A guest blog by Stan Sthanunathan: MRII Board Member; CEO of i-Genie.AI; Retired EVP of CMI at Unilever; Ex Global VP of Marketing Strategy & Insights at The Coca-Cola Company
I always describe myself as a one-trick pony! 2024 marks my 40th year in the insights industry. This is the only industry/function I have ever worked. Of the 40 years, the first 12 years we spent on the agency side of the business and then I moved to the client side for 26 years. More recently—since starting up my own venture in 2022—I am back to the agency side of the fence.
Very early on in my research agency career, I realized that getting a strong foundation rooted in the fundamentals of market research was critical to add meaningful value to clients. Those days there were no formal qualifications that prepared you for a career in Market Research. I was privileged enough to get trained by some leading lights along the way and they shaped my career and made me who I am today.
The time spent on the client side in organizations like The Coca-Cola Company and Unilever gave me a unique ring side view of how businesses are run and how singularly focused they were on people they serve. The role of insights was central to decision-making. This gave me a different perspective on application of insights to drive transformational actions that drive growth.
The insights industry has given me everything that I ever wanted in my professional life—intellectual stimulation, career growth, key role in business decision making, among other things. It also gave me an opportunity to nurture talent and watch them blossom over the years. A 40 year journey is something I would do again if I had to start again.
MRII is playing a critical role in raising standards of knowledge—not just raising the floor but also the ceiling. This is critical for making the function/role future proofed and making it a vibrant and attractive area for the next generation of professionals.
I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to this endeavor by sharing my knowledge and experience. It’s “Pay Back Time” for me! That is what excites me about joining the MRII Board and also the opportunity to work with fellow board members, some of the most amazing minds in the industry.
Onwards and Upwards!