✨ Episode Overview 

In this episode, Janice sits down with Dyna Boen, a distinguished Insights Association Laureate, to explore her 25-year career shaping the research industry through mentorship, technology advocacy, and leadership grounded in ethics and integrity. Dyna shares how she champions emerging talent, navigates the evolution of AI in insights, and connects people and ideas to propel the industry forward. 

🎙️ Key Themes & Takeaways 

Mentorship as Legacy 

• Dyna finds deep fulfillment in guiding high-achieving mentees toward their next steps. 
• She emphasizes mentorship as a two-way street—you give, but you receive even more through connection, impact, and shared growth. 
• Her approach centers on offering direction, empowering confidence, and cheering others on. 

25 Years Championing Technology in Insights 

• From early online research platforms like Zoomerang, to mobile research, to data quality solutions, to today’s AI platforms—Dyna has consistently been at the forefront of adopting and advocating for new tools. 
• She frames AI not as a threat but as the next evolution of the researcher’s toolkit, much like graphing calculators were in education. 
• The biggest opportunity for rising researchers? Learn the tools, embrace behavior change, and use technology to elevate—not replace—critical thinking. 

Ethics, Integrity, and Leadership 

• For Dyna, integrity is about doing what you say and being thoughtful with commitments—spoken promises matter. 
• In research, trust is everything. Clients depend on data quality and honest recommendations. 
• Her advice to emerging researchers: 
• Master new tools, especially AI. 
• Ground insights in honesty, rigor, and confidence. 

The Power of Connection 

• Dyna describes herself as a natural connector—someone who thrives on bringing people together to remove obstacles and spark collaboration. 
• Conferences offer her a meaningful space to spot emerging trends, test whether signals are anomalies or patterns, and exchange perspectives with other leaders. 
• She follows a simple rule: “If I hear something three times, it’s a trend.” 

Seeing What’s Next 

• Leaders must constantly scan the horizon to guide their companies and teams. 
• Industry gatherings provide clarity on market shifts and shared challenges, validating what’s happening across organizations—not just within your own walls. 

💬 Best Quote from Dyna 

“Sticking your head in the sand and ignoring new tools is not a growth strategy. If we learn them and champion them, technology becomes an opportunity—not something to fear.” 

🎧 Listen & Learn

This episode is a must for anyone seeking to navigate today’s rapidly evolving research landscape—with confidence, integrity, and a spirit of collaboration.