Alex is the CMI VP,Global Head of People Data Centre’s, Predictive Analytics, Shopping Insights, CMI Hive & Pricing at Unilever. He is also the Executive Sponsor of proUd, Unilever’s LGBTQI+ Community.
Prior to joining Unilever, he was Head of Insight & Analytics at Sainsbury’s and before that had numerous Insight/Strategy and Analytics roles in Banking and Media.
He started his career over 25 years ago at Millward Brown as Research Manager working across a range of large international FMCG clients e.g., Guinness Africa.
After Millward Brown, Alex moved to the BBC where he formed part of the team that developed BBC iPlayer back in 2000 before moving to support the launch of Freeview. He then moved to Sky during James Murdoch’s first reign before spending 5 years in banking, first with Capital One and then as Head of Strategy at Lloyds BankingGroup.
Alex earned a first-class honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business & Economics from Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordons University. He also completed his exec ed at StanfordGraduate School of Business.
Anne Brown is an entrepreneur and Founding Partner of Gazelle Global Research Services LLC, a global market research sample and operations firm. Her extensive experience in international data collection, processing, and management brings exceptional practical knowledge to clients and teams alike. Brown's comprehensive skill set, developed over a lengthy career in custom research, enables her to support clients across diverse industries. She is an Insights Association Laureate and IPC-certified member, a two-time Insights 250 recipient, a member of WIRexec, and serves on the board of the Market Research Council (MRC). She is also a longtime ESOMAR member. Gazelle Global is a certified Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) company.
Eileen Campbell is an experienced corporate director, consultant, and former global CEO with more than three decades of leadership in marketing, research, and technology-enabled services. She previously served as Global Chief Executive of Millward Brown when it was a $1 billion WPP-owned consultancy and as Chief Marketing Officer of IMAX Corporation, where she led worldwide marketing with major Hollywood studios and exhibition partners. Eileen co-founded Rival Group, a martech and insights holding company, and today advises organizations through her strategic consultancy, Womintuition. She has held public and private board roles, including Monotype Imaging Holdings (NASDAQ: TYPE), Pure Spectrum, Affectiva, Reimagine Holdings, Vision Critical, and the Angus Reid Group, and in 2025 was recognized by BoardProspects as one of 100 Exceptional Private Company Board Members.
Elaine is doing her 'dream job' at Reckitt, as Chief Insights & Analytics Officer. Known for her strong drive for impact, Elaine found her 'Why' evolving over time to be about People and Purpose. Today, she feels privileged to work on Reckitt’s efforts to drive positive societal impact and business growth via unlocking consumer behaviour change.
With more than 20 years of FMCG experience, Elaine has transformed insights functions across Reckitt, Danone, and Mondelez/Kraft Foods, and currently sits on the Board of a Swedish tech start-up.
A passionate champion of women's empowerment, Elaine feels strongly about diversity and inclusion. Starting from how she manages her own team, to building progressive company brands. She is the proud mother of two beautiful daughters, and committed towards raising them to be confident, forward-thinking women.
Emma has been part of System1 since 2004, channelling her great energy to help us grow from a UK start up to a global industry leader. She treasures her diverse experience across the business, ultimately settling in global operations for over 5 years – which more than satisfied her curious and enquiring (she says nosey!) personality and her enjoyment of problem-solving.
When Emma did her MBA she recognised her passion and clear talent for managing people. As a genuinely caring person it was a natural progression for Emma to join our Exec Team in April 2020 as Chief People Officer. Emma’s highly effective at spotting and nurturing talent, resulting in the united world-class team we are today. At every step along the way she supports our people to be the very best they can be. Emma also advocates that a symbiotic relationship between individual growth and the growth of the business leads to success for all.
Outside of work, Emma has 2 children and cherishes family time. Her adventurous spirit motivates her to experiment with different experiences and try out new hobbies and activities, particularly travel and exploring. Emma is also a keen runner, enjoying Park Run every Saturday, and regularly paddleboards. She’s also a member of a craft beer club.
