Ponderings from the Perch

Is your LinkedIn profile just a digital resume or a powerful business development tool?

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest, keynote speaker, and Account Director at Savanta, Jake Pryszlak, about mastering social selling and building influence on LinkedIn. They discuss Jake’s journey as “The Research Geek” and how his thought leadership evolved from differentiating himself during a job search to opening doors for new business opportunities.

They tackle the challenges of standing out in the market research industry, where companies offer similar services with nearly identical messaging. Jake shares his unique approach to content creation, which solves real industry problems rather than just sharing news. “I never really found a newsletter that was talking about [how] they’ve got this problem,” Jake explains. “That’s why I created the newsletter to talk about problems I’ve had in the past in the industry and how I’ve tried to overcome them.”

The discussion includes actionable LinkedIn tips, with Pryszlak emphasizing the importance of mobile optimization for posts and Priscilla sharing her alphabet tagging technique. Both agree that investing in personal branding—whether through financial resources or time—delivers measurable ROI for both individuals and their employers. Pryszlak reveals how his personal branding journey faced resistance, sharing a story about being questioned by a former employer about his LinkedIn activity. 

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book’s chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today’s complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That’s why she’s developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Is your company missing out on the power of bespoke events for business growth?

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest Tara Mackay, Head of Global Events at The Research Club and Founder and CEO of Eventality, about the transformative power of corporate events as essential tools for networking. Mackay shares her expertise in creating meaningful experiences that foster connections and drive business results.

They discuss how face-to-face events have seen increasing demand post-COVID, with more organizations hosting their own gatherings to build relationships and accelerate sales pipelines. Mackay offers valuable networking tips, explaining that successful events begin with understanding a client’s core objectives—whether sustainability, brand recognition, or specific business goals—before selecting venues and planning details that align with those priorities. “Face-to-face events are proven great opportunities to speed up your sales pipeline,” Mackay explains. “People work with people they like, and it’s been proven successful year after year.”

Mackay’s approach focuses on freeing clients from logistical concerns so they can concentrate entirely on addressing networking questions and building relationships during events. From finding the perfect rooftop terrace to creating “blank canvas” venues where branding can take center stage, she emphasizes how attention to detail and elements of surprise create memorable experiences that deliver a return on investment.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book’s chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today’s complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That’s why she’s developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

*This podcast mini-series is brought to you by Multilingual Connections, enabling you to connect with your audience in their language. And if you haven’t already, check out Part One and Part Two of the QRCA series!*

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney presents the final part of a three-part Conference Flyover from QRCA in Philadelphia. Joined by Multilingual Connections’ founder and CEO Jill Kushner Bishop, PhD, and Business Development Director Carlos Hevia, they discuss the power of conducting research in participants’ native languages and how this unlocks storytelling that might otherwise remain hidden. 

From coordinating projects across 75+ languages to managing the complexities of cultural context, these conversations show why authentic communication matters in research. “Language doesn’t just describe some preexisting reality out there in the world,” Bishop explains. “We create that reality through language and we activate different areas of our identity through language. I loved in particular when we talked about being bicultural as a superpower [at the conference].”

Their discussions highlight how qualitative researchers intuitively grasp language’s role in revealing cultural truths. Carlos Hevia shares perspectives on what qualities seek when working internationally, while Jill Bishop details how Multilingual Connections has expanded from translation to bilingual moderation services, supporting researchers as they work in an increasingly diverse range of countries and markets.

*This podcast mini-series is brought to you by Multilingual Connections, enabling you to connect with your audience in their language. Click here to listen to Part One, and be on the lookout for Part Three of the QRCA series!*

How do qualitative researchers adapt to rapid industry changes while maintaining personal connections? A look inside Day 2 of QRCA.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney, along with co-host and CRO, Stephanie Douglass, present Part Two of a three-part Conference Flyover from QRCA in Philadelphia, featuring conversations about business development strategies, AI integration, and the evolution of qualitative methodologies.

They discuss how QRCA provides unique opportunities for both solopreneurs and corporate researchers to learn and grow through shared experiences. From innovative AI applications to the nuances between online and facility-based focus groups, these conversations reveal how industry professionals are embracing change while preserving essential human connections.

“The truth of the matter is that this has become such a quickly evolving business that there are not only gaps that you may be aware of, but if you’re smart, you understand there are gaps that you aren’t aware of,” Ken Burwitz of Mercury Analytics explains. “AI is obviously one of them. This is something that’s changing weekly.”

The discussions highlight the dual nature of modern qualitative research. While Brittany Stalsberg emphasizes the value of business development insights for solopreneurs, Carrie Ann Olson-Landis explores AI’s potential as a creative partner rather than just an assistant. Michelle LaMire adds perspective on the superiority of in-person networking over LinkedIn for building meaningful professional relationships.

