MRXplorer

Welcome to MRXplorer! Friends Kristina and Z venture together to explore topics in and related to market research. Join them as they discuss everything from the day-to-day of an insights pro, the dynamics between "brand-side" and "vendor-side" research, and more. Let's explore this world of market research together!

Do I still belong here?

Z gets pretty vulnerable as she shares her struggle with whether or not she can still be considered a market researcher now that she's in a research operations role. If you've ever experienced impostor syndrome, you'll likely relate quite heavily to her concerns about the way her career has evolved. From career paths to how one's focus changes during a career and what that means for the roles they take on, Kristina and Z talk it out in this impostor syndrome therapy session. 

03-30
29:47

FFL: Kristina Perkins, Microsoft on COVID-19 impacts to work and life

Welcome to the first episode of "From the Front Lines," a series where I talk to those who are working "on the front lines" within brands, for market research partners (aka vendors), and software suppliers.  Kristina Perkins is a market research manager at Microsoft with brand, vendor, and software provider experience. We chat through the impact COVID-19 is having on the ways we work, the ways we interact with our co-workers, the types of research she's doing, and the ways she's adapting to the current scenario. She also shares her advice for those on the brand-side, supplier-side, and MR software suppliers side. Key theme you'll hear throughout: empathy!  If you want to be featured on a future episode, please send me a note on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/zontziry/). You can also find me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/zontziry), where I'd love to hear from you.

03-25
45:05

Coronavirus and Insights Impacts

How is the coronavirus, Covid-19, impacting the insights industry? From remote working situations to research itself, let's explore some of the impacts we're seeing, and let's talk about some of the ways we can mitigate those impacts. Keeping your team engaged, being inclusive in your recruitment and in your reaching out to team members, and finding online opportunities to learn and connect with peers in the industry are all addressed.  Find me on LinkedIn (Zontziry Johnson) and on Twitter @zontziry. Share how you are seeing the virus impacting your work and ideas on how to mitigate those impacts!

03-10
16:30

Conferences: what will we hear?

Research community conference season is underway! I share what I hope to hear, what I will be sharing, and what I'm curious might fall by the wayside from last year. What do you hope to hear about? Share your expectations on LinkedIn (Zontziry Johnson) or Twitter (@zontziry). And hope to see you in person at one of the upcoming conferences and events!

02-24
08:02

Research is people!

Amid all the talk of AI, machine learning, and other tech, what are you doing to focus on the people creating and participating in your research?

01-27
06:04

DEI Part 1: That's a Wrap

Kristina and Z take some time to reflect on the conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion with the guests from the past few months on the podcast.

05-25
40:42

Exploring DEI in MRX: Pepper Miller

Our journey exploring the world of diversity and inclusion inside and outside the market research walls starts with our conversation with Pepper Miller, author, market researcher, and Black-American subject matter expert. This candid conversation was very thought-provoking; we're sure you'll agree. Are you ready to dig in?  To shop Pepper's books: https://peppermiller.net/black-still-matters/ To learn more about Pepper: https://peppermiller.net/

11-23
58:29

MRXplorer Diversity and Inclusion: An Intro

We're kicking off a series of interviews that talk about diversity and inclusion from the perspective of underrepresented groups. We hope you'll join us as we share the fun and courageous conversations we've had (and continue having) around this topic. 

11-17
11:05

Ethnography 101 with Carrie Williams of brand-lab

Ethnography: it's way, WAY more than just following someone around while they shop. Learn what it is, what to consider when performing an ethnography, and how to be sure your ethnography is inclusive!  References mentioned: Paco Underhill, Why We Buy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QA4SY2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Trendwatching: https://trendwatching.com/

11-03
55:54

S2: Ep2 - CX 101 with Rajul Jain

Welcome to CX 101 with Rajul Jain who works for Microsoft's Customer and Market Research team. Listen to learn hat is customer experience research, how is it different from user experience research? What does it measure? When should you use it? And what considerations should researchers keep in mind when it comes to diversity and inclusion in customer experience research?

09-30
31:27

Save the Trackers!

Why do trackers exist? What purpose so they serve? Can we save them? YES, WE CAN! I make the case for doing trackers better and keeping them around. At least until we find technology that gives us attitudinal measures consistently over time.

12-10
18:32

Transformation: what it isn't, what it IS

Have you been faced with "digital transformation," or "modern market research," as a goal for your team, but can't help but feel like nothing has actually changed? What does "transformation" actually mean? What does it involve? And, perhaps more importantly, what is it not?

11-25
16:36

A Board Game Lesson on Insights

A boardgame I played recently resulted in some introspection on research projects and keeping our eyes on the prize while not ignoring the value of the small steps along the way.

11-05
09:43

3: Do bees bite? and other business questions

This starts the first episode exploring the basics of market research. Step 1: understanding the business question. Your client has a business question they want researched, but is it the right thing to be researching?

09-05
28:24

Leave-taking

We explore Kristina's experience taking leave as a parent of a newborn, and, true to MRXplorer form, expand it to how leave should be for everyone everywhere. 

04-18
36:05

We're Back! with Kristina and Z

Kristina and Z are back! They chat through some of the "where have we been," and then, "what are we gonna talk about the next few months," and generally just catch up podcast-like.  Also, Wordle and Nerdle get a mention! 

02-23
26:22

Semiotics 101

What exactly IS semiotics? Whitney Dunlap-Fowler joins us to walk us through what it is, how it's used, and where to learn more about it.

07-20
45:25

MMM: Is agile the correct focus point?

Z and Kristina muse over a few things in this episode. - When will "agile research" become "research"? - When will "agile research" reach business-to-business research? - Is "agile" excluding the ability to achieve inclusive research?  - Whose job is it to solve data quality issues or DE&I in research? 

06-17
30:34

Exploring DEI in MRX: Accessibility with Mary Ann Mendez

Mary Ann Mendez joins Kristina and Z to chat about her experiences as a blind woman in the field of market research. Learn about the opportunity for online qualitative tools to be more inclusive, the diversity philosophy, and the skills of blindness.  Interested in Mary Ann's consulting to help your platform be better? Or just want to learn more about accessibility in insights? Reach Mary Ann on LinkedIn or at the email address below. Mary Ann Mendez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mamendez1/ Contact Mary Ann via email: maryann@jmendez.us 

04-18
57:04

Monday Musings: Storytelling in #MRX

Welcome to Monday Musings, the series where Z and Kristina muse over a market research topic. We kick it off with a chat about storytelling in market research, the difficulties around storytelling as a market researcher who wants to share ALL the numbers, and some advice on how to kick off any project so that the story practically tells itself when the data comes in! (As an extra bonus, the tip from Kristina also helps manage all those stakeholder add-ons that creep up in a project.) Follow MRXplorer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrxplorer Twitter: @mrxplorerp Email: mrxplorerpodcast@gmail.com 

03-22
28:29

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