Lisa Wilding-Brown has been in the industry for 20+ years. Lisa’s specialties include executive business leadership, product innovation, sampling and survey design, panel development and management, online and mobile recruitment as well as full-service mixed-mode field management across a multitude of industry sectors. As Chief Executive Officer at InnovateMR, Lisa has a passion for building strong relationships and a relentless mission to drive innovation and efficiency. Lisa and the InnovateMR + Ivy Exec executive team deliver transformational research strategies for their clients by harnessing the power of technology-enabled solutions that accelerate and activate insights for agencies and brands alike.
Mario Carrasco is the co-founder and principal of ThinkNow, an award-winning cross-cultural research technology company. He is a dedicated champion of diversity and inclusion, embodying these values in both his professional and personal endeavors.
Under Mr. Carrasco’s co-leadership, ThinkNow has driven numerous groundbreaking initiatives to amplify the voices of underrepresented and underserved communities. Notably, they launched DigaYGane.com, one of the largest and most representative Hispanic online panels in the insights industry. Additionally, through a strategic partnership with Semasio, ThinkNow launched ThinkNow Audiences, making zero-party multicultural data available on all major demand-side programmatic platforms. Over 100 global brands have increased their reach by up to 70% using ThinkNow Audiences. The company also launched ThinkNow Synthetic, a synthetic sample solution integrating AI methodologies to enhance the accuracy, speed, and cost-effectiveness of quantitative research.
His impact extends beyond unveiling disruptive technologies that transform cultural conversations. He takes his activism from the C-suite to Main Street, contributing articles to and being cited in national publications like Forbes, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Fortune Magazine, MediaPost, eMarketer, and Quirk's Magazine. He also launched The New Mainstream podcast, where he invites CMOs and DEI executives from leading global brands to engage in insightful conversations about diversity and inclusion.
Mr. Carrasco has been recognized for his achievements. In 2022, he received the Insights Association's Laureate Certification as part of the IPC (Insights Professional Certification) program. This lifetime recognition honors outstanding members of the Insights community, distinguished by meaningful contributions that have advanced the profession. In 2023, Mr. Carrasco was elected Chair of the SampleCon Board of Directors. He was named the Next Gen Market Research (NGMR) 2018 Industry Change Agent of the Year and, in 2017, received the SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He is also an SBA Emerging Leader recipient and a Stanford Latino Entrepreneur Institute Graduate. He holds a Master’s in Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the USC Marshall School of Business. Most recently, in November 2023, he was awarded the WIRe MRX Diversity Champion award by WIRe, recognizing his contributions to diversity and inclusion in market research.
Within ThinkNow, Mr. Carrasco and the executive team champion diversity, and the numbers speak for themselves. Forty-one percent of ThinkNow’s staff is female, with 57% holding leadership positions. Moreover, 79% of ThinkNow’s staff represent diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, exemplifying the company’s steadfast commitment to fostering an inclusive and representative work environment—one that starts at the top.
Naomi Grewal, Ph.D., is a research executive who has led research, insights, and analytics organizations at global technology companies including LinkedIn, Meta, Pinterest, Uber, and Workday. She partners with leaders to position research as a strategic driver of product innovation, business growth, and organizational performance.
Her experience spans market research and consumer insights, people research and analytics, data science, and UX and product research -- reflecting her belief in “Big R” Research as an integrated engine for decision-making across product, people, marketing, and business systems.
Naomi also serves on the applied psychology faculty at the University of Southern California, where she teaches business psychology to master’s students.
A passionate advocate for advancing women in research-adjacent leadership roles, she also speaks openly about leading with epilepsy and elevating visibility for invisible disabilities in high-performance environments.
Naomi lives in California with her husband, three children, and six beloved pets.
