A sunset flight over Lake Champlain, captured by my son—a reminder that fresh perspectives help us understand what’s next.
As a new year unfolds, it’s the perfect time to pause and take stock of where we are today to help inform our tomorrow.
Whether I’m partnering with a Fortune 500 company navigating a legacy brand refresh or a mission-driven organization reimagining its future, my work lives at the intersection of people, context, and decision-making.
In 2025, I supported teams grappling with questions that feel especially relevant as we move into 2026:
Relevance & Reinvention
How do legacy brands and established organizations evolve without losing sight of what made them matter in the first place?
AI with Purpose
How can AI be applied in meaningful, human-centered ways—solving real problems without adding noise or unnecessary complexity?
Increasing Influence: Gen Z & Gen Alpha
How do shifting expectations and behaviors—particularly among Gen Z and Gen Alpha—reshape trust, engagement, and decision-making in ways many organizations still underestimate?
Members, Users & Communities
How do organizations retain, grow, and meaningfully engage people—not just acquire them?
Across all of this, my role is simple: to help teams bridge human realities (people) with market dynamics (context) so strategies and decisions are grounded in insight, not assumption. Often, that value comes from bringing an outside perspective—helping teams see patterns, blind spots, and opportunities that can be hard to spot from the inside. .
One of the most meaningful pieces of feedback I hear from clients is that the research doesn’t just support a single initiative—it changes how teams think, collaborate, and make decisions over time.
As you look ahead to 2026, here are a few reflection questions worth considering:
- What questions is your team actively grappling with where insights could build confidence and reduce risk?
- Which long-held assumptions might be overdue for a reset?
- What pressures or unmet needs are your customers experiencing today that could signal new opportunities?
If any of this resonates—or if you simply want to brainstorm how insights could support your team—I’m always happy to schedule a no-pressure conversation about your 2026 research or insights needs.
Here’s to a year of momentum and informed decision-making!