The STRAT7 Podcast

In this episode, STRAT7 research directors Jane Passey and Alex Johnston dive into their findings on how UK consumers are using AI to make financial decisions. Who they are, what they're asking, and what it means for brands. This isn't just another tech trend; it's a revolution in how consumers seek guidance and make decisions about their money.  With insights from our recent report, "AI: The Financial Advisor in Everyone's Pocket," Jane and Alex reveal how AI is becoming a trusted tool for both quick wins and in-depth financial planning. They discuss the dramatic shift in consumer behavior and the surprising demographics that are turning to AI for advice.   Download the full report here: https://strat7.com/ebooks/ai-the-financial-advisor-in-everyones-pocket/ The conversation covers: The key reasons why consumers are preferring AI solutions over traditional financial advisors. How AI provides personalized advice tailored to individual financial circumstances, making it a powerful ally in decision-making. The generational divide in AI usage and what it means for financial institutions moving forward. Real-life examples of the types of questions people are asking AI, from quick savings tips to demystifying complex financial jargon.  Reach out to Alex or Jane below: Alex - [email protected] | LinkedIn Jane - [email protected] | LinkedIn 

Our STRAT7 Advisory team sat down to explore the realities of moving from customer understanding to successful innovation, and what we can learn from the brands that are getting it right.What does it really take to turn insight into innovation?This conversation covers the organisations that innovate successfully, the barriers that prevent good ideas reaching market, how innovation processes break down, and the role AI is playing in modern insight teams.From sponsorship and decision-making to organisational capacity, handovers and early signals, this is a candid conversation about what helps organisations move from insight to action.Key highlightsSponsorship matters more than buy-in. Good ideas need active champions, not passive agreement. Innovation gets lost between teams. Customer understanding can weaken as ideas move between insight, innovation, product and commercial functions. Insight and innovation are part of the same process. The strongest organisations create feedback loops between learning, action and refinement. Early signals matter. By the time trends become obvious, much of the opportunity has already passed. AI can accelerate insight, but not judgement. Technology can make teams faster, but human expertise remains critical when identifying opportunities and deciding what to do next. 

What CMOs need to know before synthetic respondents enter the sampleIn this episode, Sarah Askew and Hasdeep Sethi discuss the latest STRAT7 study on synthetic data in market research, exploring its benefits, limitations, and practical applications for CMOs. They analyze how synthetic data can enhance survey research amidst rising costs, fraud, and declining response rates.Key highlightsDrivers of synthetic data adoption in market research.Types of synthetic data and their applications.Recent improvements in synthetic data accuracy.Limitations of synthetic data in trend detection. and segmentation Practical recommendations for using synthetic data.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and context of synthetic data in market research 00:28 Market pressures driving demand for synthetic data 01:34 Defining synthetic data in market research 02:45 Benefits of synthetic data: speed, cost, privacy 04:13 Why the study was rerun and stress testing framework 05:35 Improvements in synthetic data accuracy over the past year 07:20 Limitations: trend detection, segmentation, and advanced analysis 10:10 Implications for marketing decision-making and risk 12:19 Understanding synthetic responses versus coherent respondents 13:57 Recommended use cases and cautionary advice for CMOs 15:21 Key takeaway: synthetic data as a sketch versus high-definition photoSpeakersSarah Askew - Head of Brand and Innovation, STRAT7email | linkedin Hasdeep Sethi - Group AI Lead & Data Science Director, STRAT7 email | linkedin

How should insight teams use AI without rushing into hype or falling behind?In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Eddie O'Brien from Sage about how to balance experimentation with governance, where synthetic data can add value, and why the future of insight is a hybrid model that blends AI with human expertise.Key HighlightsWhy the best insight leaders sit in the grey area between moving too fast with AI and moving too slowly to stay relevant.How Sage is using AI to improve knowledge management, data synthesis, transcript analysis, and faster decision support.Why human insight still matters, especially when validating outputs from synthetic data, AI personas, and digital twins.How AI is reshaping the insight operating model, with client teams and agency partners working more like integrated squads.Which future skills will matter most, including insight engineering, facilitation, scenario planning, and stakeholder influence.Timestamps0:00 - Introduction: why AI is forcing the insight industry into a critical moment1:50 - Eddie introduces his role at Sage and shares his perspective on AI in insight3:15 - Sage's guiding principles for AI as a tool to elevate human insight5:12 - Practical AI use cases: knowledge management, transcript synthesis, and faster insight generation10:21 - Why AI engineering, governance, and model understanding matter more than ever14:44 - The biggest surprise: blending AI methods with traditional research for faster, stronger answers18:41 - How stakeholder expectations and the role of insight teams are changing21:12 - The old agency-client workflow is dead: moving toward squads, sprints, and new operating models32:37 - Synthetic data, AI personas, and digital twins: where they help and where guardrails are still needed42:25 - Quick-fire round: the future of insight teams, agency partnerships, common mistakes, and one word for the industry