Tiama Hanson-Drury is Chief Product and Technology Officer at Opus 2 where she runs the global product and design functions. Prior to that, she ran products for insights & research tech companies like Dynata and Zappi. She is passionate about building product growth engines and brings extensive experience in data-driven product development in the consumer and B2B Insights platform space. Her expertise includes Product Led Growth, Transformation, Consumer Insights, B2B2C data products, B2B enterprise platforms and the increasingly complex area of personal data privacy.
Tiama is actively committed to supporting diversity, she helped develop mentorship and diversity efforts at Kantar Profiles and Zappi and served as Dynata’s Executive Diversity & Inclusion sponsor. She is an active WIRexec member of Women In Research (WIRe).
Alice has 15 years of experience in consumer intelligence and an MBA in marketing and business analytics from the University of Illinois. She deeply understands market research and analytics and has worked with leading companies like Thinx to drive strategic insights and improve the understanding of their consumers. For the last six years, she has developed and led consumer insights functions at these brands and honed her expertise in market research, brand strategy, and data-driven decision-making.
Beyond her professional expertise, Alice has a passion for interior design after majoring in Architecture at Yale University. She loves to explore and design creative and functional spaces as a personal interest. She also enjoys tackling creative challenges, whether optimizing business strategies or designing inviting interiors for her enjoyment.
In her personal life, Alice loves exploring museums—especially those with great architecture—cooking and embarking on walking tours around her new home in Washington, DC, that she shares with her husband, Matt, her dog, Max, and her cat, Adam.
Curious, growth-oriented, and driven by a spirit of service, Alice continuously seeks opportunities to learn, innovate, and make an impact.
Alisa Hamilton is the President of Harvest Insights, a boutique market research firm based in Atlanta. She specializes in focus group and online community moderating as well as in-depth interviewing, quantitative analysis and executive reporting. She is the host of the Atlanta chapter of Women in Research (WIRE), and in her free time is a foster mom to rescue puppies for Angels Among Us Pet Rescue.
Anita Rao Kapur is a senior consumer research & analytics leader who is passionate about unlocking insights that enable data driven decisions to drive better business outcomes. Her career has been fueled by decoding how buyers think, react and behave in response to brand stories – partnering with leading B2B and B2C brands to optimize their marketing investments and unlock growth by leveraging the power of data & insights. Formerly at LinkedIn, she led her team in delivering valuable insights from LinkedIn’s unique first party data and third-party research resources to empower businesses to reach, engage, and convert their professional audience at scale across APAC.
Ashley Chase is a Vice President and Senior Account Executive at Burke, Inc., bringing over a decade of experience in market research and strategic consulting. Known for her passion for uncovering human insights, Ashley thrives on helping organizations translate data into meaningful action. She partners closely with teams to design tailored research plans that address complex business challenges, blending quantitative rigor with qualitative depth to deliver clarity and impact.
A strong advocate for curiosity and collaboration, Ashley embraces innovation by applying research best practices to emerging methodologies. Her work spans industries and business questions, from segmentation and shopper journey mapping to brand strategy and innovation pipelines. Beyond her client work, Ashley finds joy in mentoring and fostering growth through watching colleagues and clients flourish both professionally and personally. Ashley has been an active contributor to Women in Research (WIRe) for the past three years, helping the Cincinnati chapter create a vibrant space for connection, learning, and empowerment within the insights community.
Ashley Spring is the marketing research director at Ally focused on brand, media, messaging, and audience insights. She brings her experience as a research leader to integrate consumer trends and expectations across marketing. Prior to joining Ally she was a senior manager for panel research and television ratings at NASCAR. She has also held positions on the research vendor side supporting CPG brands, including management of ongoing global brand studies for Proctor & Gamble fem care, laundry care, and baby care businesses. In her free time, she loves spending time with family and friends and traveling, usually to go to a concert or a Disney park.
