Insightful Inspiration

Data keeps multiplying, but the most valuable consumer insights still come from the moments marketers stop analyzing and start observing. That means getting face-to-face with the people they call their consumers.

As a marketing leader whose career spans some of Canada's most iconic brands (Bimbo, Labatt), Mike Bascom has a rare firsthand view of what makes the marketing-insights partnership work. Together, he and Isab...

This week on Insightful Inspiration, host Isabelle Landreville is joined by Katrina Noelle, founder of KNow Research and co-chair of IA Ignite, a gathering of entrepreneurs in the insights field.

At this year's IA Ignite, Katrina pointed out that small- to mid-sized research firms own a larger market share than the major players. In other words, these are the firms that are driving the industry. So what do they offer that's differen...

This week on Insightful Inspiration, host Isabelle Landreville is joined by Jon Crowley, Head of Strategy at FUSE Create. 

Jon’s career in strategy spans accounts as large as Rogers and Home Depot. He also helped shape consumer perception of McDonald’s with his work on McCafé. As an agency lead, he uses insights to anchor pitches and supercharge his creative teams. 

He’s also a bold thinker and a dynamic s...

This week on Insightful Inspiration, host Isabelle Landreville is joined by Allison Howitt, Director of Nutrition Insights & Analytics at Mead Johnson Nutrition. 

After a decade apiece at Unilever and at Mead Johnson, it’s clear that Allison is the kind of insights leader who knows not just when an insight has truly landed, but when the business is ready for it. She also prizes collaboration, whether it’s with h...

This week on Insightful Inspiration, host Isabelle Landreville is joined by John Rocco, Chief Brand Officer at Scotiabank, one of Canada’s Big Five banks. With over three decades of brand-building across retail, insurance, and financial services — from Loblaw to Target to Sonett and now Scotiabank — John has led some of the most defining brand moments in Canadian marketing history. He's a storyteller at heart, and...

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...

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 ...

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, ...

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 resear...

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 re...

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 bef...

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 t...

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 res...

In episode 24 of the Insightful Inspiration podcast, host Isabelle Landreville welcomes Karen Lynch, Head of Content at Greenbook, to explore the evolving role of insights professionals. Now that insights leaders have earned their "seat at the table," how can they maximize their influence while facing increased pressure, limited resources, and demands for innovation? Drawing from the latest GRIT Report findings, this episode offers...

In Episode 23 of Insightful Inspiration, we look at what makes the important relationship between brands and researchers truly effective. When does research transform from a deliverable into a catalyst for meaningful business action? When can it help your career?

Our guest brings a wealth of experience in brand positioning and consumer insights. Host and our proud owner of 10 years, Isabelle Landreville, is thrilled to welcome Kath...

The workplace has transformed dramatically. Leaders are trying to balance empathy with performance, compassion with results. But where's the line? When does empathy help, and when might it actually hurt?

Our guest on this episode of "Insightful Inspiration" brings fresh insights to this challenge. Host and our proud owner of 10 years Isabelle Landreville is excited to talk with Maria Ross, author of "The Empathy Dilemma" and a TED...

Episode 21 of "Insightful Inspiration" is particularly timely as we dive into a pressing question: how do we balance artificial intelligence with human expertise?

While AI transforms market research, the human element remains crucial. Joining Isabelle Landreville - the proud owner of Sylvestre & Co. and host of your go-to-market research podcast - is Monika Rogers, a strategic growth leader who is an integral part of CMB&rsqu...

Making research matter is about creating a culture where customer understanding drives every decision. But how do we make insights stick and transform organizations from the inside out?

On Episode 20 of "Insightful Inspiration," Isabelle Landreville welcomes Gail Banack, a transformational leader who knows exactly what it takes to build customer obsession into company’s DNA. As a seasoned executive, she’s worked in insi...

Sometimes stakeholders just aren’t hearing what’s being said. You know those moments when you've uncovered amazing insights, but somehow they're not landing with decision-makers?

Our guest for Episode 19 of "Insightful Inspiration" has some fascinating perspectives on overcoming this challenge. Isabelle Landreville converses with Nikkia Reveillac, a trailblazing insights and innovation leader who brings a truly unique...