The podcast for corporate Insight leaders
July 13, 2023

Episode 33: Transforming Insight at Carlsberg

Episode 33: Transforming Insight at Carlsberg

Episode 33 of the IMA's Transforming Insight podcast is now available. In this episode, James talks to Nick Rich about his experience Transforming Insight at Carlsberg.

Nick gives an overview of his career in Insight roles, from Intercontinental Hotels Group in the UK to Carlsberg in Copenhagen, to his transition returning to the UK and looking for the next chapter in his Insight career.

Nick speaks about his time at Carlsberg and how he was able to successfully transform their Insight analytics function. We hear about how he worked to develop talent in the Insight team and the importance of adapting to the changing face of Insights talent.

He also touches on the challenge of finding a common ground between different marketing philosophies, and the need to be prepared for changes in leadership that may require a different approach. Nick speaks about the concept of "marketing religions" and how Insight teams need to maintain neutrality while understanding the culture of the business.

We also examine the three main pillars of Insight investment and how to diversify and redirect budget to focus on more forward-looking Insights.

Please listen to find out more!

Topics Discussed

  • A look back at how Nick got into Insight (03:05)
  • Developing a successful Insight team and the changing face of Insight talent (05:30)
  • Reconciling marketing philosophies and understanding "marketing religions" (11:30)
  • Key aspects of Insight Transformation (16:55)
  • Diversifying budget for forward-looking Insights (19:00)
  • Biggest challenges in Insight Transformation and Top Tips (23:40)

Highlights

  • “No longer necessarily are we looking for people who have come from traditional research backgrounds. I'm really excited by the idea of that further developing where you're getting people who come from very, very different backgrounds, could be marketing related but other business functions, they all have something to offer.”
  • “Sometimes you need to take the research out of the research and give people something that's really recognisable and meaningful to sales teams, to advertising teams, to digital teams, who need answers about what decisions they make. So, you need someone to really give that human element that perhaps we've been missing previously.”
  • “The idea of ‘marketing religions’ is something that is cyclical. You see some businesses follow a very strict religion and want everybody on board thinking the same way. Others you have a disparate set of views and activities that support different ideas. Whichever business you're in, I think as an Insights team you have to have some sense of neutrality.”
  • “One thing that really helps you understand how the business perceives Insights is how they invest in it”
  • “Knowledge as an asset. I would love to see more the value of Insights being included on profit and loss accounts and balance sheets, because it has inherent value. It can also give competitive advantage to a business. I don't think we've done enough as an Insights industry to help organisations understand the true value we bring.”

 

This is episode 33 of the Transforming Insight podcast. 

If you have the ambition to transform your Insight team and the role it plays in your organisation, please tune in to future episodes. Not only will we explore the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams as outlined in the Transforming Insight book, we will also talk to senior corporate Insight leaders, delve into books that have inspired us, and discuss new best practice research carried out with the IMA’s corporate members.

You won’t want to miss this! So please subscribe - and thank you for listening. 

 

About James Wycherley, the author of Transforming Insight

James Wycherley was Director of Customer Insight and Analytics at Barclays from 2005 to 2015 when he became Chief Executive of the Insight Management Academy (IMA). A popular keynote speaker and acknowledged expert on Insight leadership, strategy, and communication, he is the author of the book Transforming Insight: the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams, and over 35 IMA publications. He has provided thought leadership in the UK, Western Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, India, and the Middle East, and regularly hosts the IMA’s Insight forums - London, Manchester, UK Online and US Online.

The Insight Management Academy is the world’s leading authority on transforming Insight teams.

 

Resources:

If you would like more information on any of the ideas discussed in this episode of the Transforming Insight podcast, please visit www.insight-management.org

Copies of James Wycherley’s book Transforming Insight: the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams can be purchased direct from www.transforming-insight.com

Disclaimer

The Transforming Insight podcast is published by the Insight Management Academy and produced by Zorbiant.

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