As a Mixed Methods Researcher, Barb exercises both sides of her brain by working in the fields of quantitative and qualitative research. Her favorite projects involve both methods because they result in the best insights – the “what” and “why.” Her journey in marketing research started at Georgian College, where she received her post-graduate Research Analyst certificate with honours. Barb is currently a seasoned marketing research professional that manages projects, moderates online communities and in-depth-interviews, analyzes complex data and presents actionable insights. She has worked with many different CPG clients from cannabis to condoms. There’s never a dull moment! She has also developed new and innovative tools, and written MRX blogs. When not on land working in the world of research, Barb can be found scuba diving with dolphins and sharks. Her other passions – no pun intended – include boxing, floral artistry and the piano.
An industry leading executive, Brin has over 20 years of diversified expertise in building, leading and mentoring world-class sales, business development, product and marketing organizations in the Market Research Industry. Brin started in quantitative & qualitative research at companies such as IRI and Greenfield Online and has experience in both custom and syndicated research. With a move to the San Francisco Bay Area in the early days of online, was a member of the founding management team at Greenfield Online, Brin has stayed at the forefront of emerging technologies for market research and consumer insights and has had experience with online sample, mobile research, video and data visualization, among other
Brin has been responsible for building new products, growing international markets, full P/L management, brand marketing, and ROI. Demonstrated leadership in partnering with senior teams, transforming margin challenges into sustainable, high yield profit centers and on strategic initiatives focused on increasing market share, profitability, and shareholder value. The key to her success has been building and mentoring the right team(s) for the business.
Chelsea May is a Project Manager in The Martec Group’s Detroit office and acts as a key player in the firm’s quantitative practice area. She joined Martec in 2018 and has advanced through multiple roles, reflecting her growing leadership and impact across the organization.
Chelsea specializes in quantitative research design and execution, with deep expertise in survey programming through QuestionPro, client management, and delivering clear, strategic insights. She manages and mentors analysts and is an active member of the firm’s community team.
Her project experience includes pricing and value mapping, tracking, segmentation, and market sizing across a range of industries, including industrial, building and construction, education, and consumer goods. Chelsea is known for her collaborative, client-focused approach and ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
As Managing Director at MESH Experience, Dana is a strategic member of the global management team leading business strategy while being a ground zero representative in the America's working hand in hand with marketing, advertising and research experts across various different brands and categories. Dana has a strong history of team leadership and coaching, strategic relationship building and close to 15 years of making agile business decisions to create the best outcomes for her clients and team in her day to day role. She has been able to combine her insider’s knowledge of the market research landscape and her experience uncovering impactful and actionable insights, to help propel businesses forward. Previous to MESH Experience, Dana was the Vice President of the Nielsen Opinion Quest, and has also been a primary research consultant within Nielsen focused on large social, digital, and technology clients. At home in Rochester, NY, she is often a guest lecturer at colleges like Rochester Institute of Technology and St. John Fisher, most recently bringing the value of Experience Driven Marketing to our up and coming marketeers. A passionate diversity champion, long time member and mentor in WIRe and a C-Level executive member of Chief, it is a personal goal of Dana’s to help bolster and support women in business in any way she can. Outside of her professional walls, Dana is the mom of two young boys and a certified Yoga instructor. She has a deep love for animals, a passion for plant based healing and eating and is a self-proclaimed documentary watching nerd!
Danielle is a Director at insight-driven strategy consultancy The Forge. Danielle is passionate about elevating our industry; being the Women in Research (WIRe) London lead, WIRe Advisory Board member, MRS Diversity, Inclusion and Equality lead and is often seen presenting, Chairing or writing at and for IIEX, ESOMAR or MRS.
Danielle holds an MA in Geography, and an MSc in Environment, Society and Culture, both from the University of Edinburgh. Danielle also enjoys exploring wine, dystopian fiction and CrossFit, but usually not at the same time.
Edna Thiong’o is the founder and Managing director of Breakthrough Consulting Ltd (BTC Group), a full service market and social research firm that operates in 6 countries in Africa. She holds a B.ED Arts (Hons.) and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Nairobi. She is also a part time lecturer of Consumer Behaviour at the University of Nairobi, School of Business.
