2026 Speakers Panel

Jon Clifton serves as the CEO of Gallup, the global analytics and advice firm. His mission is to connect 1 billion individuals with their unique strengths, assist organizations in fostering thriving workplaces, and help 8 billion of the world's citizens be heard on their most pressing issues through the Gallup World Poll, a century-long project spanning over 150 countries. Clifton's 2022 book, 'Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness', is a Wall Street Journal bestseller. He's a contributor to The Economist, BBC, and Harvard Business Review. Clifton holds degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Nebraska, with honorary doctorates from Midland and Western New England Universities.

Anthony D. Paul manages the applied foresight practice at Amtrak, scaling futuring and innovation initiatives across the organization. The recent half of his 20-year career in leading creative, technical, and leadership teams has been in the transportation segment, defining novel business models, new technology solutions, and IP for solutions including autonomous robots, camera analytics platforms for large facilities like marine ports and rail switching yards, and other automation, logistics, and perception systems. Prior to transportation, he architected decision-maker tools for US defense, healthcare, higher education, and more. His role at Amtrak operationalizes qualitative insights at scale, to inform organizational strategy, put real-time insights into the hands of field crews, and manage detailed roadmaps for new technology and process introductions.

Natasha Hritzuk serves as VP, Head of Corporate Research for Warner Bros. Discovery. In this role, she focuses on delivering studies that optimize the current business across all enterprise assets, as well as identifying new consumer opportunities that reflect shifts in the entertainment ecosystem. Additionally, she supports WBD’s CSR and Government Affairs teams. Prior to this role, Natasha served as VP, Global Consumer Insights, HBO Max at WarnerMedia.  Before that, she was VP Advertising Innovation Research and AdLab Lead for Turner, where she oversaw research strategy and data analysis in support of Turner Incite, the company’s core intelligence platform for advertising sales. As a critical partner to the Client Strategy & Development and Content Partnerships teams, Hritzuk was harnessing research and analytics to help make recommendations to clients based on an insight-driven selling approach. She also developed research strategies designed to quantify the value of the company’s next-generation capabilities, as well as cross-Turner integrated marketing campaigns. Previously with Microsoft as head of global consumer insights and research, Hritzuk led many of the innovative new strategies, products and content development streams within the company’s advertising and monetization division. Prior to joining Microsoft, Hritzuk worked for General Mills UK & Ireland where she was Head of Category and Consumer Insights for 5 years. At General Mills, she ran a team of insight managers tasked with delivering insights to drive a range of marketing and sales initiatives including communications development and execution, new product development, consumer and shopper targeting and category visions. Hritzuk has a Ph.D. from Columbia University in political science, with a political behavior and public opinion focus. She currently resides in New York City.

As Head of Strategic Insights for Bel North America, Amy drives strategy and innovation by championing the consumer voice at the executive level. With 25+ years of global experience across cosmetics, home and personal care, alcohol & food, Amy has partnered with top brands like Colgate-Palmolive, 1440Foods, Heineken, L’Oreal and Unilever.  Amy thrives on applying her expertise in design thinking, behavioral science, semiotics, and innovation sprints to deliver actionable research and analytics for growth. As a motivating leader and mentor, Amy is dedicated to ensuring the consumer’s voice is always heard, and delivering impactful, insight-driven change to organizations.

Brian Laverty is a senior consumer insights leader with over a decade of experience uncovering consumer values, driving product innovation, and delivering people-centered strategy in media and entertainment. As Director of Corporate Research at Warner Bros. Discovery, he shapes foundational research and foresight across divisions touching on content strategy, product implementation, technology investment, and marketing innovation. Brian specializes in mixed-methods research and AI-enhanced analysis. Previously, he led UX research at WarnerMedia and Ad Sales Research at CNN, transforming ad innovation and user journeys. Armed with an MBA and MS in Television Management from Drexel and a BA in Business & Economics from Lafayette, Brian is as avid about consumer research as he is about his hometown Philadelphia Eagles. Go Birds.

Sofia Cristina Vazquez-Barrios is the Director of Fine Fragrance Consumer Insights, North America at DSM-Firmenich, balancing client needs with proactive efforts to bring forth new and exciting insights. In her past lives, she was Director of Fragrance Foresight & Growth Intelligence at The Estee Lauder Companies. She has also taken on roles in Trade Marketing, Consumer Engagement, and Local & Cultural Innovation in the Beauty sphere, bringing with her endless knowledge and learnings. Ms. Vazquez is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from University of Miami, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Art History from University of Chicago.

