34)Highlights“A key...2022-05-1114 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 4: Transforming Insight at ASOSSandra talks candidly about the challenges she faces and the lessons Insight teams can learn from Finance, and she also recommends a book that has changed her working life.Topics DiscussedInsight and Analytics at ASOS (1.45)Creating a joined-up Insight team (5.45)Sandra’s day job and diary (10.02)The book that changed Sandra’s working life (15.15)An Insight team creating value for the business (23.59)Highlights“I understood what Insight was and I also understood the value, but within the limitation of doing it within a finance function. We looked at transactional data, we were always focuse...2022-04-2729 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 3: The purpose of InsightInsight is an expensive business so we have a collective responsibility to make sure that our organisations are getting the best possible return on their investment, otherwise there’s a good chance that those resources would be better deployed elsewhere. The 2nd secret of successful Insight teams is that they recognise an underlying purpose: to identify value for their organisations and to drive change within them.Topics DiscussedWhat can we learn from the IMA’s Insight capability benchmarking? (1.03)From service functions to proactive business drivers (2.45)The four key activities for Insight teams (3.54)We shoul...2022-04-2014 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 2: What Is Insight?The 1st secret of successful Insight teams is that they agree on a more progressive definition of insights and insight as a basis for all their subsequent activity.Topics DiscussedThe IMA’s definition of insights (2.06)The many sources of customer and market insights (3.19)The importance of actionability (5.47)The difference between insights and insight (7.00)The danger of narrow definitions (9.25)This is Episode 2 of the Transforming Insight podcast which will outline the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams. In this episode James Wycherley, Chief Executive of the IMA and author of the Transforming Insight book explores th...2022-04-1314 min
Transforming Insight PodcastEpisode 1: The best time ever to work in InsightBut, be honest, do you work in an Insight-driven organisation? Very few of us can say that we do, in fact Insight teams across every sector in Europe and North America often report that it is actually getting more difficult to do their job. If, as Insight leaders, we want our organisations’ performance to be transformed by Insight, we first have to transform our Insight teams and the role they play in our companies. Topics DiscussedThe exponential growth in customer data (1:15)Our ability to understand human behaviour (1:40)CEOs’ appetite for consumer insights (2:00)How many organisations are t...2022-03-0215 min
Transforming Insight PodcastTransforming Insight Podcast - Trailer In the Transforming Insight podcast, we not only explore all 42 secrets outlined in the Transforming Insight book, but we also talk to senior corporate Insight leaders, delve into books that have inspired us, and discuss new best practice research carried out with the IMA’s corporate members. You won’t want to miss this! So hit subscribe!
2022-03-0103 min
Digging for InsightsSecrets of corporate insight teams: James Wycherley, CEO of IMA & Author of Transforming InsightDoing consumer insights work on the client-side is no small feat. So often research is completed by a research department but then sits on a shelf. Unearthing ways to make research come alive, and be implemented into the business is a craft. To address that need, James Wycherley, CEO of the Insight Management Academy, shares his experiences gained from 16 years of corporate insights teams. As a former insights director from Barclays Bank, he shares personal experiences and the collective experiences from the Insight Management Academy, a leading organization focused on corporate insights training and best practices based o...2021-12-151h 04
Radio NewMR PodcastRay Poynter interviews James Wycherley, author of Transforming InsightRay Poynter interviews James Wycherley, author of Transforming Insight.2021-02-2727 min
Radio NewMR PodcastRay Poynter interviews James Wycherley, author of Transforming InsightRay Poynter interviews James Wycherley, author of Transforming Insight.2021-02-2727 min
The Leaders Council PodcastIn Conversation: James Wycherley James Wycherley is the Chief Executive of Insight Management Academy, the world's leading authority on transforming corporate Insight teams.2020-08-0533 min