With over a decade of experience in the industry, she has moderated over 1000 focus groups, hundreds of interviews with top executives and overseen multiple projects in Brand development, Market & Social research, Strategic Planning and Training across Africa for leading global brands in FMCGS, Financial services and Nonprofits. She is passionate about brands and the transformation borne out of informed data driving positive impacts on corporations.
Edna is a published author of a new book that celebrates mothers titled 'Tea with Mom-Stories of Mothers' that was launched in 2020. She is a member of the Marketing, Social Research Association (MSRA) and the European Society for Market Research (ESOMAR).
Eliza is an Italy-based, globe-trotting insights expert, brand consultant, storyteller, and international team leader. With over 20 years of experience in market research across the UK and Italy, she has worked with global brands, combining traditional and innovative methodologies to support the development of strategies that drive sustainable, long-term growth.
People are at the heart of Eliza’s work. She has designed and led an international mentoring programme for research teams at Toluna, has been a mentor for WiRe since 2024, and actively collaborates with ASSIRM, the leading Italian association for market, social, and opinion research.
Her next mission is to help make Milan a vibrant hub for networking, inspiration, and learning within the insights community. Outside of work, Eliza is training to become a certified therapy-dog conductor for animal-assisted interventions and is passionate about travel and country music.
Emily heads up Opinium Amsterdam, insight agency Opinium’s European Headquarters.
As a former journalist and editor, Emily specialises in engaging with diverse audience groups to help brands shape their communication strategies, evaluate market trends, and develop new products and propositions. She has spoken at and chaired panel debates at the Market Research Society and recently won the B2B Market Research Society Award for her work on the changing role of B2B communication. Emily also sits on the advisory board member for Loughborough University’s Online Civic Culture Centre for Doctoral Training which is studying the impact of social media on the spread of misinformation, disinformation and the rise of hate speech and incivility.
Because she believes sleeping is often cheating, she completed a PhD on the relationship between violence and women in American Literature, set-up a pop-up pudding bar in London, rowed at a national level and is currently writing her first book.
Venezuelan by birth, I've called Mexico home for the past eight years. With a decade-long career in Marketing and Client Relationships, I've honed my skills in building strong networking circle and driving business growth. I believe in the power of genuine human connection – that meaningful business relationships are built on trust and understanding. Passionate about fostering collaborative partnerships and exceeding client expectations through open communication and a deep understanding of their unique needs.
Georgia is COO and co-owner of Luma Research, one of the world’s leading brand and communications insights agencies. She has over 20 years’ experience specializing as a consultant in brand and communications research. She has conducted research with clients on every continent and has worked alongside dozens of the world’s top advertisers; her passion is helping her clients to optimize their ads and brand strategies to grow their brands. An accomplished speaker, Georgia has spoken at many conferences around the world in New York, London, Paris, Shanghai, Athens, Barcelona, Sydney, Mexico City, Cannes, Lisbon, Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne and has written scores of research papers for industry associations like ARF, WARC, ESOMAR and AMSRS. The focus of her research aims to understand more detail on how communication works within different markets and audiences.
Prior to Luma, Georgia has worked with large research company NOP (now GFK) in London, Ipsos in Australia, Add+Impact International, ADS. She started her career as an AMSRS Graduate Trainee. She is a member of AMSRS & ESOMAR and is a QPR (Qualified Professional Researcher). She is also the Melbourne representative for WIRe and loves to help support younger women who are entering the industry. Georgia holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) and Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from the University of Melbourne.
Jo is currently the Client Engagement Lead for Kantar Insights Australia, having been in the depths of the research world for over 15 years she's found her passion area in recent years - leading & inspiring people, peers and clients. Jo has also been engaged with WIRe for over 10 years, being inspired herself by the events in London she has since launched a WIRe event series in Australia in 2014 which now covers Sydney, Melbourne & Perth. Jo's a fierce believer in paying it forward and championing others, she takes joy in watching others flourish in their professional and personal lives and being part of that journey.