Along with the return of Multilingual Connections’ Carlos Hevia and Jill Kushner Bishop, PHD from Day 1, featured guests in this episode include:

Brittany Stalsberg of ​​BLS Research & Consulting LLC

Carrie Ann Olson-Landis of Nava

Ken Berwitz, Executive at Mercury Analytics

Frank Mellman of Insights in Marketing

Michelle Lemire of Festive Road

Zosia Czerska of Insight2Vision

Pam Goldfarb Liss of LitBrains

Lauren Bergner of Rakuten Insights

Jiten Madia of flowres.io

Meredith Morino of Human Sapiance Inc.

David Kalisher of Jolly Road Productions

Chiara Albanese of Motivo Insights

If you’re not already connected with them on LinkedIn, now’s the perfect time to reach out and keep this conversation going!

*This podcast mini-series is brought to you by Multilingual Connections, enabling you to connect with your audience in their language. And be on the lookout for Parts Two and Three of the QRCA series!*

How do thought leadership and networking tools shape modern qualitative research? A look inside QRCA.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney presents Part One of a three-part Conference Flyover from QRCA in Philadelphia, featuring conversations about thought leadership strategy, networking tips, and the future of AI in research.

Multilingual Connections founder and CEO, Jill Kushner Bishop, PhD, joined Business Development director, Carlos Hevia, in Philly for this annual conference. With bilingual moderation, and many other translation, coding and transcription services useful to the market research industry, they enjoyed talking with colleagues and amplifying important voices at QRCA.

Stephanie Douglass, CRO at Little Bird Marketing took to the conference, using the podcast interview as an exceptional networking tool to bring you this show with many voices! From first-time attendees to veteran researchers, these conversations reveal how industry leaders adapt to technological changes while maintaining valuable human connections. “This year is going to be a really exciting year for qualitative research because I think we have gotten over the initial AI hump,” Kelli Hammock of L&E Research explains. “Things are getting really exciting in the industry, because people are using it in so many different ways.”

Their thought leadership strategies span multiple perspectives on research excellence. Cynthia Harris draws parallels between the mental preparation needed in qualitative research and other disciplines, while Norma Mendez and Lillian Martinez of Fieldwork share networking tips that make QRCA distinctive.

Featured guests in this episode include Cynthia Harris, Principal Researcher at Harris Research; Nicole Potter, Research & Design Leader; Norma Reyes and Lillian Gonzalez of Fieldwork; Justin Bailey, CEO of Bailey Research; Susan Owens, Research Manager; Claire Kuhn, Senior Manager of Client Services; Kelli Hammock, VP of Research Solutions at L&E Research; and Jill Bishop, PhD and Carlos Hevia, CEO & Founder and Business Development director of Multilingual Connections respectively.

Market research must evolve beyond simple data collection to protect people’s privacy.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Ipsos Senior Vice President Alina Serbanica about global data privacy in market research. They explore how privacy legislation varies across regions and the challenges of implementing consistent standards in multi-country research projects.

In her role at Ipsos, Serbanica oversees privacy compliance across all operational areas, ensuring projects meet global, regional, and national law requirements. This is particularly crucial as policymakers implement new regulations around artificial intelligence technology and the protection of minors and vulnerable populations. They discuss how privacy principles remain consistent across both in-person and online research, though execution differs significantly based on methodology and technology used. “Many people think that privacy compliance regulations today are limited to GDPR, which is no longer the case,” Serbanica explains. “Very few people know we have over 160 countries in the world with privacy regulations adopted.”

Serbanica also shares insights from her 35-year journey in market research, including her role on the ESOMAR Council and as a national representative for Romania. Her work with ESOMAR focuses on transforming the association to represent professionals and companies better worldwide while updating ISO market research standards to address new components like artificial intelligence technology. For emerging researchers, she emphasizes the importance of understanding research fundamentals before diving into specialized areas like data privacy.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book’s chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today’s complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That’s why she’s developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Mental models can function as the hidden architecture of marketing strategy.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney presents the second installment of her exploration into mental models and the positive impact they can have on marketing strategy. As an established thought leadership strategist, she breaks down five powerful thinking frameworks and demonstrates how they can be used to help marketers understand complex patterns and make better decisions. Mental models covered in this episode include Bayesian updating, the Lindy effect, antifragile planning, systems thinking, and confirmation bias.

Over the years, she has broken down different frameworks, marketing systems and networking tools to help people use their time more effeciently. McKinney demonstrates how these mental models can serve as essential thinking tools for improving campaign outcomes. She explains how each model provides unique insights for social selling and strategic planning, from using Bayesian updating for data-driven iterations to employing the Lindy effect for balancing proven tactics with emerging trends. “Mental models can be applied for better thinking and truly better marketing strategy,” McKinney explains. “They help identify universal patterns and principles that govern complex thinking systems.”

