Dig In

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Tina Lambert, former Chief Marketing Officer at Tropicana and author of Innovation Is Ugly, to unpack why the traditional innovation funnel is broken, how leaders can balance creativity with disciplined execution, and the lessons she’s learned from both billion-dollar brand successes and spectacular failures. Check out Tina's book, Innovation is Ugly, here: https://innovationisugly.com/

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Rob Volpe, founder of Ignite360 (acquired by Dig Insights) and empathy activist, to explore how understanding irrational fears can unlock brand growth, the power of storytelling to inspire action, and why human connection is the most valuable insight of all.

On our very first episode of season 4 (!!) host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Pavi Gupta, VP of Insights & Analytics at Chobani, to explore how curiosity and unconventional thinking can spark breakthrough insights, the story behind how J&J turned an irrational fear into innovation, and why today’s insights leaders must champion the “power of and” to drive true business impact. 

In our final episode of season 3 of Dig In, Jess Gaedeke reflects on her conversation with Marat Fleytlikh, Director of Consumer Insights at Perdue Farms, on why you shouldn't fix what isn't broken when it comes to brand redesigns, why insights professionals should own their seat at the table as strategic partners—not just data interpreters—and how smart use of AI can help teams reduce redundant research and unlock time-to-insight.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Marat Fleytlikh, Director of Consumer Insights at Perdue Farms, to explore how to strike the right balance between refreshing design without losing what makes a brand iconic, the transformative impact of knowledge management and AI on the insights function, and why empathy and curiosity are the ultimate tools for modern insights leaders.

In this week’s Dig (In)spiration, Jess Gaedeke reflects on her conversation with Liz Ackerley, Senior Director of Strategic Insights & Analytics at Danone, on how real consumer stories can shift mindsets across departments, how branding and gamification helped scale Danone’s Consumer Love program, and why mentoring isn’t just about fixing problems, it’s about unlocking potential.

On this week’s episode, Jess Gaedeke is joined by Elizabeth Ackerley, Senior Director of Strategic Insights & Analytics at Danone, to talk about how her team sparked a global empathy movement through the “Consumer Love” program, why mentorship and coaching are essential tools for leadership growth, and how Danone is staying head of the curve in a food industry transformed by GLP-1, protein trends, and women’s health innovation.

In this week’s Dig (In)spiration, Jess reflects on her conversation with Brodie Dunn, Brodie Dunn, Director of Strategic Insights at PepsiCo Foods North America, on how the iconic Cheetle (Cheeto dust) taps into deep-seated brand associations, why true incrementality starts with a human perspective, and how brand experiences will need to evolve in a GLP-1 world. 

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Brodie Dunn, Director of Strategic Insights at PepsiCo Foods North America, to explore how empathy earns you a seat at the table (and keeps it), why embracing the mess made Cheetos a cultural icon, and what it really takes to turn Super Bowl ads into long-term brand platforms.

In this week’s Dig (In)spiration, Jess Gaedeke reflects on her conversation with Jo Lepore, EVP of Global Market Expansion & Foresight at Dig Insights, on how understanding market nuances is critical for global expansion, how foresight requires embracing uncertainty and multiple possible futures, and how diverse leadership perspectives drive stronger business decision-making.