«The ‘Say-Do Gap’ as an Innovation Engine: Understanding Human Complexity».

Uncovering Brand Blind Spots: Why blind spots pose a greater threat to scaling brands than operational growth, and why local relevance must outweigh rigid data consistency.

In this episode, Claudia Sciarretta , Strategy & Transformation – Global Insights Director at Pepsico , unpacks how modern organizations can transform consumer insights into a strategic powerhouse, navigate brand blind spots, harness AI without losing human connection, and address toxic workplace environments through mentoring.

What You’ll Learn

• The Next Era of Insights: How to transition from routine dashboard reporting to strategic sense-making models that influence executive decision-making.
• Uncovering Brand Blind Spots: Why blind spots pose a greater threat to scaling brands than operational growth, and why local relevance must outweigh rigid data consistency.
• AI, Synthetic Data & Human Reality: Where digital twins and AI-moderated platforms excel for hypothesis testing—and where real-world human moderation remains indispensable.
• Leveraging the ‘Say-Do Gap’: Why the disconnect between consumer words and actions isn’t a problem to fix, but an engine for product and strategic innovation.
• Navigating Toxic Environments & Coaching: How leadership coaching helps address workplace toxicity, navigate complex corporate dynamics, and foster healthier, resilient team cultures.

«Stop Asking for a Seat at the Table: How Insights Can Shape Business Strategy».

Beyond Data & AI: Why Human Leadership is the Ultimate Competitive Advantage in Insights

From agency roots to global leadership roles at Colgate Palmolive, Electrolux, and Diageo, Liubov Ruchinskaya, Head of Strategy, Analytics & Consumer Planning at Diageo, has spent her career elevating the strategic impact of consumer insights. As the founder of Insights Lighthouse, she is now on a mission to reshape how the industry is perceived at the highest executive levels; from Davos to Cannes.

In this episode of Insights Plaza, Liubov sits down with Joaquim to discuss the inflection point facing today’s insights professionals. In this conversation:

• The Career Journey: Key leadership takeaways from global corporate cultures
• Reinventing the Function: Why insights must transition from a support function to a «Growth Engine»
• Human Intelligence vs. AI: Where automation adds speed and where human emotional intelligence remains irreplaceable
• The Future of Agency Partnerships: Moving away from static reports to outcome-focused, long-term tech collaboration
• Insights Lighthouse: Bringing insights leaders into global forums like the World Economic Forum and Cannes Lions

«Want to be more influential? Focus on stakeholders needs».

Why the future of insights is about foresight, not hindsight

At L’Oréal, leaders are encouraged to be both poets and peasants: visionary enough to imagine the future, yet grounded enough to stay close to the realities of the business. Few people embody that philosophy better than Edwin Taborda, Global Insights & Intelligence Leader at L’Oréal.

In this episode of Insights Plaza, Edwin shares how a career spanning Procter & Gamble, Mondelez, Kimberly-Clark, Electrolux, and L’Oréal has shaped his perspective on leadership, consumer understanding, and the future of insights. In this conversation:

• Why the future of insights is about foresight, not hindsight
• The importance of being both a “poet and a peasant” in business
• How AI is transforming research, data analysis, and decision-making
• Why human intelligence remains essential in an AI-powered world
• The role of storytelling in influencing business leaders
• Early signals vs. trends: where competitive advantage is really created
• Synthetic data, digital twins, and the limits of automation
• Edwin’s advice for the next generation of insights professionals
• Why curiosity, courage, and taking risks matter more than ever

«There’s never been a more exciting moment to be in Consumer Insights and Analytics«

Are we witnessing the end of market research as we knew it?

Don’t miss the premiere of the Insights Plaza podcast, featuring a deep-dive conversation with Vinay Ahuja, Vice-President Analytics and Insights for P&G Europe and named one of the top 250 global insights innovators.

In this masterclass of an interview, Vinay tackles the most uncomfortable, exciting, and urgent debates in the world of data, AI, and consumer understanding:

• The AI and Data Paradox
• The say-do Gap
• The «inverted Moore’s Law» of Insights
• The Data Quality Crisis
• Synthetic Data and Digital Twins
• The next 5 years

Brilliant reflections from a leading professional in our industry who started out wanting to understand machines and ended up falling in love with understanding people.

Latest Podcasts

• «The ‘Say-Do Gap’ as an Innovation Engine: Understanding Human Complexity». Claudia Sciarretta – Pepsico
• «Stop Asking for a Seat at the Table: How Insights Can Shape Business Strategy». Liubov Ruchinskaya – Diageo
• «Cuanto más cerca estés del resultado, más relevante eres para el negocio»
• «Want to be more influential? Focus on stakeholders needs». Edwin Taborda – L’Oréal
• ¨En Latinoamérica necesitamos creernosla más¨. Juan Carlos Cuadros (Colgate Palmolive Latin America)