Julia is a pharmacist with a MSc in Pharmaceutical Management from UCL and over a decade of experience in market research. She specializes in global studies across multiple therapeutic areas, with a particular passion for medical technology. Having worked on both the client and agency sides—including at leading firms like Ipsos and IQVIA—Julia understands what it takes to deliver insights that drive real impact. From study design to final recommendations, she combines conventional and innovative research techniques to turn complex market questions into clear, data-driven recommendations. Julia thrives on collaboration and is passionate about helping clients navigate challenges and make informed decisions that shape the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
After hiking the Pennine Way in 2023 - a 268-mile trail from Derbyshire to Scotland - Kate walked away from her full-time job at global insight agency Human8 (previously Join the Dots) and into a new adventure. She founded House of Comms, a marketing consultancy that supports marketers inside and outside the office by encouraging them to embrace the impact of walking on personal wellbeing and professional performance. When she's not delivering strategic advice, Kate swaps her Chartered Marketer hat for a woolly one as she explores the UK on foot as a Hill & Moorland Leader (trainee).
A passionate market research professional with 15+ years of experience and a proven track record in strategic account management and growth. Through the effective implementation of solution selling strategies and creating personable relationships. My goal is to develop outstanding, long-lasting relationships by bringing relevant methods to clients that will drive value for their business.
Maria is the founder and principal of Ingenium Research Boutique, Inc., boasting 25 years of experience in both qualitative and quantitative marketing research.
After establishing her early career in Colombia, Maria moved to the United States, where she made significant contributions to her profession. In her first role in the U.S., Maria established a marketing research department from the ground up, developing templates, budgeting tools, and comprehensive processes. She also created a recruiting department and trained employees in market research and moderation techniques. In her next position with a multicultural research group, Maria led qualitative research projects for prestigious clients. In 2010, Maria founded Ingenium Research Boutique, Inc., where she has assisted numerous Fortune 500 companies in understanding diverse market audiences. In just nine years, Ingenium has served clients across various industries, including CPG, retail, packaging, technology, financial services, entertainment, and healthcare.
Maria frequently speaks at industry conferences, sharing her expertise on Hispanic markets and consumer insights. Maria holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Universidad de los Andes and a postgraduate degree in Strategic Marketing from CESA in Bogotá, Colombia. She has also completed training as an advanced moderator at RIVA in Washington, D.C.
I’m Marinette Dalbard—a Market Research and Consumer Insights Consultant with over 20 years of experience turning complexity into clarity. I specialize in crafting creative, efficient, and actionable research strategies that empower brands to make confident decisions and grow. My work bridges traditional methodologies with digital innovation, combining qualitative depth with data-driven insight to uncover what truly matters.I’m known for delivering value quickly, even within tight timelines and budgets, and I thrive when collaborating across functions to solve business challenges. Beyond the numbers, I have a strong interest in human dynamics—especially the evolving role of women in society—and I’m passionate about bringing empathy and meaning into every project I touch.
Mary Curry is a market research and insights professional who thrives at the intersection of strategy, curiosity, and collaboration. She is known for her partnership-first approach to solving complex business questions, bringing clarity to ambiguity by asking the right questions, connecting diverse perspectives, and translating insights into meaningful action. With a focus on building strong relationships across teams and stakeholders, Mary believes the best outcomes come from shared understanding and thoughtful problem-solving, and she is passionate about fostering communities where professionals can learn, grow, and connect.
Montserrat Guzmán is a passionate connector and researcher who believes in the power of collaboration and shared purpose. With over 16 years of experience in the market research industry, she has developed her skills in creating meaningful connections and fostering teamwork to achieve impactful results.
Montse, is dedicated to empowering others. Her industry knowledge and commitment to results drive her involvement in initiatives that inspire growth, learning, and mutual support. Montse’s enthusiasm for meeting new people and exploring diverse perspectives makes her an advocate for community building and collective success.
