Building Human Connections in the Era of AI with Stacy Taffet

If everything becomes perfectly optimized, it all starts to look the same, and that’s where brand building dies. In this episode, Nick Graham, Founder of Vertemis, speaks with Stacy Taffet, Chief Growth Officer at The Hershey Company, about keeping marketing and insights deeply human in an AI-shaped world. They discuss why true consumer centricity is about understanding the “why,” not just dashboards; how insights teams can shift from reporting to shaping decisions through synthesis and conviction; and how to build an embedded foresight muscle that connects short-term performance with long-term signals. Stacy shares where AI helps with precision and scale, where it falls short on emotion and cultural resonance, and what leaders can do to create clarity, calm, and focus under pressure.00:00 Curiosity And Conviction00:22 Podcast Intro And Guest03:16 Consumer Centricity Beyond Data05:36 Future Of Insights Teams08:19 Building A Foresight Muscle11:34 Trends Redefining Food Needs14:12 AI Versus Creativity18:22 Human Connection Wins20:33 Leading With Clarity23:44 Career Advice For Insights26:34 Wrap Up And Subscribe#MarketResearch #MarketResearchTrends #InsightsForBusiness#AIMarketResearch #MarketResearchSkills Subscribe to our Podcast, MRII Insights & InnovatorsInsights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast NetworkExplore more episodes and resources → https://www.greenbook.org/podcast-networkLearn more about MRII → https://mrii.org/