Smarter Marketing with Better Insights

What’s the key to turning research into lasting brand growth? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host ⁠Will Francis⁠ speaks with ⁠Heather O’Shea⁠, Chief Research Officer at Alter Agents. With a career spanning Snapchat, Twitter, and Kantar, Heather shares her expertise on consumer insights, research methods, and how brands can better understand their audiences. She explores how qualitative and quantitative research work together, how AI is transforming the speed of insights, and how neuroscience reveals subconscious behaviors. Heather also discusses shifting consumer values, particularly among Gen Zers, the pitfalls of obsessing over clicks, and why marketers should focus on long-term brand growth. She also reflects on her move from client-side to agency-side research and offers practical advice for marketers looking to get closer to their audiences.What You'll Learn:How leading brands use insights to tackle tough business challengesThe difference between qualitative and quantitative research, and when to use eachWhy AI is transforming qualitative analysis and speeding up researchThe role of neuroscience in uncovering subconscious consumer behaviorsHow platforms like Snapchat use research to guide marketers on effective activationThe shift from client-side to agency-side research, and what that means for insights workHeather’s Top 3 Tips for Effective Research Give people space — During research, step back and let conversations flow naturally to reveal unexpected insightsLook past your assumptions — Keep an open mind to discover what you weren’t looking for.Move beyond clicks — Prioritize meaningful metrics that show true impact and support long-term brand growthThe Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by the Digital Marketing Institute and is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube, Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠all other podcast platforms.And if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review so others can find us. If you have other feedback for or would like to be a guest on the show, email the podcast team!0:03:38 – What keeps brands up at night: premium, value, and video influence0:07:09 – Why Gen Z expects brands to take a stand0:09:32 – Research methods: qualitative, quantitative & mobile ethnographies0:14:19 – Using neuroscience and immersion to uncover true behavior0:16:55 – Strengths and drawbacks of qualitative vs. quantitative research0:21:11 – How AI helps analyze unstructured qualitative data0:25:50 – Partnering with platforms like Snapchat for trend insights0:31:42 – Moving from client-side to agency-side research0:35:16 – Heather’s career lessons & finding the right fit0:44:14 – The future of market research & role of AI0:47:40 – Practical tips to better understand your audience0:50:22 – The one metric Heather would scrap: clicks