Consumer insights as a profession stands at a pivotal moment. In their book Insights on the Brink, Tim Hoskins and Brett Townsend challenge the status quo of the industry, advocating for a bold departure from its academic and methodological roots. Instead of focusing on process-heavy approaches, they argue for a shift toward actionable, empathy-driven strategies that deliver real impact for customers. In this opening session, Tim and Brett will explore why the insights profession must take risks, demand a stronger voice within organisations, and prioritise outcomes over methodologies.
Through their "golden rules" for modern consumer insights, they will lay out a roadmap for how insights professionals can redefine their role—not just as data collectors, but as strategic drivers of innovation and change. Attendees will leave inspired to rethink their own approaches and ready to make insights an indispensable part of their organisation’s success.
Attendees will learn: