🔍 Episode Summary
In this episode of The Deep Dive, Karen Kraft shares her journey as a one-person insights department at Johnsonville and how she leverages technology to scale her impact. From building an AI-powered knowledge base to advocating for women in insights, Karen offers practical advice and candid reflections on the future of the industry in an AI-driven world.
🧠 Key Themes & Takeaways
- Building an AI Knowledge Base:
How Karen created a centralized insights repository using Lucy to democratize data access and free up time for strategic work. - Understanding the Business End-to-End:
Why learning the language of R\&D and meat science gave Karen credibility and improved collaboration. - Women in Insights Leadership:
Karen’s advice for women to find their voice, make recommendations confidently, and assert their contributions in male-dominated environments. - AI and the Future of Entry-Level Roles:
Karen’s concerns about automation eliminating traditional entry-level positions and her call to rethink hiring criteria to prioritize curiosity and critical thinking. - Recruiting for Tomorrow:
Why social science and liberal arts graduates bring valuable skills to market research and how expanding the talent pipeline can future-proof the industry.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- “You know the research better than anyone else in the room. Make a recommendation.”
- “AI is taking away entry-level tasks, but it can’t replace curiosity and judgment.”
- “Market research is a social science—we need to broaden our aperture beyond business schools.”
Brands you’ll hear from
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