Andrea Joss, Senior Vice President of Research
1) What do you see as the most important skillset researchers will need to have in the future?
Versatility. Our techniques and tools will continue to advance while things like traditional access and sample get more challenging – we’ll need to be open to many different possibilities but also really savvy about the way we approach doing great work.
2) If you could give your younger self any career advice what would it be?
Be bold (and mighty forces will come to your aid) – I think all of us at Quester thrived when we stopped feeling like we had to do things the way everyone else did them, and got really passionate about charting our own path.
3) What’s the most exciting thing you are working on for Quester right now?
I’m a specific kind of nerd so I genuinely think everything here is exciting? I love the depth we get to uncover and the fun stories we get to tell. And, right now, I’m getting the chance to work on advances to both the AI moderator and the analysis software, and that’s been challenging and fulfilling and wonderful.
4) In honor of Women’s History Month last month, if you could have lunch with any famous or influential woman who would it be and why?
What constitutes influential? Living or dead? Will there be french fries? I think there are lots of heroes who aren’t famous, and I’d choose my grandmother – she was a teacher and she raised five kids and she lived until she was 102 and was always kind and gentle and patient – and I would really love to understand how she did all of those things. I’d just love to know more about the things I took for granted and what her life was really like.
5) What are you most looking forward to once the Covid pandemic is under control?
I have a giant and fun extended family and I miss them so much. And I love any travel and mini-adventures with my kids – I miss exploring new places. And being at the office with my Quester friends. And wearing real clothes. And walking around and drinking coffee in Target. And big, loud, crowded bars. But we’re all safe and fine!
Ilene Lanin-Kettering, Senior Vice President, Strategic Design & Analysis
1) What do you see as the most important skillset researchers will need to have in the future?
The most important skill set for the future will be knowing how to present a strategically relevant story.
2) If you could give your younger self any career advice what would it be?
We are all responsible for our own “extinction.” If you stop learning and become a research dinosaur, you will end up a research dinosaur. It is your responsibility to not become one.
3) What’s the most exciting thing you are working on for Quester right now?
Our Living Language Segmentation projects that organically include emotions, where they are actually a part of people’s need states for product and services.
4) In honor of Women’s History Month last month, if you could have lunch with any famous or influential woman who would it be and why?
Sarah or Angelina Grimke – abolistionists. I think these were the bravest people alive especially at that time. I would like to talk to them about the reservoir of passion and belief that propelled them to take on such as important and risky task.
5) What are you most looking forward to once the Covid pandemic is under control?
The simple pleasures of life. Getting together with friends in person, eating together and maybe seeing a movie.
