The Qual Point of View

Welcome to the fourth episode of The Qual Point of View, a limited podcast series featuring expert voices from the field using qualitative insights for real-time decision-making.In this episode, Ooloi Labs co-founder Akshay Roongta speaks with Anjali Moorthy, now a Service Design Lead at Care City, about what it takes to practice qualitative research from inside the systems you are trying to influence.The episode explores designing and conducting research in settings where people cannot pause their work to accommodate ideal processes, where systems are overstretched, and where insight must respond to frontline realities rather than the other way around.From curriculum design and public health work in India to social care systems in the United Kingdom, Anjali reflects on the realities of human-centered work and what actually changes when we move beyond surveys and metrics, to observe real workflows, question assumptions, and uncover hidden challenges. The conversation is a powerful reminder that qualitative insights can shape not just services and interventions, but the way institutions think, decide, and act.The episode also engages with familiar tensions: why research so often sits unused and how to move it into action, how to use narratives without overextending them, how qualitative and quantitative approaches strengthen each other, and ways to build trust in research within operationally stretched environments.At its heart, this is a conversation about designing with humility. If you work in research, service design, public systems, or any role that shapes decisions affecting people, this episode offers thoughtful reflections on how to bring the “why” behind the numbers into everyday practice.

Welcome to the third episode of The Qual Point of View, a limited podcast series featuring expert voices from the field using qualitative insights for real-time decision-making.In this episode, Ooloi Labs co-founder Yashna Jhamb speaks with Sharmila Das, Chairwoman & Founder Director at Purple Audacity Research & Innovation, about how qualitative research is evolving across sectors: from social impact space to commercial brands.Their conversation explores the shift from traditional, method-led research to a more method-neutral, insight-driven approach. Together, they discuss the growing importance of agility in research, and what it means to design research that keeps pace with an increasingly AI-driven world.Sharmila Das reflects on her experience with commercial brands, NGOs, and policy organizations to illustrate how qualitative data shapes decisions, drives innovation, and deepens understanding.This episode invites listeners to think about where qualitative data stands today, and how embracing method neutrality can expand the ways we generate insight, adapt, and stay relevant in an evolving research landscape.

Welcome to the second episode of The Qual Point of View, a limited podcast series featuring expert voices from the field using qualitative insights for real-time decision-making.In this episode, Ooloi Labs co-founder Yashna Jhamb speaks with Priyanka Dutt and Samir Khan from GivingTuesday about the evolving role of qualitative research in driving social impact.   The conversation explores the “why behind the what”; how stories, motivations, and human experiences bring depth to data. Together, they explore how qualitative and quantitative methods can work in tandem, the tensions between academic rigor and on-ground adaptability, and why failure should be embraced as part of the learning process.   They also discuss power dynamics in research, community-led design, and the ethical use of technology and AI in shaping the future of research.  The episode is a reminder of what it means to truly listen; not as a checkbox in a program design document, but as a genuine commitment to letting community voices lead, shape, and redefine the work itself.

Welcome to the first episode of The Qual Point of View, a limited podcast series featuring expert voices from the field using qualitative insights for real-time decision-making.In this first episode, Ooloi Labs co-founder Akshay Roongta sits down with Kevin Shane and Anna Lawton from Noodle Research + Strategy to reflect on what happens when you really listen to the communities you're designing for, and how those conversations guide thoughtful products and strategies.Explore the complexities of qualitative research: navigating survey fatigue, breaking down data silos, the role of AI in insight generation, and honoring the responsibility that comes with asking people to share their experiences.Whether you're a researcher, strategist, or business leader, this episode invites you to slow down, listen, and consider the human side of data.