Sai Pisipati is an Insights & Analytics leader passionate about pushing the boundaries of qualitative research to keep business decisions rooted in real human stories. As the Insights & Analytics Lead for North America for Reckitt Essential Home Business Unit, Sai partners with marketers and researchers to design bold, empathetic approaches that blend traditional qual with AI-driven storytelling and in-the-moment consumer engagement. With a strong track record in uncovering cultural nuances and shopper behaviours, Sai champions methods that elevate qual’s impact on strategy and innovation. Based in Parsippany, NJ, Sai brings a vision for making insights more human, actionable, and transformative for brands and consumers alike.

Dawn LaValle is the Director of the Division of Library Development for the Connecticut State Library. She is a Certified Foresight Practitioner, a member of the Association of Professional Futurists, and a Disruption Navigator for Libraries. She is focused on fostering a more collaborative innovative culture, transformative library services and solutions for libraries and to instill 21st skill sets in the next generation of library leaders. The Division has launched several initiatives for CT libraries including Growing Equitable Library Services (GELS); Towards Inclusive and Accessible Library Services (TIAL)Transforming Museums and Library: Collaboration for Accessible Exhibitions, Collections, and Programs, health, and legal literacy initiatives; veteran’s and military families program initiatives. Regional and national projects include EXCITE: Transformation for Libraries and Transformation for Libraries: The Futures School which were awarded IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grants and a National Leadership grant, Designing and Implementing a Replicable Regional Digital Navigator Plan. Dawn works with libraries around the country in Foresight Fueled Library Strategies and was proud to have served as a consultant to the Dubai Public Library System, in the framing of a strategy to re-envision the future state of libraries as 21st Century anchors of the community and innovation destinations.

As Head of Human Design and Development at TFSX, a global Strategic Foresight firm, Nicole Baker Rosa cultivates and strengthens diverse relationships across the organization. With more than a decade of foresight experience, including work with The Walt Disney Company and Metro de Santiago, she is recognized as a skilled speaker and thought leader in foresight implementation. Her expertise lies in applying the tools and processes that drive culture change and build organizational capacity. Before joining TFSX, Nicole worked in higher education, focusing on student engagement, program development, and industry certification. She drew on this background to help establish the Professional Foresight Certification in Natural Foresight, a milestone for the field of Strategic Foresight. Nicole earned a Master of Arts in Interpersonal Communication, along with Diversity Certificates, from the University of Central Florida, and a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the University of Florida. She has contributed to the field through both practice and scholarship, publishing a case study chapter in a Palgrave Macmillan foresight textbook. Her research on generational perceptions in the workplace and communication rules has also appeared in the Journal of Organizational Change Management and Qualitative Research Reports in Communication. She is an active member of the Association for Professional Futurists (APF), the National Communication Association (NCA), the Greater Orlando Organization Development Network (GOOD), and EPIC (Ethnography in Industry).

Lawless,Lydia,US-Arlington, Ph.D., is a Senior Manager with Nestlé R&D North America (Arlington).  She leads the digital experimentation, design, and retail test and learn programs, following earlier consumer insights experience on brands such as Starbucks, Nescafé and Seattle’s Best Coffee. She holds a Ph.D. in Food Science and professional certifications in Business Analytics, Open Innovation, and Strategic Foresight. Outside of work, she’s active in wildlife conservation and urban farming.

Andrea Camaliche is Senior Specialist, Graphic Design at Nestlé R&D North America. In this role, Andrea leads the development of visual identities and creative assets for new innovations and concepts developed within R&D, ensuring brand consistency and impactful design across digital and print platforms. With over eight years of experience in consumer-packaged goods, Andrea holds a BFA in Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design and an MA in Marketing from Florida International University. Passionate about design and storytelling, Andrea mentors emerging talent and champions diversity through Nestlé’s Pride network.

Victoria Hollis is a Sr. Staff researcher in the Adobe Design Research & Strategy organization. She is the lead design researcher for Firefly Boards, the first in a new Adobe product category to support early-stage creative ideation and pre-production with generative AI. Prior to joining Adobe, she earned her PhD in cognitive psychology conducting research at the intersection of personal informatics and emotional reflection.  Outside of work, she enjoys illustration, costume design, and collaborating with friends on art installations.

Rob Adams is a design researcher and product strategist based in San Francisco. He’s spent his career asking and answering complex questions about how people create and understand new things, blending deep research with thoughtful interaction design for some of the most complex user experiences in the industry. His work lives at the intersection of curiosity, creativity, and usability. He currently works for Adobe, Inc.

Leelan Farhan is a UX Researcher and Strategist with almost a decade of experience in qualitative research. Currently the Lead UX Researcher at Aylo, she began by building the company’s research practice from the ground up and now spearheads both market and user research across multiple product verticals. Prior to Aylo, she spent eight years in academia improving sexual violence prevention programs. She is especially passionate about design justice and the power of research to transform communities. When not working hard to win over a sceptical stakeholder, you can find her at her local bookstore or writing in a cafe.