McKinney also delves into antifragile planning, using the analogy of muscle growth through exercise to demonstrate how marketing strategies can become stronger through challenges. She emphasizes that successful marketing strategy requires not just surviving disruptions but building systems that actually improve from stress and change, challenging marketers to move beyond simple resilience to true adaptability and growth.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book’s chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today’s complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just… meh? You’ve got all the pieces, but are they really working together? 

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The result is, well, no results. Want to effectively evaluate your marketing efforts and gain clarity on your next strategic move? 

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz today and discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going – in just minutes.

Want to know how winning companies use their nuanced understanding of human behavior and market insights as a basis for competitive advantage?

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with Social Lens Research Managing Partner Natasha Stevens and Founding Partner Julie Diaz-Asper about transforming marketing strategy through ethnographic research. They examine how video diaries and interactive activities help brands connect with diverse market segments representing $3.4 trillion in purchasing power.

Their collaboration with market research groups demonstrates how different communities approach purchasing decisions through distinct cultural lenses – from Latino and Asian consumers prioritizing family legacy to Black consumers focusing on building generational wealth. Their conversation reveals practical ways companies can build authentic connections across communities. “It’s essential across different ethnicities, locations, and abilities to understand universal truths and meaningful differences,” Diaz-Asper explains. “Because that can help you set up a strategy that can reach a lot of folks, but then you can have tweaks when you’re trying to reach specific audiences within that.”

The Lens Library platform equips companies with consumer video diaries revealing patterns in daily routines, financial habits, and cultural influences. This data empowers organizations to develop marketing strategies acknowledging both universal truths and meaningful differences in consumer behavior, helping teams align on initiatives that drive measurable brand growth.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That’s why she’s developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just… meh? You’ve got the pieces, but are they really working together? We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

Can data reveal which 50% of your marketing budget is actually working?

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and CEO of Mix Analytics Hillary Borndahl about transforming content marketing strategy through data-driven analysis. 

Through their company’s marketing mixed modeling approach, Mix Analytics helps businesses develop a growth strategy framework to optimize marketing investments across channels by analyzing historical data and calculating actual returns. They begin their discussion with critical findings from Mix Analytics’ study of $34 billion in sales data. The data revealed that most companies invest only 2-3% in marketing when they should at least 4% to protect and grow their brand. But what might be keeping the back is not knowing what will work and what will not. 

Borndahl emphasizes that businesses can use this approach with niche applications like focusing on B2B buyer persona development, but that more often than not, this approach is more familiar to retail brands catering to larger, more general population consumer segments. Regardless of the segmentation, buyers rely on emotional decision-making for their marketing strategies, and in that liminal space of decision data sceince can help brands win the game. She shares how businesses of all sizes can benefit from this analytical approach, explaining that while the scale may differ, the fundamental need to understand marketing effectiveness remains constant.

Another key finding Borndahl highlights is that often brands are spreading marketing budgets too thin across multiple channels, leading to diminished results. “The future CMO role is actually a future analytics role,” Borndahl explains. “To be a marketer in the 2020s, you have to be comfortable with data.”

The conversation delves into the concept of “ad stock” as the lasting impact of marketing exposure and how understanding this metric can help businesses make more informed decisions about their marketing investments. Borndahl discusses how Mix Analytics helps companies move beyond gut feelings to identify which marketing efforts drive results, enabling them to adjust their strategies and budgets confidently. But that confidence can take time to grow. She emphasizes the importance of starting somewhere, even if you are downloading your LinkedIn data today, as building historical data is crucial for future analysis and optimization.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book’s chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today’s complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That’s why she’s developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Want to know what corn on the cob and mascara wands have in common?

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and QRCA President Jeff Hecker about building community in qualitative research. 

As co-founder and principal of Athena Brand Wisdom, Hecker brings 15 years of experience conducting research across industries from pharmaceuticals to agriculture, using methods from focus groups to marketing semiotics. But his volunteerism in making the qualitative space is of interest in this episode. With the upcoming annual conference for the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA), they discuss how this non-profit has been instrumental in shaping careers through its commitment to open knowledge sharing and community building. The organization’s emphasis on welcoming new members includes conference ambassadors and speed networking events, fostering connections that support professional growth. 

Hecker gives an excellent overview of what attendees can expect at this year’s event. With tracks covering fundamentals like discussion guide writing, logistics, business leadership, and emerging topics like AI integration, QRCA’s upcoming conference offers practical tools for immediate implementation. “When people come in,” Hecker explains, “we just share everything that we’ve learned with everybody because there’s this notion that a rising tide lifts all boats.”

The QRCA conference welcomes qualitative researchers, vendors, recruiters, translators, and quantitative researchers looking to expand their skill sets. This inclusive approach reflects the mixed-method reality of modern research, where complementary tools and perspectives enhance client insights. The organization maintains a global reach, with North American and

international conferences fostering worldwide connections among research professionals.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book’s chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today’s complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That’s why she’s developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!