Paula Rosecky is a strategic partner, qualitative insights consultant, and success mentor who helps organizations and individuals explore the deeper truths driving action and connection. Her work spans customer journey discovery, brand evolution, team dynamics, and personal development—always with a focus on uncovering what’s really going on beneath the surface.
Known for her inventive yet grounded approach, Paula brings fresh perspectives to complex problems—often designing custom workshops, research techniques, or decision-making frameworks tailored to the needs of the moment.
With over two decades of experience, she’s known for quickly building trust and guiding clients to insights that spark clarity, creativity, and confident decision-making.
She has a particular passion for understanding audiences age 40 and older—those in midlife transitions, navigating evolving identities, or redefining success. Her sensitivity to these layered conversations makes her especially skilled at uncovering what motivates people in meaningful life stages.
Based in Seattle, Paula leads the local chapter of Women in Research (WIRe), a global nonprofit that elevates the voices of women in data, insights, and research. As a longtime qualitative researcher, facilitative leader, and coach, she is committed to creating inclusive spaces where all voices are heard—and new leaders rise.
When not immersed in her work, you’ll likely find Paula near the water—walking along the Puget Sound or swimming laps in a local pool, where she draws inspiration and clarity for her next project.
Paula Tripp, Consumer Insights Consultant for the House of JOY and Founder and CEO of The Insights Partnership, is a highly regarded industry veteran, known for her expertise in transforming data into meaningful consumer and marketing insights. Paula’s career includes pivotal roles at Fortune 500 Brands including SVP Consumer Insights for BET Media Group (a Paramount Global Network), Head of Foundational and Menu Insights at McDonald’s and roles of increasing responsibility at Unilever, General Mills, and Information Resources Incorporated (IRI). She holds an Economics degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Science in marketing research from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Paula is also a founding board member of the 40+ Double Dutch Club, a 501c3 organization developed to empower women over 40 in mental and physical health by inspiring Friendship, Fitness, Fun and Fellowship.
Rara Naval brings over two decades of experience in consumer insights and analytics across the food and drink, personal care, and home care sectors. She specializes in category transformation, brand turnarounds, the evolution of insights programs through emerging technologies, and is a strong advocate for the use of AI in deepening consumer understanding.
Currently Human Insights Director for Coca Cola TM ASEAN and South Pacific, Rara has held regional and global roles, applying agile methodologies and cultural insight to drive business growth and market impact. She built her foundations at research leaders KANTAR and Nielsen, and further honed her commercial impact at McDonald’s and Unilever.
Rara holds a degree in Psychology and an Executive MBA, is an Insight250 award winner, currently on the Programme Committee for ESOMAR APAC 2026 in Tokyo, and is a sought after speaker at leading research conferences across the APAC region.
Beyond her corporate leadership, Rara is deeply committed to advancing women in the insights and marketing industry. She is currently the program Lead for Women in Research (WIRe) Singapore, is an active member of the leadership network Women of the World (WoW), and mentors emerging and mid career women navigating career transitions - supporting them in stepping into leadership with confidence and clarity.
Tracey Di Lascio-Martinuk is a Principal Data Scientist specializing in machine learning, predictive modeling, and commercial analytics. She currently leads data science initiatives at Waters Corporation, bringing the voice of the customer to models and decision frameworks that strengthen sales execution, forecasting, and customer understanding.
Tracey previously led consumer research programs in the premium consumer audio industry, where she applied advanced quantitative methods to guide product design, pricing, and go-to-market strategy. Her work blends technical depth with a strong commitment to elevating the customer perspective in business decisions.
Tracey holds graduate degrees in Industrial Systems Engineering (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), Law and Mass Communication (Boston University), and Applied Statistics (Penn State). Outside of work, she plays ice hockey, performs in an electronic band, trains as an aerialist, and enjoys spending time with her family.
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