AI and automation promise research that’s cheaper and faster. But is the output actually better? In this episode, JT talks with insights leader Tina Tonielli, former US Lead of Insights & Analytics at Haleon, about what “good” looks like when brands adopt AI at scale. They unpack the trade-offs between speed, cost and quality, how “always on” data can overwhelm teams, when decision cadence matters more than data cadence, and where procurement and onboarding slow things down. They also explore where AI truly helps in insight work, and the skills leaders need next: a growth mindset and the courage to experiment, fail fast and learn in public.

In this episode, JT sits down with Nick Graham, Founder of Vertemis and former Global Head of Insights at Mondelez, to explore why the insights function must reinvent itself for the AI era.

Nick argues that insights teams need to move beyond being data suppliers to become true decision drivers—owning the full “insights impact” chain and acting as co-pilots to business growth. Together, they discuss the courage required to let go of legacy approaches, the role of automation in freeing capacity for leadership, and how AI is more than an efficiency tool—it’s a catalyst for transformation.

Nick shares why the future of insights is less about the “what” and more about the “why” and “so what,” leveraging human empathy, curiosity, and storytelling to deliver real business impact.

Matrix organisations can feel like a maze — multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and shifting structures. But what if you could do more than just survive? In this episode, James Turner (CEO, Delineate) speaks with Alex Hardy, Consumer & Market Insight and Analytics Director, Nomad Foods about the real-world experience of leading insight work in complex, layered client environments. Together, they unpack the challenges of operating inside the matrix — and share strategies for making real impact despite the chaos.