Jide Osatuyi is a Senior User Experience Researcher at Amazon, where he has completed several studies using diverse methodologies to help service teams disambiguate customers' needs and preferences and turn them into clear opportunities to innovate on their behalf. With over 20 years of research experience, Jide has deep expertise in making qualitative research more impactful in business contexts. His work has directly influenced strategic decisions at Amazon Web Services, including presenting data that shaped product direction at the VP level. Jide holds a PhD in Information Systems. Outside of work, he is a proud husband and father to three wonderful children and an avid football (soccer) fan who proudly supports Barcelona FC.

Niels Schillewaert, PhD, is Head of Research & Methods at Conveo.ai – the world’s most powerful qualitative insights and customer feedback platform. Niels combined entrepreneurship and commercial research with academic research throughout his career. He was a co-founder at Human8 (formerly InSites Consulting) and has a strong academic background as a Professor of Marketing at the Vlerick Business School. His research was published in leading scientific journals such as Journal of Marketing, The International Journal of Research in Marketing, Journal of Services Research, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, and others. Niels is a frequent speaker at international conferences and has guest lectured at several academic institutions e.g. Columbia, NYU, University of Georgia, IE. He is the Former President of ESOMAR – the association of the global insights and analytics community.

Ilana Ron Levey is a managing director at Gallup, a member of the firm’s executive leadership team, and co-chairs Gallup’s research brand protection committee. Ilana leads a team of world-class researchers focused on Gallup’s public sector and social impact partnerships, including the Gallup World Poll. In addition to her business leadership responsibilities, Ilana is a social science researcher with deep expertise in research methods, program evaluation, corporate social responsibility programs, international development and global public health. Prior to joining Gallup, Ilana served as the co-director of the qualitative methods center for Abt Associates. While at Abt, she led a team of researchers working on government-funded research and evaluation projects for many different agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Labor.  Ilana has led major research studies and consulting engagements across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia and is passionate about the impact of cross-cultural research and building global teams.

Ben is the co-founder and CEO of Dialogue AI, an AI-native customer research platform that transforms how companies understand their users. A seasoned product leader with 14+ years of experience, Ben previously led Growth at Nextdoor, headed Camera Kit at Snap, and scaled Snapchat's growth by 150M+ DAU leading the Growth PM team. Earlier, he held product roles at Apple, Beats Music, and Zynga. Ben studied Economics at Cambridge and attended MIT. Based in LA with his wife and two kids, he's a passionate soccer fan, LEGO collector, and fiercely competitive fantasy Premier League player.

Justin Hoang is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Dialogue AI. Before starting Dialogue, he led product teams at Nextdoor, Reddit, and Twitter, building products used by millions worldwide. He holds a degree in Software Engineering from the University of Western Ontario. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Justin now lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two kids.

Kiran Vinod Bhatia is a user experience researcher, digital anthropologist and Responsible AI lead at Utrecht University’s Inclusive AI Lab. With over a decade of fieldwork across the Global South and the U.S., her research explores inclusive tech design, AI safety, and digital well-being, centering the experiences of women and other marginalized communities.

From Wall Street to the world of consumer intelligence, my journey has been shaped by data and driven by curiosity. With 15+ years in the US financial sector across hedge funds and investment banks, I honed a deep analytical mindset. In 2016, I shifted focus to India’s consumer space, founding Baby Destination, a 1.3M+ strong parenting community. That led to Convosight, where I now serve as Co-founder. We are redefining consumer research by combining AI and video intelligence to decode millions of social conversations—helping global brands uncover trends, understand consumers deeply, and make faster, insight-led decisions.

Lauren is a brand and business developer who steers entrepreneurial projects from idea to shelf and back. With an MBA from Drexel, she spent a decade at Kimberly-Clark driving innovation for Kleenex® and Scott®, building a global pipeline from consumer insights for workplaces, healthcare, and hospitality. Most recently, she led North American marketing for Mars Inc.’s drinks division, elevating B2B brand relevance. Her CPG expertise, passion for brand innovation, and talent for connecting behavioral dots across categories give her a distinctive lens to help clients unlock their full potential.

Andrea is a seasoned consumer insights expert with over 15 years of experience translating complex consumer data into clear, actionable business strategy. She began her market research career in qualitative research, building a strong foundation in real-world consumer understanding, ethnography, and in-depth interpretation of human behavior. Over time, she expanded her expertise across quantitative and mixed-methods approaches, leading high-impact work across fragrance, beauty, retail, and CPG categories. Andrea is known for connecting analytical rigor with real-world consumer understanding, helping brands uncover growth opportunities, sharpen positioning, and guide innovation through insight-led decision-making.